ST KILDA remains undefeated in season nine following an eight-point win against Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday afternoon. 

The Bombers gave away two costly 50 metre penalties that resulted in Saints goals, in a fiery contest that saw St Kilda win its third game of the season 3.5 (23) to Essendon's 2.3 (15) in front of a crowd of 3,009.

To add insult to injury, the Bombers will likely be sweating on the results of the match review panel, following a high bump from new recruit Maddy Gay on Alice Burke in the final term.

Essendon started strongly, dominating possession and inside 50s, with usual suspects Maddy Prespakis (18 disposals) and Georgia Nanscawen (21) racking up disposals in the middle, but the Bombers’ forwards were unable to turn their forward entries into scores on the board.

Finally, the home side hit the scoreboard when Essendon small forward Lily-Rose Williamson marked on a lead inside 50, kicking her second goal in as many games and the only major for the first quarter.

The second quarter started in sensational fashion when Bombers' forward Brooke Walker kicked the goal of the game, a drop punt 30 metres out on the boundary, much to the delight of the red-and-black faithful in the Reynolds Stand.

The Saints kept themselves in the game when they finally got their first, with Darcy Guttridge getting out the back of a marking contest and running into an open goal.

Guttridge’s goal lifted the Saints, with her teammates increasing their pressure around the ball and keeping the margin to a manageable five-points at the main break.

The second half began with a contentious and costly 50 metre penalty against Essendon's Paige Scott, gifting Guttridge her second. Guttridge was taken to the goal line for being pushed over by Scott after taking a mark, however it was later seen that a St Kilda player had pushed Scott.

The controversial goal gave the Saints the lead for the first time and they went into the final break with a one-point lead. 

The final term began with another 50 metre penalty, this time when a Bombers player ran through the protected area, giving Ashleigh Richards a shot from point-blank range and extending the lead to eight points.

Tempers rose when Essendon recruit Maddy Gay bumped Lucy Burke high in an incident that will no doubt be looked at by the match review officer during the week.

The Bombers crowd tried to lift the home side with their voice, but despite their efforts their side fell short, with the Saints holding on for an eight-point win. 

ESSENDON   1.1   2.1   2.2   2.3 (15)
ST KILDA     0.1   1.2   2.3   3.5 (23)

GOALS
Essendon: Williamson, Walker
St Kilda: Guttridge 2, Richards

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
St Kilda: Nil

Crowd: 3,009 at Windy Hill