FREMANTLE'S undefeated run ended not with a whimper but a bang as Mark Harvey's side went the distance with St Kilda on Sunday evening.

The Saints won by 15 points, 16.12 (108) to 14.9 (93), with the game in the balance until late in the final quarter.

One point was the biggest margin at any of the breaks, with Fremantle ahead at quarter time, scores level at the half and St Kilda in front as they turned for home.

Four unanswered goals to begin the fourth quarter finally burst the game open for the Saints - who remain one of two undefeated sides - but even then the visitors struck back with goals to David Mundy and Clancee Pearce.

“We’ve learned we can take it right up to most teams,” Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said after the match.

“I mean, we have been wiped off the park the last couple of years against St Kilda, particularly on the road ... that we are getting closer to these top sides is important.”

Brendon Goddard booted five goals for the winners, as did Stephen Milne, after a tumultuous week in which he hit the headlines for his heated exchange with Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse.

"I think it is good that you recognise his effort and his leadership under a great deal of adversity," coach Ross Lyon said after the game.

"He had to fight for everything he got tonight. He didn’t get too many on a platter from anywhere.”

In the first week without injured skipper Nick Riewoldt it was a re-jigged Saints forward line to start the game with Jason Gram and Sam Fisher lined up in attack at the first bounce. They were soon joined by Goddard.

Goddard, who has spent the past few years as an onballer/backman was the dominant forward for the Saints and managed to outbody key defenders Luke McPharlin and Chris Tarrant.

Lyon described Goddard’s game as "solid" and admitted it would be difficult finding someone to make way for tall forward Justin Koschitzke, who returns from suspension for next week’s game against Port Adelaide.

“It’s hard to change a winning team. It’s horses for courses. The other aspect is, who goes out?”

Greg Broughton and Paul Duffield worked hard out of the back half for Fremantle while the season’s surprise packet Michael Barlow broke even in his duel with relentless tagger Clint Jones. Nick Dal Santo did as he pleased throughout the game and seemed to escape the attention of Fremantle who were focused on shutting down acting captain Lenny Hayes.

The Saints seemed undersized around the ground without Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke. Their height deficiency was obvious, particularly when Aaron Sandilands was near the ball.

Matthew Pavlich was giving the Saints headaches and got the better of Zac Dawson, Sam Gilbert and James Gwilt.

St Kilda set the tone in the final quarter. An early goal to Goddard was quickly followed by another by Milne to give the home side the biggest lead of the day. The Saints kicked the next two but Fremantle would not go away easily.

David Armitage’s grunt work in the centre was a big reason behind St Kilda getting over the line. He had 12 disposals, seven of which were contested in the final quarter.

St Kilda       4.3   7.4  12.7  16.12 (108)
Fremantle   4.2   7.4  12.6  14.9 (93)

GOALS
St Kilda: Goddard 5, Milne 5, Dal Santo 2, Schneider 2, Jones, McQualter
Fremantle: Pavlich 5, Hill 2, Pearce 2, McPhee, Ballantyne, Mundy, Mayne

BEST
St Kilda: Dal Santo, Goddard, Milne, Schneider, Jones, Geary, Montagna
Fremantle: Pavlich, Sandilands, Hill, Duffield, Hayden, Mundy, Barlow

INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, Ryan, Pannell

Official crowd: 29,814 at Etihad Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.