Fraser Gehrig kept up his excellent goal-scoring record against a gallant Carlton to guide St Kilda to a 10-point victory at Telstra Dome on Saturday - 16.15 (111) to 15.11 (101).

Celebrating his 250th AFL match, Gehrig kicked six majors to take his tally to 35 in his past six outings against the Blues.

More importantly, the victory - St Kilda's ninth in-a-row against Carlton stretching back to 2001 - has brought the Saints level with the Western Bulldogs on 36 points and gives them a vital edge in the race for the finals over Essendon, Sydney and Adelaide all of whom are on 32 with a game in hand.

Co-captain Nick Riewoldt, who lowered his colours to Jarrad Waite when the teams clashed earlier in the season, won the return bout comprehensively dragging in six contested grabs and bagging four goals.

Coming off hammerings by the Swans and Lions over the past fortnight, the Blues lifted for club great Brett Ratten in his AFL coaching debut.

For the Blues, Mark Murphy was outstanding in a run-with role on Leigh Montagna, holding the prolific St Kilda ball-winner to just 13 touches.

Third-gamer Ryan Jackson was just as impressive in a similar role shadowing Robert Harvey, gathering 23 possessions and 12 marks.

The first-quarter action was as open and entertaining as any this season. Having made a miracle recovery from his torn quad, Brendan Fevola had three goals on the board by the 16-minute mark but his good work was cancelled out by two apiece from Gehrig and Riewoldt.

Fevola was triple-teamed in the second term, however, as the goals dried up for the Blues. Carlton had 105 disposals for the period with just the one goal - an opportunist soccer half-volley from Setanta O'hAilpin - to show for their efforts.

The Saints dropped numbers back and rebounded to an open forward line where Gehrig slotted another two of his team's five for the quarter.

The Blues scored the first two goals of the third quarter through Paul Bower and Matthew Lappin in his 250th AFL match and 195th for Carlton against his former team to cut the deficit to 10 points.

But the Saints banged through the next four to open up a match-winning 35-point break at the final change.

Carlton scored the first three goals of the final term including Fevola's fourth, but the Saints always retained the edge despite Bryce Gibbs having a chance from 40 with a minute to go to bring the Blues within a kick.

CARLTON: 6.1, 7.3, 9.7, 15.11 (101)
ST KILDA: 5.4, 10.7, 14.12, 16.15 (111)

GOALS: Carlton: Fevola 5, Fisher 3, O'hAilpin 2, Ackland, Bower, Lappin, Bannister, Saddington
St Kilda Gehrig 6, Riewoldt 4, Milne 2, Dal Santo, Birss, Baker, Blake
BEST: Carlton: Fisher, Carrazzo, Lappin, Jackson, Murphy, Fevola,
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Gehrig, Baker, S.Fisher, Gilbert
INJURIES: Carlton: Wiggins (hamstring), Bower (hamstring), Koutoufides (groin)
St Kilda: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Meredith, M.Nicholls, Ellis
CROWD: 32,327 at Telstra Dome