The Western Bulldogs were unable to withstand the tide of a fast-finishing St Kilda, going down by seven points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After the Bulldogs led by 49 points at half time, the Saints reduced deficit to be within two goals at three-quarter time before launching themselves into the final term.
Adding to the Bulldogs' woes is what appears to be a nasty knee injury that saw Clay Smith leave the game just before half-time.
David Armitage was magnificent for the Saints, gathering 45 disposals and racking up the clearances that brought his team back into the contest, while young star Jack Billings kicked four goals.
The loss will be even harder to take for the Bulldogs following what appeared to be a third knee injury to luckless midfielder Clay Smith.
Smith returned to the Bulldogs' senior side just two weeks ago, following two right knee reconstructions in a 12-month period.
Just seconds before the half-time siren, the 21-year-old was leading towards the ball when his right knee buckled underneath him.
Visibly distressed, Smith was immediately stretchered off.
Earlier in the second term he appeared to jar his right knee near the boundary line, but after being assessed by club medical staff returned to the field.
Up until that moment, everything seemed to be going right for the Bulldogs, who had overwhelmed the Saints with relentless pressure and attack on the ball in the opening half.
A seven goal second term from the Bulldogs, to the Saints one behind, gave Luke Beveridge's side lead by a commanding 49 points at half time.
They dominated the inside-50s 40 to 17 in the opening half, as well as the contested possession (81 to 58) and clearances (22 to 16).
When Jake Stringer kicked his fourth goal of the match, three minutes into the third term to put the Bulldogs ahead by 55 points, it seemed as though the Saints were done.
But remarkably they fought on.
Led by Armitage, Billings and Montagna the resurgent Saints kicked seven unanswered goals in the third term to reduce the deficit to just 12 points at three-quarter time.
By this time the Saints had restricted the run of Bulldogs' skipper Bob Murphy, Liam Picken and Jason Johannisen.
They also won the contested ball 21 more times than the Bulldogs' in the second term (78 to 57), and stepped up their pressure (27 second-half tackles to 18).
The tiring Bulldogs jumped out of the blocks in the final term with quick goals to Ayce Cordy and Mitch Honeychurch but they couldn't hold on to their 24-point lead.
Consecutive goals to Jack Billings put the Saints within 11 points, 13 minutes into the last quarter.
Sub Jack Sinclair goaled four minutes later to cut the Bulldogs' advantage back to five points before ruckman Tom Hickey stood tall to put the Saints in front for the first time since the opening 30 seconds of the game.
Fittingly it was Billings who put the result beyond doubt with three minutes remaining.
The Saints held on to record a historic victory, leaving Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge wondering where it all went wrong.
"It was the agony and the ecstasy really," Beveridge said after the game.
"We had a good first half and then it was the polar opposite really in the second half. We couldn't keep the ball in our forward line and we got beaten at the source.
"We gave the ball up a bit too easy and that was due to St Kilda's pressure and their ability to rebound.
"We just didn't have the same energy on the second half as we did in the first half."
Saints midfielder Shane Savage was subbed out of the game, following a knock to the head in the second term, but Richardson said he appeared to be fine after the match.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3 10.3 11.6 13.9 (87)
ST KILDA 2.2 2.3 9.6 14.10 (94)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 4, Picken 2, Goodes, Stevens, Wood, Crameri, Dahlhaus, Cordy, Honeychurch
St Kilda: Billings 4, Sinclair 2, Hickey 2, Schneider, Riewoldt, Lonie, Dunstan, Bruce, Armitage
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Picken, Stringer, Johannisen, Dickson, Macrae, Goodes
St Kilda: Armitage, Billings, Steven, Schneider, Fisher, Newnes, Sinclair
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Smith (right knee)
St Kilda: Savage (head)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Lachie Hunter replaced Clay Smith (right knee) at half time
St Kilda: Jack Sinclair replaced Shane Savage (concussion) at quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Stephens, Schmitt
Crowd: 29,619
