St Kilda held its nerve to close out Gather Round with a gritty, season-shaping win over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, resisting a furious late surge to hand Ross Lyon a crucial result and avoid a 1โ4 start.
The Saints were the better side for much of the night but were forced to withstand a wave of Port momentum after the home side slammed on four of the last five goals of the third term.
What had been a controlled performance suddenly turned into a scrap, the margin slashed to single digits at the final change as the Adelaide Oval crowd found its voice.
Zak Butters was at the centre of it all, dragging Port forward with relentless energy and class, while giving away cheap 50 metre penalties and getting reported for abusive language at the same time.
Amid all the drama, St Kilda refused to fold.
Instead, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera delivered the defining performance. The classy playmaker gathered 27 disposals and kicked two goals in a display that underlined his rising influence โ and carried extra edge given he could have been wearing Port colours had he chosen to leave last year. On a night where composure was everything, Wanganeen-Milera had it in spades.
St Kildaโs response in the final term was measured. When Port surged, the Saints answered. When the game threatened to break, they steadied behind the ball and controlled territory just enough to keep the Power at armโs length.
Port had its chances, but repeated entries were repelled by a disciplined St Kilda defence that refused to give an inch in the closing stages.
In contrast, Port Adelaide and its superstar Butters showed a rare ill-disciplined side.
Butters was told by umpire Nick Foot that he had been reported for abusive language after giving away a 50 metre penalty while Mitch Owens was lining up for goal.
โIโd love to know what the language that I said, because I went up to him after the game to have a chat and he said he didnโt want to speak to me,โ Butters told Seven after the game.
Lyon admitted post-match his side still has clear areas to fix, particularly around the contest.
โTonight was like the third quarterโฆ we could have been better, particularly the first quarter, like contest and pressure, clearance work,โ Lyon said.
โThey really got right on top around the contest and ground ballโฆ it was like minus-four. In those conditions, I just thought that was really fundamental.โ
The Saints coach was pleased with his sideโs ability to fight, even if the performance wasnโt complete.
โI like that element of the psychology of the team, that weโre putting everything out there,โ he said.
โThereโs no excusesโฆ in some ways itโs easier to come from behind, because if you fall short youโre more devastated when youโre in front and you lose.โ
Lyon also highlighted the emotional resilience within his group, pointing to the story Jack Higgins, who has overcome significant personal adversity to return to the level and play his 150th game.
โWhen you hear the storyโฆ brain surgeryโฆ and then coming back and playing how he does, itโs pretty special,โ Lyon said.
There were other contributors, too. Callum Wilkie stood tall in defence, while the Saintsโ midfield, despite being beaten at times around the ball, found enough key moments late to wrestle back control.
Ultimately, it was a win built on resilience as much as polish โ and one that keeps St Kildaโs season alive after a shaky opening month.
For Lyon, the focus is already shifting.
โI donโt live in emotion. I just live in a weekly cycle, try and improve,โ he said.
St Kilda may still be a work in progress, but on Sunday night, they showed they have the fight to stay in the contest โ both within games and across their season.
