ST KILDA forward Josh Bruce has kicked a final-minute goal to all-but end Fremantle's finals hopes.

The Dockers appeared in the box seat for a September return when they led by nine points in the dying stages at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, but returning star Jack Steven snapped his third goal and Bruce finally hit the scoreboard in emphatic fashion to give the Saints a 10.12 (72) to 10.9 (69) victory.

SAINTS STEAL IT Full match coverage and stats

In a frantic final minute, St Kilda speedster Nick Hind hit a leading Bruce, who coolly converted an otherwise regulation shot from 35 metres.

With just 39 seconds left, Fremantle took the ball forward, but St Kilda youngster Josh Battle took a saving mark that enabled his team to hold on.

WATCH See the dramatic final two minutes

The result strengthens Brett Ratten's campaign for the St Kilda coaching job given he has guided the Saints to three victories in the past four rounds, while under-pressure Fremantle coach Ross Lyon faces a fourth successive season without September action.

Bruce will gain many plaudits for rising to the occasion when it mattered most, but the hero was four-time club champion Steven who, despite appearing a little out of shape, was a firestarter forward of centre in his first game back after a mental health break. He could easily have put the Saints in front late, but his long running shot missed everything.

Ratten said the influence of the veteran pair was just what his young side needed.

'GREAT FOR OUR FOOTY CLUB' Ratten lauds returning duo

"There was a lot of errors but then to persist and those blokes (Steven and Hannebery) have an influence on the game, that's just great for our footy club," Ratten said.

"To see Jack with a big smile, three goals.

"Also I thought 'Hanners' in the first half was very influential with some of his run and his ball use to just allow us to control the footy."

SHOWREEL Comeback Saints Steven, Hannebery make an impact

The Saints were also well served by midfielders Seb Ross and Jack Billings, while Shane Savage and Jake Carlisle were solid in defence.

Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe almost willed team his over the line with a brilliant 35-disposal two-goal display, while Bradley Hill and Ed Langdon were also prolific, creative runners.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon said his side's inability to control Jake Carlisle's influence in the final term, where the Saints backman repelled attack after attack with timely marks, was critical in the defeat.

"Of course we're frustrated. We invest a lot. I would think our finals opportunities close," Lyon said.

'WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST' Lyon not ruling out farewell game for goalsneak

"But to come interstate, really compete like we did, I can't really question the effort."

Nat Fyfe couldn't have done much more for the desperate Dockers. Picture: AFL Photos

It wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing contest with poor decision making and poor skill execution the order of the day, particularly in the first half, but it was an enthralling one nonetheless.

Freo was fresh from conjuring a surprise belting of league leader Geelong in Perth, but little of that form was evident early as the Saints burst out of the blocks with dash and dare to rack up 11 of first 12 forward entries to lead 3.1 to 0.1.

The return of Dan Hannebery (for just his third AFL game this season) and Steven proved significant with both prominent early, Hannebery slotting back-to-back opportunist goals – the ex-Swan's first majors for the club – via crafty snaps.

All was going swimmingly for the seasiders before the endured a horror latter part of the first quarter when they were disadvantaged by three players leaving the field for treatment in quick succession.

Young defender Nick Coffield copped a dislocated right shoulder and didn't return, while ruckman Rowan Marshall seemed to suffered a serious left knee injury after landing awkwardly in a marking contest but made a miraculous recovery to play out the game. Bruce needed treatment for a facial cut.

Rowan Marshall went down in agony, but was able to play out the game. Picture: AFL Photos

Fyfe dragged his team back into the contest, driving the Dockers to six of the next eight goals to lead by seven points late in the second term. By half-time, the powerful midfielder had amassed 21 possessions and two of Freo's goals, the second of which gave it the lead for the first time.

A kicking clanger from second-game Docker Jason Carter gifted the Saints a late goal to Luke Dunstan and the Saints grabbed a one-point advantage at the long break.

Five goals were scored in the third term – three to Freo and two to St Kilda – and the lead changed each time. The last of these goals, to Dockers youngster Lachie Schultz, raised the ire of Saints fans after Freo veteran David Mundy was tackled by the shorts for a seeming eternity.

The Dockers led by seven points at three-quarter time, and the next goal wasn't scored until 18 minutes into a desperate final term when Fremantle small forward Brandon Matera had his team's first scoring shot for the quarter, nailing a long set shot.

Steven's snap inside the final two minutes then set the stage for Bruce's heroics.

MEDICAL ROOM

St Kilda: Nick Coffield appears likely to miss the remaining two games after dislocating his right shoulder in the first term – a disappointing result for a youngster who had made solid progress in recent weeks. Rowan Marshall looked lucky to escape a dreaded anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee in the first quarter but, after being treated and tested, returned to the field for the start of the second quarter with the joint strapped and played out the contest seemingly without any further issues. Josh Bruce received stitches to a facial cut, also in the first term, while Josh Battle had a profusely bleeding nose in the last quarter but returned to take an important mark in defence in the dying seconds.

Josh Battle was battered and bloodied after the win. Picture: AFL Photos

Fremantle: The Dockers seemed to escape with a clean bill of health.

NEXT UP
Fremantle hosts Essendon at Optus Stadium on Saturday night in a game they need to win easily, while St Kilda faces Carlton at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

ST KILDA            4.3    6.5    8.7    10.12 (72)
FREMANTLE      2.3    6.4    9.8    10.9 (69)

GOALS
St Kilda: Steven 3, Hannebery 2, Membrey 2, Dunstan, Battle, Bruce
Fremantle: Fyfe 2, Matera 2, Walters, Darcy, Switkowski, Crowden, Langdon, Schultz

BEST
St Kilda: Ross, Billings, Hannebery, Steven, Savage, Carlisle
Fremantle: Fyfe, Langdon, Hill, Blakely, Tucker, Duman

INJURIES
St Kilda: Coffield (right shoulder), Marshall (left knee)
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Dalgleish, Gavine, Glouftsis 

Official crowd: 17,715 at Marvel Stadium