St Kilda has stumbled in its hunt for a long-awaited finals campaign, succumbing to a resolute Melbourne by three points in Alice Springs on Saturday night.
The Saints were caught on the back foot in the Heart of the Nation game, and with multiple missed chances in front of goal, suffered their second consecutive loss by less than a straight kick.
Although Christian Petracca's four-goal bag delivered the most scoreboard damage, St Kilda's stifled ball movement, hopeful forward entries and squandered shots on goal were what ultimately let them down.
Jack Steele (26 disposals, one goal), Jack Sinclair (14 disposals, seven inside-50s) and Bradley Hill were the Saints' main drivers through the midfield, with Hill racking up 12 touches in the last to almost will his side to victory.
The Saints' spirited final-quarter burst – which mirrored their last-gasp blitz nearing half-time – drew Brett Ratten's men within single figures after Tim Membrey slotted his first of the evening with four minutes remaining, but Melbourne held firm in the 8.4 (52) to 7.7 (49) triumph to slide into the top-eight.
St Kilda remained in touch with their gutsy opponents for the whole match, but despite comfortably winning the inside-50s (46-30) and centre clearances (11-2) were outpointed in several areas across the ground, which were then compounded by unforced errors heading into attack.
For Melbourne, a brilliant defensive job from Steven May (22 disposals, nine marks) blanketed the offensive and prevented tall targets from inflicting damage in the air.
The Saints' slow start to the match, conceding four goals either side of quarter-time, proved costly as the Demons and Petracca got the ball rolling in the Top End.
Ed Phillips' composed finish in front of goal brought some much-needed spark to break Melbourne's run late in the second term, and when Steele and Rowan Marshall converted within the final minute of the quarter, the tight on-field tussle was reflected on the scoreboard with just two points separating the prospective finalists at the main change.
Steele had 16 disposals and a goal to his name at half-time, forcing Simon Goodwin to move hard-nut Jack Viney onto the star Saint for the rest of the game.
With the Dees' dominant start to the game unravelled, both sides went goal-for-goal in the third as Josh Battle, Petracca and a runaway Paddy Ryder and Sam Weideman resulted in four lead changes for the term.
Save for the see-sawing scoring opportunities, play was largely contained between the arcs with neither side were able to land decisive or long-lasting blows moving in attack.
A contentious score review in the final quarter – Petracca's fourth – popped the Demons' nose in front with six minutes left, and after Membrey kicked his first in the dying minutes, it looked as if the Saints might just be able to pinch the win.
The clock ultimately won out however, seeing Ratten's troops remain in sixth position on the ladder.
St Kilda will have its bye next week before squaring off against Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon at Metricon Stadium, while Melbourne will face Sydney at Cazaly's Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
MELBOURNE 4.0 5.1 7.3 8.4 (52)
ST KILDA 1.3 4.5 6.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS
Melbourne: Petracca 4, Weideman 2, Gawn, Brown
St Kilda: King, Phillips, Steele, Marshall, Battle, Ryder, Membrey
BEST
Melbourne: May, Petracca, Oliver, Langdon, Viney, Gawn
St Kilda: Steele, Hill, Sinclair, Wilkie, Ross, Coffield, Geary
INJURIES
Melbourne: Hibberd (ankle)
St Kilda: Nil
