Four goals to Jeremy Cameron have helped to lift the GIANTS to a nine-point win over St Kilda in a dramatic season opener at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The GIANTS held off the Saints in an emotion-charged final term during which captain Nick Riewoldt left the field with neck whiplash that landed him in hospital.

Two of the last three goals of the game sealed the win for the GIANTS, 12.15 (87) to 11.12 (78), with the Saints struggling for accuracy in attack, scoring four late behinds as they threatened to overwhelm the visitors.

An unsuspecting Riewoldt was bumped by Tomas Bugg deep in the Saints' forward pocket, and took time to get up as his teammates remonstrated with Bugg for cannoning into him when he wasn't expecting contact.

GIANTS coach Leon Cameron wouldn't elaborate on what he thought of Bugg's decision to bump Riewoldt, but praised his 18-disposal performance.

"I heard that Nick’s obviously all right, which is just fine," Cameron said.

"But until I actually have a look at the footage it'll be hard for me to comment.

"What I will comment on is I actually though Buggy's last quarter, in his 50th game, was really fantastic.

"He actually won really crucial moments and that experience that he's gaining is only going to hold us in good stead going forward."

It all happened after the Saints mounted a charge with three consecutive goals that moved them within eight points after they trailed by 26 late in the third.

However the ball went straight up the other end where a free kick gifted second-gamer Cam McCarthy his third goal, giving the GIANTS a 14-point lead at the 17-minute mark.

From there, Dylan Shiel, who was one of the GIANTS' best with 28 possessions, added another, which was enough to confirm the result despite a late long goal from Shane Savage.

It was an encouraging performance from the GIANTS.
 
McCarthy took advantage of the space cleared by the departed Tom Boyd and kicked two goals as the Giants made a move in the second quarter after failing to capitalise on eight first-term scoring shots.

With midfield support from Adam Treloar (32 disposals) and Shiel, they were 19 points clear by half-time but had missed a number of chances to be further in front.

Toby Greene had 15 touches by the main break but had burned two shots at goal, while Treloar shanked an opportunity after he burst out of the centre and unleashed from 50m.

Despite lagging on the scoreboard, the Saints' intent remained.

Maverick Weller angered Callan Ward when he heavily tackled the GIANTS' co-captain at half-back, setting up another speedy rebound for the Saints.

Then Josh Bruce got hold of Ryan Griffen in a similar position and won another free kick.

It wasn't a prolific return to Docklands for Griffen, with the former Bulldogs skipper struggling to shake the tag of Weller.

He spent time forward in the first in a bid to lose the hard-running Saint but returned to the midfield, where was kept to 15 possessions for the game.

ST KILDA 3.0 5.2 7.5 11.12 (78)

GWS 3.5 7.9 9.12 12.15 (87)
 
GOALS

St Kilda: Schneider 2, Bruce 2, Membrey 2, Savage 2, Riewoldt, Dunstan, Armitage
GWS: Cameron 4, McCarthy 3, Whitfield, Ward, Treloar, Palmer, Shiel

BEST

St Kilda: Steven, Weller, Geary, Roberton, Montagna
GWS: Treloar, Ward, Cameron, Whitfield, Mumford, Shiel, Haynes

INJURIES

St Kilda: Riewoldt (head/neck)
GWS: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

St Kilda: Jack Sinclair replaced Dylan Roberton in the third term
GWS: Stephen Coniglio replaced Tom Scully in the fourth quarter

Reports: Nil


Umpires: Harris, Ryan, Mitchell

Official crowd: 18,794 at Etihad Stadium