It may have been given a fright but the St Kilda juggernaut rolled on against Carlton on Friday night when the unbeaten Saints notched their 12th straight win.

Led by five goals and 10 marks from Nick Riewoldt and the class of midfield generals Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna, the Saints posted a nine-point victory and head into their mid-season break having proved they are a legitimate premiership threat.

For the Blues, hopes of lodging their first win over the Saints since Round 20, 2001, were dashed but they remain well in contention for a top-four berth come September.

In a pulsating final term littered with acts of class and toughness, the Saints did just enough to escape.

They led by 13 points at the final change and appeared to have the match in the bag when Nick Dal Santo found space at a throw-in and eased through a long goal.

But as they did all match, the Blues persisted and stormed back into the contest when Eddie Betts pounced on a loose ball and goaled and Brendan Fevola, enduring a quiet night, followed up after a strong lead.

Montagna responded with superb long goal on the run to again give the Saints a buffer but Setanta O'hAilpin, enjoying a fine game at center half-forward, weaved through a pair of defenders to again cut the margin.

It was then the Saints found the unlikeliest of goalkicking heroes when defender Zac Dawson found space on the lead and drilled the match-winning set shot from about 35m.

Both teams were battered and exhausted at the final siren, with several players requiring bandages for various head wounds.

Superstar Carlton skipper Chris Judd was given a rousing cheer when he returned to the field in the final term, having required running repairs on what appeared to be a broken nose, but even he couldn't get the Blues over the line.

The Saints skills were particularly on show in the third quatter with three of their four goals coming from outside 50m and their fourth from the left-foot boot of Brendon Goddard.

Ross Lyon's men had control of the game but this grasp slipped when Luke Ball failed to go through the interchange gate correctly, gifting a free kick, 50m penalty and goal to Fevola on the three quarter-time siren.

The Saints had earlier stolen the momentum with a slick seven-goal opening term while restricting their opponents to three - the Blues' first not coming until