A win over St.Kilda would have had the Western Bulldogs sitting on top of the ladder overnight, but they couldn't stop the run and enthusiasm of the Saints as they emerged 15-point winners on Saturday night.
As the Bulldogs rued a missed opportunity to consolidate a top-four position and counted the cost of injuries to Mitch Wallis, Dale Morris and Jack Redpath, the Saints posted a hard-fought 11.9 (75) to 9.6 (60) win.
St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt again haunted the Bulldogs, bagging four goals despite tweaking his troublesome right knee in the second term when he slotted three of his majors.
At the other end, Marcus Bontempelli stepped into the Jake Stringer void to kick 3.3 from 25 possessions and often threatened as a potential match winner.
Non-stop Saints midfielder Jack Steven amassed a game-high 39 possessions, 30 of which came by the six-minute mark of the third term.
Small forward Mav Weller was simply courageous, recovering from an early head clash that left him dazed and spitting blood, to be a superb competitor.
Two quick Bontempelli goals gave the Dogs a two-goal buffer by the nine-minute mark of the second quarter, which proved the cue for an impressive rearguard action from St Kilda.
Against the flow, the Saints hit back with seven of the next nine goals – including three to the inspirational Riewoldt – to establish a 19-point lead by the 10-minute mark of the third term.
The margin could easily have been 24 points, but Tim Membrey, after receiving a pass from Riewoldt, missed a set shot from 40 metres for what would have been his third major.
It was a 12-point play, as the Dogs immediately rushed the ball forward for a snapped goal to Tory Dickson, his second.
This was followed by two more rapid Bulldogs goals and a Bontempelli snap for a behind levelled the scores.
A terrific left-foot snap from young Saint Jade Gresham was followed by another behind to the ever-threatening Bontempelli, who missed after the three-quarter-time siren.
Saint Nathan Wright calmly converted early in the final term to extend the Saints advantage to 11 points.
When Redpath and then Wallis went down by midway through the final term, the Dogs were down to just one rotation, prompting Dogs coach Luke Beveridge to move down to the bench to manage his team.
The bruised Bulldogs were held scoreless in the final term as the Saints frittered away several opportunities to seal the result. It mattered nought.
Supporting Bontempelli for the Dogs were Lachie Hunter, who continued his prolific season, while Jack Macrae, Jason Johannisen and Matt Suckling were always dangerous with their run and ball use.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.2 6.4 9.6 9.6 (60)
ST KILDA 3.3 7.4 10.5 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 3, Dickson 2, Smith, Redpath, Suckling, Jong
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Membrey 2, Weller, Armitage, Steven, Gresham, Wright
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Hunter, Macrae, M.Boyd
St Kilda: Steven, Riewoldt, Hickey, Newnes, Dempster, Weller
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Dale Morris (left quad), Jack Redpath (right knee), Wallis (left ankle)
St Kilda: Weller (cut to chin), Leigh Montagna (corked left quad)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chamberlain, Harris, Mollison
Official crowd: 26,532 at Etihad Stadium
