IT WAS a spluttering finish for two sides with so much promise heading into the year.

Gold Coast might have been the side to close out the season with the four points thanks to the 14.19 (103) to 12.8 (80) scoreline against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Thursday evening, but in the context, it meant very little.

SAINTS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

Skill errors littered the match, and frustrations showed themselves across the field as a result, with spotfires popping up everywhere and players punching the deck when turning the ball over.

Instead, focus was on 300-gamer Bradley Hill, becoming the ninth First Nations player to the milestone, and retirees Nick Holman and Dougal Howard.

Hill snagged an equal career-high 42 disposals, and Holman two goals, although it was a quieter night for Howard. Meanwhile, two of St Kilda's star recruits Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning finished the night on the pine with injuries.

But Max Hall was the star – as he has been for the better part of St Kilda's season. His intent at the contest, willingness to take on the Suns' big-name midfielders, and hard work to get dangerous forward, stood out across the evening. Hall capped off his season with 37 disposals, eight clearances, and one goal.

Gold Coast often fell into periods of sloppiness, caught out with some lackadaisical ball use. In those moments, St Kilda was able to capitalise, using serious speed on turnover and setting up its smalls in attack.

But it was like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Where one moment the Suns created direct turnovers with poor kicks, the next they got the bounce on rebound to fly straight up the corridor and hit the scoreboard. From one moment to the next, it was tough to predict which version of the Suns fans were going to get.

This evened out after half-time, however, as they took control of the game on a more consistent basis.

Leo Lombard (14 disposals, three goals) backed in his speed and took the game on to offer some highlights in an otherwise tricky watch, and Touk Miller (40 disposals, one goal) covered the ground beautifully.

The Saints weren't necessarily much cleaner, succumbing from pressure to hand the footy back to the visitors.

As players tired and the game opened up, Gold Coast created repeat opportunity in attack, but its third term led to just two goals from 10 scores, unable to finish its work to really put St Kilda away.

There was some joy to be had, however, with outgoing Sun Nick Holman able to hit the scoreboard twice, with every teammate on the field getting around the much-loved Sun each time.

The Saints identified the danger that was Ben King – the only player this season to goal in every round – and often double-teamed him in what may well have been his last outing in a Gold Coast guernsey, with Jed Walter and Ethan Read working in tandem in his wake.

Silvagni's showing, mere weeks after dislocating his shoulder, was brave to close out his first year in the red, white, and black. But he was ruled out for the final quarter following another heavy knock to the joint, while Hugh Boxshall offered the highlight of the night, flying beautifully for a mark late in the game, setting up his third goal of the match.

Thank you, Nick
In game No.154, Nick Holman bid goodbye to the AFL, and was always going to leave absolutely everything out there. First, a signature tackle effort at the top of the defensive 50 arc led to Gold Coast's opening goal of the game via the boot of Ben King. Then, after the siren to close out the first quarter, Holman calmly took a set shot to slot a major in his very last game. A well-loved teammate, all the Suns on the field got around him.

Not quite the fairytale for Dougal
Brought into the side for one last game after announcing his retirement, Dougal Howard played up forward for the Saints, rather than his usual post down back. It took until the 13-minute mark of the third term for him to get his first touch of the footy, as he ran toward an open 50m arc and took a ping from range. Fellow Saint Campbell Lake did the team thing, leaving it to ideally roll through for a goal, but the oval ball doesn't always do what you want. Instead, it pitched into the bottom of the goalpost, as groans rose from the small but vocal crowd.

Tensions boil over
In a match that in the context of the season meant very little, the start of the fourth term devolved into rolling melees to the braying crowd. Deep in Gold Coast's forward pocket, nearly every player on the ground crowded around an argument between Matt Rowell and Marcus Windhager, as spotfires broke out. Rowell was awarded the initial free kick – unable to convert for a score – but skirmishes kept popping up across the field. Jed Walter had words with outgoing Saint Dougal Howard. Rowan Marshall was brushing off any Sun that came his way.

ST KILDA              5.1     8.5      9.6       12.8 (80)
GOLD COAST        7.4    10.8    12.16    14.19 (103)

GOALS
St Kilda: Boxshall 3, Ryan 2, Owens 2, Byrnes 2, Marshall, Hall, Garcia
Gold Coast: Lombard 3, King 3, Walter 2, Holman 2, Miller, Long, Gulbin, Anderson

BEST
St Kilda: Hall, Hill, Boxshall, Stocker, Marshall
Gold Coast: Lombard, Miller, Anderson, Rowell, Humphrey, Noble

INJURIES
St Kilda: Silvagni (right shoulder), De Koning (right shoulder)
Gold Coast: Nil

Crowd: 14,429 at Marvel Stadium