Here's five things we learned from St Kilda's win over Gold Coast on Saturday.

1. Billings goes big

The Saints needed a hero.

And boy did Jack Billings step up to the plate.

After a quiet week in Shanghai, the 23-year-old turned it on in Townsville, piecing together a match-winning performance complete with 33 disposals, 11 tackles, eight marks and two majors.

Even more remarkable were his efforts in the final term, where he had 10 disposals, six tackles and kicked a pair of goals to will the Saints to victory.

Billings showed his class primarily along the outer wing, with his strong outing again highlighting his growing presence and influence through the St Kilda midfield.

Saturday marked Billings’ third game for the year with 30+ disposals and the fourth with two goals, while from his past four games against the Suns, he’s averaged a shade under 30 touches.

And while Rowan Marshall (40 hit-outs, 18 disposals) and Seb Ross (31 disposals, 10 clearances) joined him among the best afield, top honours truly belonged to JB.

2. Another close shave

Once again, the Saints and Suns went right down to the wire.

For a third consecutive time, the result between the two sides was determined by less than a goal, and in the final minute no less.

Jade Gresham’s miracle snap in 2018 and Darragh Joyce’s last-ditch spoil in Round 1 played pivotal roles in St Kilda’s respective two and one-point victories, but the result almost ended up in Gold Coast’s favour this time around.

With 22 seconds left on the clock, the Suns took full advantage of Tim Membrey’s missed chance of sealing the game, running the ball from end-to-end with two opportune kicks.

Fortunately for the visitors, a sweeping Shane Savage scooped up the loose ball and bombed it long to confirm the result.

There’s only one word to sum up what every Saints fan was thinking when the final siren sounded:

‘Phew’.

3. Hind slots his first on debut

It was a moment that had been seven years in the making.

Nick Hind has worked his way to the elite level the hard way, slogging it out in Essendon’s VFL team after first making his name in the Ballarat Football League.

Hind was at last selected with pick No. 54 in last year’s draft, but on Saturday, the mature-age recruit’s dream of playing on the big stage eventuated.  

Ending his first outing in the red, white and black with seven disposals at 100 per cent efficiency, two tackles and three inside 50s, it was a solid debut for the 24-year-old.

And his goal in the second quarter was the cherry on top.

Hanging onto a spearing pass from Blake Acres, Hind went back to put through just the Saints’ second major of the game as his teammates flocked to him; fellow recruits Jonathon Marsh and Callum Wilkie among the first to surround the boy from Clunes.

His father, John, was just as emotional from the grandstand, wiping away tears of joy – and relief – as his son kicked true.

With the exception of Wilkie, every St Kilda debutant this season has jagged a major in their first game.

Pressure’s on the Saints’ six yet-to-be debutants…

4. Wasteful entries almost cost Saints

While Hind’s maiden major offered a fleeting moment of joy, there wasn’t a great deal to get excited about in the first half of the game.

It was an exasperating state of affairs in St Kilda’s forward line, with a goalless opening term – the first time it’s happened all season – and just 2.5 kicked to half-time rounding out the Saints’ lowest half-time score for 2019.

The Saints registered 29 inside 50s in the first half, yet haphazard kicks long (49 per cent efficiency) and dropped marks prevented the visitors from getting on the scoreboard.

Post-match, Alan Richardson admitted it was “hard to watch” at times.

But the Saints lifted in the following stanza, booting nine goals to six off the back of their dominance in the tackles (46-31), accumulation of uncontested footy (+46 in the second half) and directed kicks when moving forward.

Tim Membrey capitalised best, notching up a match-high 10 marks (two contested, five inside 50) for a three-goal reward, while Rowan Marshall helped improve the Saints at the source with his impressive rucking display.

And as a result, the four points went to St Kilda.

5. A match-winning tackle

After injuring his thigh in the first half, Brandon White was limited to playing as one of the Saints’ deepest forwards as the match wore on.

It was far from his regular home at half-back, but White was nonetheless able to exert his influence in what was arguably a moment which gave the Saints the four points.

With seven minutes left on the clock, Josh Bruce tumbled the ball inside 50, with Gold Coast’s Jack Lukosius scooping up the bouncing ball after it bypassed Tim Membrey.

Despite being far from full mobility, White dug deep, gathered his momentum and lunged forward in desperation, bringing Lukosius down with him as the umpire called holding the ball.

Jack Billings was ultimately the final benefactor, putting through his second to extend St Kilda’s lead to eight points.

It ended up being the final goal for the Saints, before they managed to ward off a late surge from the Suns to hold onto victory.

White has often been likened as a “product of hard work”, especially during his time for Sandringham.

That clutch tackle proves why.