The Saints began well with five goals to two in the first quarter, but after the Dogs fought back in the second quarter and then kicked the first three goals of the third term, the game was threatening to get away from them.
But a burst of six goals in just 10 minutes that included three in five from Spider Everitt and other majors from Jason Traianides, Lenny Hayes and Craig Callaghan brought a new complexion over the match.
In a see-sawing final quarter, Kingsley Hunter kicked his fourth goal six minutes in to reduce the gap to three points, before Traianides’ second of the match gave the Saints a handy buffer.
After a rushed behind took the Saints to a nine point lead, Brad Johnson gave the Dogs hope with his third goal, but despite Everitt and defender Max Hudghton missing late shots, the Saints hung on to win.
As well as Everitt’s five goals, the Saints were led from the front by skipper Robert Harvey, who picked up 33 possessions (22 kicks and 11 handballs), Craig Callaghan (26 touches) and Nathan Burke (24).
Chris Grant and Hunter both managed four goals in a losing side, while Jose Romero (23 possessions), Tony Liberatore and Luke Darcy (19 each) tried hard as the likes of Rohan Smith and Scott West were well held.
Earlier in the match, the Saints jumped out of the blocks, former Kangaroo premiership player Matthew Capuano taking a strong mark from fellow St Kilda new boy Brett Voss to open their account for 2001 with a goal inside the first 60 seconds.
When veteran Stewart Loewe and Everitt added goals, the Saints had opened up a 21-point lead midway through the quarter, but Liberatore found Bulldog focal point Chris Grant from the centre clearance and Grant made no mistake.
When Johnson added another the Dogs were back in business, but the new-look Saints kicked the last two goals of the quarter through dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey and Everitt.
A change came over the game early in the second quarter, as the Bulldogs slammed on five goals in 15 minutes, through Paul Dimattina, Johnson, Luke Darcy, Dimattina and Rohan Murphy to take the lead.
But the Saints steadied with Nathan Burke kicking his second and another from Lenny Hayes putting them back on level terms.
The Dogs went ahead again through Grant’s third and another from former Docker Hunter, but St Kilda stayed within touch at the main interval with a late goal to Cayden Beetham.
MATCH DETAILS:
ST KILDA: 5.5, 9.6, 15.11, 16.16 (112)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.4, 10.6, 14.9, 16.11 (107)
Goals: St Kilda: P Everitt 5, N Burke 2, L Hayes 2, J Traianidis 2, C Callaghan, M Capuano, C Beetham, S Loewe, R Harvey. Western Bulldogs: C Grant 4, K Hunter 4, B Johnson 3, P Dimattina 2, R Murphy, S Garlick, L Darcy.
Best: St Kilda: P Everitt, C Callaghan, R Harvey, N Burke, C Beetham, J Plapp. Western Bulldogs: C Grant, R Smith, L Darcy, T Liberatore, K Hunter.
Umpires: M McKenzie C Rowe M James.
Official crowd: 30,047 at Colonial Stadium.
