Tom Hickey is back.

The big man starred for the Saints in their thrilling draw with the Giants on Saturday afternoon.

Hickey’s stirring performance in the middle of the ground was critical for St Kilda, on a day where they rediscovered the manic pressure they’ve so desperately missed in recent weeks.

“It was just really good to get back playing our way, and playing the way we know we can”, he said.

“We can really hold our heads up high and try and use this as a turning point for the season.”

Close to best on ground, the 27-year-old collected 18 possessions in a dominant ruck display.

“I just had a really big focus on my follow-up and I try to use my run against those bigger ruckmen.”

The Saints were inspired under Hickey, and their hunger for the football was reminiscent of the intensity that toppled the Giants in the same fixture last year.

He produced the ultimate ruck performance, competing aggressively in the air and attacking the ball at ground level with all the enthusiasm of an on-baller, laying five tackles.

“We wanted to be known for our pressure and we have been for the last couple of years, but we’ve probably gone away from that a little bit,” Hickey said after the draw.

Hickey earned an equal team-high 11 contested possessions and won 29 hit-outs, and his willingness to throw himself at the football was instrumental at the coalface.

“We know that our way’s good enough if we play our way, so we’ve just gotta keep persisting with it.

“We did that today but unfortunately didn’t get all the way.”

Pressure was a big focus for Alan Richardson’s side coming into the match and the Saints will look to replicate a similar standard next week against the Hawks in Tasmania.

“The focus will be the same as this week,” he said.

“Let’s try and play to our strengths and let’s try and have real pressure as the focus, and hopefully get away with the four points.”