Greater Western Sydney has leapt into the top-four after getting the job done against a resolute, albeit inaccurate, St Kilda outfit at Spotless Stadium, emerging victorious by 25 points.
The Saints were prolific in every facet of the game save their goalkicking, in which they registered 8.13 (61) from 60 entries - a statistic which they ultimately won by 48-60.
While the Giants were challenged by the travelling Saints and led by just four points at half-time, the home side managed to break away in the third term with six majors, before the game fizzled out in the last.
Harry Himmelberg starred with four goals for the Giants, while Lachie Whitfield served as the barometer for the home side and was dynamic across half-back with 32 touches.
Yet it wasn't all easygoing for the home side, who were put on the backfoot following the Saints' solid start to the game.
The Saints were impressive in the opening quarter, stifling the Giants and forcing them sideways due to their brazen pressure, yet were unrewarded for their effort with a terribly inaccurate 1.6 quarter.
GWS looked ominous from the early stages of the match however, with Zac Langdon bursting onto the scene with an incredible dribbler from the pocket to put the Giants' on the board first.
Although Leon Cameron's men loomed over the Saints through their blistering speed and seamless transitional play - exemplified best through Lachie Whitfield - the visitors nonetheless found themselves with plenty of the ball, particularly up their end of the ground.
But while St Kilda had control over the ball and the stoppages, were untidy by foot both on the field and in front of the big sticks.
Both Blake Acres and Jake Carlisle had their chances to make an impact on the scoreboard, yet after doing all the hard work weren't able make an impact on the scoreboard.
The returning Jack Lonie bucked the trend however, with a laser-like centring kick off the back of some impressive St Kilda centre work honing into Jade Gresham, who duly converted to rid the Saints of their initial inaccuracy.
Yet as has been the story with the Saints for most of the season, errant kicking proved detrimental, with the visitors piling on another four behinds despite finding ample space across the ground and winning the inside 50 count by 13 at the first change.
The hard work from St Kilda was ultimately undone courtesy of their wayward kicking, with Rory Lobb inflicting even more pain after kicking true from the Giants' first inside 50 in over five minutes.
With the Giants' two diligent goals, the home side managed to draw level with the Saints at quarter-time, despite the visitors having close to all the ascendancy.
St Kilda's goalkicking did little to improve in the second term, and despite remaining well within the hunt, were left to rue their missed opportunities after scoring 2.4 to the Giants' 3.2.
Despite the inside 50 count sitting at 18-40 at the major change, the scoreboard told a completely different story, with the Saints sitting at 3.10 at half-time against the GWS' solid 5.2.
Gresham once again hit the scoreboard in the quarter's opening minutes, remaining as the Saints' sole goalkicker as the GWS defence failed to rein in the small forward.
St Kilda meanwhile managed to negate the influence of their opposition's main star, with Callan Ward kept to just eight touches in the first half thanks to a solid tag from Jack Steele.
Yet despite peppering their forward 50 with countless entries and running over the top of the Giants' midfield, the home side showed their efficiency in front of goal, with Brent Daniels putting through his first league goal before Harry Himmelberg hit the scoreboard after failing to register a statistic in the opening term.
As Jarryn Geary continued to rack up plenty of ball and drive the Saints forward to great effect, the red, white and black threatened to knock the Giants off their perch as they gained momentum in the clearances.
Lonie's goal sense proved to be invaluable for the Saints, yet only managed to squeeze through his first goal from his fourth shot on goal.
It ended up being the last major score for the visitors for the remainder of the quarter, with Himmelberg slotting his second take the margin to four points at the major change.
Despite the press of their opposition, the Giants managed to find themselves some breathing room in the third quarter, piecing two three-goal sequences to thrust themselves in front with a comfortable advantage.
GWS hit the ground running to begin the second half, with Daniels, Toby Greene and Himmelberg faultless in front of goal, taking the margin to 22 points in the space of five minutes.
More damaging for the Saints was not necessarily the Giants' conversion, but their efficiency per entry, with the three rapid-fire goals coming from just six forays forward.
St Kilda nevertheless returned to favour with three majors of their own through Membrey and Lonie, bringing the margin to just five points midway through the quarter.
Jack Steven was at his explosive best through the centre, while Steele and Tom Hickey were equally prolific and kept the likes of Dylan Shiel and Dawson Simpson relatively quiet.
St Kilda's work rate refused to drop off despite the press of the Giants, and was exemplified best through Jake Carlisle, whose gut-busting run from half-back to centre wing directly resulted in Lonie's second goal.
But GWS' ability to seize upon turnovers and speed out of defence proved to be a decisive factor, with their red-hot run - again headed by Whitfield - resulting in another three-goal blitz from the Giants, with Brett Deledio, Himmelberg and Langdon the final beneficiaries.
Ending the term with a 24-point lead, the home side still had a lot to do in order to defeat their plucky opposition, who continued to hamper the Giants.
Despite their endeavour and persistence, the Saints weren't able to peg the margin back, even though they managed to outscore the Giants two goals to three in the game's dying moments.
Both sides tussled in the quarter's initial stages, yet neither were able to penetrate the scoreboard to great effect.
It wasn't until Lobb put through his second at the seven-minute mark of the term that the door looked just about closed for the Saints, despite a last-minute goal through Steven several minutes later.
As the game fizzled out and both sides were left to rue their misses in front of the big sticks, Greene iced the game with his second as Josh Kelly and Whitfield continued to gather plenty of footy.
One final consolation major from Josh Battle mitigated the damage, taking the final margin to 25 points and moving the Giants in the top-four as a result.
Greater Western Sydney will look to cement their position in the top-eight against Carlton next Sunday at Etihad Stadium, while St Kilda will be back on their home deck to take on the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.0 5.2 11.5 13.8 (86)
ST KILDA 1.6 3.10 6.11 8.13 (61)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Himmelberg 4, Langdon 2, Greene 2, Daniels 2, Lobb 2, Deledio
St Kilda: Gresham 2, Lonie 2, Membrey 2, Battle, Steven
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield, Kelly, Shaw, Himmelberg, Coniglio
St Kilda: Geary, Steven, Ross, Gresham, Membrey, Carlisle, Steele
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
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