Brandon Cohen at Telstra Dome
St Kilda has opened its 2008 account with a hard-fought two-point win against Sydney in an ugly, error-riddled contest at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
In a close scrap all night, the NAB Cup premiers opened up a handy lead at the first change and were challenged late by a gutsy Swans outfit before holding on to win a low-scoring affair 6.15 (51) to 6.13 (49).
St Kilda was well-served by former Cats Steven King and Charlie Gardiner, who gave their midfield first use out of the centre, while captain Nick Riewoldt was the star with 19 disposals, 11 marks and two goals.
Sam Fisher (24 possessions) got plenty of touches off half-back, veteran Robert Harvey - playing his 360th match, which moved him into sixth on the all-time list - showed he'd lost none of his skill and debutant Jarryn Geary (21) offered plenty in his first outing for the Saints.
For Sydney, Tadgh Kennelly led the way with 25 disposals, while Jarrad McVeigh, Craig Bolton and Amon Buchanan each had 20 and provided plenty of run out of defence.
Despite the late withdrawal of full-forward Fraser Gehrig, the Saints started the better with twin towers Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke dominating up forward as they opened up a 20-point break at the quarter-time.
Both teams employed heavy flooding tactics to try and negate any form of free-flowing action - and it played right into Sydney's hands as it managed to draw level at half-time after holding St Kilda goalless for the term.
The Saints, particularly through Nick Dal Santo, Sam Fisher and Leigh Montagna, dominated play in the third quarter but were unable to convert on the scoreboard.
They saw three golden opportunities go begging when first Milne, then Harvey and finally Montagna all missed relatively simple chances.
In a nail-biting final term, both sides had their chances to clinch victory.
Adam Schneider, playing against his old side for the first time, had his chance to give the Saints some breathing space midway through the last term before Nick Davis - kept quiet for most of the night by Sam Gilbert - bombed a long goal from outside 50m to put Sydney back within two points.
Young Swan Jarred Moore then had one final chance to become a hero but his snap from almost directly in front with just a minute remaining went wide and the Saints held on for a narrow victory.
ST KILDA: 4.3, 4.6, 6.10, 6.15 (51)
SYDNEY: 1.1, 4.6, 4.10, 6.13 (49)
GOALS: ST KILDA: Riewoldt 2, Koschitzke 2, Milne, Schneider
SYDNEY: Grundy, Hall, J Bolton, Buchanan, Goodes, Davis
BEST: ST KILDA: Riewoldt, S Fisher, Dal Santo, Geary, Harvey
SYDNEY: Kennelly, Buchanan, C Bolton, McVeigh
INJURIES: ST KILDA: Nil
SYDNEY: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: ST KILDA: Gehrig and Blake replaced in selected side by L Fisher and Fiora
SYDNEY: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Ryan, Jeffrey
CROWD: 36,614 at Telstra Dome
Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3 - N Riewoldt (St Kilda)
2 - L Montagna (St Kilda)
1 - S Fisher (St Kilda)