St Kilda’s Jack Higgins silences critics as Saints come from behind to beat Dockers in Perth

Max King and Jack Higgins have produced an inspired third-quarter burst to help lift St Kilda to a 10-point AFL win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

King tallied just two disposals in the first half of Sunday’s match, but he burst to life in the third term when he booted three goals in the space of 132 seconds of actual game time.

Higgins kicked three goals for the quarter himself, with the onslaught helping overturn a 13-point deficit and set up the 9.11 (65) to 8.7 (55) win.

King, who took a strong mark with six minutes remaining in the match to kick the sealer, finished with four goals and four contested marks in a match-winning display.

Higgins, who kicked 0.4 in last week’s loss to Collingwood, tallied 4.2 from 16 possessions as King’s partner in crime.

Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw racked up 39 disposals and eight tackles, while Rory Lobb and Travis Colyer kicked two goals apiece.

Dockers ruckman Sean Darcy limped off early in the second half with a right ankle injury, and he was eventually subbed out after making a brief return to the field. 

Jack Higgins booted four majors after a dismal performance in Round 1 against Collingwood

 The Saints midfielder was criticised as ‘not AFL standard’ but responded superbly on Sunday

St Kilda’s inaccuracy cost them dearly in a hard-fought first half that featured plenty of huge bumps and tackles.

Dockers goalsneak Lachie Schultz produced the highlight of the first term when he thumped back a bouncing ball on the boundary line for Travis Colyer to run onto and kick a goal.

Saints trio Jade Gresham, Jack Higgins, and Tim Membrey all missed gettable shots on goal in the first quarter.

Turnovers from Fremantle duo Hayden Young and Jordan Clark gifted the Saints two quick goals early in the second term, but the Dockers’ efficiency up forward ensured they entered half-time with a 12-point buffer.

Max King (right) was instrumental for the Saints, taking several crucial hangers

King booted four majors to inspire the Saints comeback, including three in the third period

St Kilda had 2.7 to their name at the break, with Membrey posting 0.3.

It was the Higgins and King show in the third quarter as the Dockers lost their way.

King’s three-goal burst in the space of two minutes was particularly destructive, with each goal coming from a mark.

The Dockers suffered their first defeat of the season after beating Adelaide in Round 1

And lost ruckman Sean Darcy to an ankle injury early in the second quarter

The 18-point lead to St Kilda at three-quarter time would have been even more if King and Higgins had nailed their set shots just before the break.

The Dockers dominated for long periods of the final term, but their wayward kicking into attack meant the Saints’ defenders picked them off time and again.

Fremantle debutant Nathan O’Driscoll finally broke the shackles with a superb running goal from a tight angle, but King’s pack mark minutes later killed off the home side’s fightback.