Jack Higgins might not kick another goal greater than that in his career. But if he does, it'll have to be something incredibly special.

With just 12 seconds remaining, the Saints' sizzling small forward potentially snuffed out Carlton’s finals chances in the final 12 seconds of Sunday’s exhilarating game, arcing home an amazing over-the-shoulder snap to hand St Kilda a thrilling two-point triumph at Marvel Stadium.

After trailing since half-time in the tight tussle, Carlton finally hit the front through sub Ashton Muir and small forward Jesse Motlop and looked all but set to race toward to a come-from-behind before Higgins’ heart-racing intervention secured the result 11.8 (74) to 11.10 (76).

The Saints looked to have missed their chance after Mattaes Phillipou, arguably his side’s best afield, blew a set shot with just over a minute to play - it coming mere moments after Brodie Kemp missed a goal of his own to all but ice the game - but the red, white and black weren’t done yet as Higgins bobbed up for his arguably best major of the season.

Carlton had the chance to steal back the lead in the final 10 seconds, but Zak Jones' match-saving smother as the Blues pressed into attack was enough to stave them off. 

Needing a win to secure their top-eight spot, the undermanned Blues, who sat in the top-four at the close of Round 20, will now be sweating on the final contest of the home-and-away season between Fremantle and Port Adelaide to determine its fate; a win to the former shutting the door on a September berth.

But the Saints needed to do their job first in order to play ‘Grinch’ and close out its own season with momentum, holding firm in the tight and high-pressure tussle under the roof to see out the Blues’ push to the finish line.

SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 24

Jack Sinclair and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera were central to the Saints' success, providing much-needed composure as the intensity reached fever-pitch, while for the Blues it was regular contributors Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Nic Newman who almost willed their side over the line.

Ironically, it was former Blues Liam Stocker and Paddy Dow who had influential impacts on the contest; Stocker’s role alongside Cripps, who was well-held before his direct opponent was subbed out of the game with a groin issue, an important facet in the eventual success.

Dow also drove home a much-needed major — which drew the ire of the Carlton crowd in the aftermath of a contentious free kick — to stymie the Blues’ third-quarter patch which threatened to undo St Kilda’s hard work, with ex-Saint Blake Acres popping up with two crucial majors to prevent the margin from billowing beyond 20 points.

Cripps again put his side on his back (30 disposals) and led the charge as his side attempted to reassert control, but despite the second and third terms seeing both the Saints and Blues locked in terms of goals scored, the visitors maintained their buffer despite wave after wave.

The skipper loomed large early despite receiving attention, winning the first clearance of the game to alleviate the tension and put George Hewett on the board to open his side's account. But the pressure was well absorbed from that point afterwards by the Saints, with Rowan Marshall rolling home a much-needed steadier as the methodical ball movement and short chip-kicks further up the ground broke through the Blues' defensive structure.

That composure didn't last all the way through as the margin tightened up late and the pressure cranked up to extraordinary levels. Nervy moments filtered into both sides’ performances as the minutes ticked down; a potentially match-ending turnover in the middle of the ground spoiled by Mason Wood before sub Ashton Moir made amends moments later to put his side two points adrift. 

It had heart-racer written all over it as the contest boiled down to its final minutes and the Blues hit the front via Motlop, and it certainly didn't disappoint. But St Kilda's Jack in the box still had one surprise, springing up at the last possible moment to break the Blues' hearts.

CARLTON  1.3  4.3  9.5  11.8 (74)
ST KILDA  2.2  5.7  10.8. 11.10 (76)

GOALS
Carlton: Acres 2, Hewett, Pittonet, Binns, Carroll, Fantasia, Owies, Motlop, Moir, Kemp
St Kilda: Wood 2, Membrey 2, Higgins 2, Marshall, Phillipou, Byrnes, Jones, Dow

BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Walsh, Newman, Acres, Hewett
St Kilda: Phillipou, Wanganeen-Milera, Sinclair, Marshall, Battle, Wilson, Jones

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
St Kilda: Stocker (groin)

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Ashton Moir replaced Jack Carroll in the fourth quarter
St Kilda: Hugo Garcia replaced Liam Stocker (groin) in the third quarter

CROWD
43,843 at Marvel Stadium