St Kilda have recorded their most-important victory of the AFL season, downing an undermanned Western Bulldogs by 15 points at Etihad Stadium.
Skipper Nick Riewoldt booted four goals to help the Saints bank three straight wins for the first time since 2011.
They sit eight points behind eight-placed North Melbourne on the ladder and remain an outside chance of contesting finals this year.
The Bulldogs' top-four hopes took a hit while they finished with one fit man on the bench, losing 11.9 (75) to 9.6 (60).
Veteran defender Dale Morris played no part in the second half, further stretching an inexperienced defence that was struggling to contain Riewoldt.
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Jack Redpath and Mitch Wallis were also hurt in the final quarter, the latter suffering what looked to be a serious ankle injury.
The Bulldogs failed to score in the final term.
Morris' setback came as Riewoldt threatened to bust the game wide open.
Riewoldt kicked three goals in a run of five consecutive goals from the Saints, who led by 19 points in the third quarter when Tim Membrey missed a simple set shot.
It was the biggest lead enjoyed by either side in a very tight tussle and St Kilda looked set to kick clear.
But the Bulldogs rallied with three goals in the space of two-and-a-half minutes.
Marcus Bontempelli, who was the Bulldogs' best player with 25 possessions and three goals, helped level the scores.
St Kilda steadied with the next two goals of the match, thanks to Nathan Wright and Jade Gresham, and the Bulldogs were unable to respond.
The Bulldogs dearly missed injured forward Jake Stringer, their leading goalkicker for the season.
Both sides looked to move the ball at breakneck pace and applied fierce pressure, resulting in a slew of turnovers but also some brilliant passages of play.
Saints midfielder Jack Steven was involved in plenty of those highlights.
Steven finished with 39 disposals but tallied 26 of them in a scintillating first half.
"I was really pleased with the performance ... our pressure was solid for four quarters," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.
"There were a couple of periods where we lost a bit of dare but generally we looked to attack."
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was shattered after the game, confirming Wallis had broken both bones in his left leg.
Redpath will require a knee reconstruction.
"The result and game almost pale into insignificance," Beveridge said.
