1. Super sub Cockatoo steps up, Savage sprays one wide
When Steven Motlop was pinged for running too far as he streamed towards goal in the fourth quarter it seemed that it just wasn't going to be Geelong's night. But then up stepped young gun Nakia Cockatoo with the biggest goal of his short career. The first-year Cat had ice running through his veins as he unloaded a big bomb on the run from 40m, bringing the house down and breathing new life back into the Geelong’s finals hopes by putting his side up by a point.  But in the thrilling dying seconds, St Kilda rushed the ball forward and Shane Savage's snap was forced wide as he was tackled. A draw was the least the gallant Saints deserved. 

2. Cats' finals dream almost over
It was a match the Cats simply couldn't afford to lose if they want to make the top eight and a draw wasn't much better. Chris Scott's men are far from assured of a ninth-straight finals campaign. They are four points behind North Melbourne in eighth spot, and the Roos have a game in hand against Fremantle on Sunday. Adelaide's thumping win over the Brisbane Lions puts it six points clear with two rounds to play. But if the Crows lose to the Eagles next week and the Cats defeat the Pies then it will all come down to the round 23 match between Geelong and Adelaide with the winner guaranteed a spot in the finals. 

3. History-making Holmes ignites Saints
On a day when his countryman Mason Cox bagged five goals in the VFL, Chicago native Jason Holmes became the first born-and-bred American to play AFL - and it was an enthralling sight. The high-leaping 25-year-old lost the opening tap, but followed up on the ground to win a handball – forcing the clearance for the Saints' rapid-fire first goal. A huge cheer erupted when he won the second hit-out, but the best was yet to come with a massive leap over Nathan Vardy and chase-down tackle to catch Cam Guthrie holding the ball. The big man settled well and finished with seven disposals and 34 hit-outs showing, after just two years and 35 VFL matches, that there's plenty to be excited about. 

WATCH: Big American's freakish athletic display

4. Comeback Cat back in town
There was another good news story in the ruck, with Geelong's Nathan Vardy putting two years dogged by injury behind him to pull on the blue and white hoops once more. The 199cm Cat hadn't played at the top level since the 2013 preliminary final loss to Hawthorn, having undergone a knee reconstruction and three follow-up surgeries. It was a selection shock, but in his 22nd career game Vardy got off to a flyer, booting Geelong's steadying first goal after St Kilda's onslaught. He slotted a second next term and got through unscathed. Fingers crossed the big Cat's luck has changed.

5. Stevie J goes from zero to hero
When you're potentially playing to keep your career alive, waltzing into an open goal and getting run down isn't a good look. But that's unfortunately what happened for Steve Johnson in the second term as he was completely unaware Shane Savage was about to mow him down from behind. Saints fans went wild as Stevie J's scrubber kick rolled through for a point, but like the champion he is, Johnson redeemed himself just minutes later with a miraculous left-footed snap running towards the boundary line to put the Cats ahead for the first time. It was the frustration and genius of Johnson's career encapsulated in five minutes. That aside, his four-goal display was another strong audition for a new contract.