Dan Butler kicked a career-high five goals to lift St Kilda to a crucial 28-point AFL victory over West Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
The Eagles fell behind by just three points when Jack Darling scored twice in three minutes midway through the third quarter.
But St Kilda kicked the next four goals to seal a 14.6 (90) to 10.2 (62) victory in front of 35,665 fans.
The result means St Kilda (10-8) are just a percentage point adrift of the eighth-placed Western Bulldogs with four rounds remaining,
The former Tiger Butler finished with 5.0 from 14 disposals in a career-best display from 101 games, bettering his four-goal haul against Gold Coast in 2020.
Saints captain Jack Steele racked up 40 disposals and 11 disposals in a dominant midfield effort.
Camera icon Jack Steele celebrates after monster midfield display helps West Coast sink. Credit: Dan Carson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images
West Coast defender Tom Barrass did an excellent job with St Kilda star forward Max King.
Barrass had a team-high 26 disposals with eight points, while King was limited to 2.1 from 12 possessions.
West Coast second baseman Jai Culley showed his potential with 19 possessions, seven tackles, three clearances and a goal.
St Kilda were dealt a huge blow when Jack Billings suffered a game-ending back injury in the opening minutes.
West Coast led by five points midway through the second quarter when fullback Josh Rotham, playing as a secondary ruckman, grabbed his second goal of the game.
But the Saints finished the first half with a flurry, grabbing four of the last five goals to take a 16-point lead into the long break.
The Saints were dominant in every key statistic in the first half, winning inside 50 (32-17), clearances (22-15) and contested possessions (76-55).
Unfortunately, West Coast’s star midfielders Luke Shuey and Tim Kelly only had five possessions between them in the first half.
Kelly, who was a doubt for the game after a cork in his quad last week, fought back against a hard tag from Marcus Windhager.
The tempo picked up in the third quarter as the home side threatened to take the lead thanks to two quick goals from Darling.
But with their finals hopes on the line, St Kilda managed to settle.
King beat Barrass to kick the crucial first goal of the final quarter, and Butler got his fourth and fifth goals to end the game.