Footy star joins cheer squad as incredible act secures St Kilda dramatic win over Sydney Swans

• e-mail

St Kilda staged a massive AFL upset, beating top side Sydney by two points in Melbourne.

And the coaching analysts might just point to a monumental defensive effort from Dougal Howard as the moment that secured the team victory on Sunday. 

Enjoying a 28-point lead in the early stages of the third quarter, the Swans looked likely to extend their advantage as Nick Blakey kicked the ball goalbound.

Even the Channel 7 commentary team were resigned to another six points being added to the scoreboard, but Howard backed his ability to chase the ball down.

He threw a hand at the Sherrin but was unable to stop his own momentum and hurdled the boundary barrier before landing in the Swans cheer squad, who then celebrated wildly when the goal umpire awarded their team the full six points.

However, a goal review found that Howard had got the faintest of fingertips to the ball, resulting in a behind.

St Kilda went on to win the game by just two points, meaning Howard's intervention was crucial in securing victory.

Dougal Howard found himself in the Sydney Swans cheer squad on Sunday

But his goal-saving intervention helped the Saints beat the Swans in Melbourne

For the second week in a row, Swans forward Logan McDonald missed a late shot on goal and the Saints held on 13.6 (84) to 11.16 (82) on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.

Sydney star Isaac Heeney's Brownlow Medal hopes also might be dashed after he collected opponent Jimmy Webster high in an incident off the ball.

The Saints were five goals down in the third term, but stormed home with nine of the last 11 goals in the game.

Ruckman Rowan Marshall and defenders Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Callum Wilkie were among St Kilda's best, while young gun Mattaes Phillipou had an awesome final term in the midfield.

Last week, McDonald missed his shot after the final siren at home and Sydney suffered an upset loss to Fremantle.

This time, his long-range shot late in the final quarter looked good off the boot, but it faded late for a point, which proved the last score of the game.

Sydney's notorious slow starts looked like continuing when the Saints kicked the opening two goals.

But the Swans quickly steadied and scores were level at quarter-time.

With Sydney star Chad Warner kicking two goals, his team broke out to a 25-point lead in the second term and the game looked like going to script.

The margin extended to 30 points early in the third, before the game exploded to life.

The Saints drilled four goals in six minutes to trail by only six points.

Then Sydney went forward and as Heeney took a mark, Webster was on his knees behind him, holding his face.

The Saints defeated ladder leaders Swans in a shock result at Marvel Stadium

Replays showed Heeney swinging his arm back and breaking away from Webster to take possession.

Heeney ran over to Webster immediately after kicking the goal.

The Swans star kicked another goal two minutes later and Sydney had a 19-point buffer at the final change.

But the Saints kicked four goals to nil in the final term to snatch an improbable win, a few days after losing key forward Max King for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

It also comes a week after Port Adelaide beat them by less than a goal at the same venue.