St Kilda held off a spirited Richmond revival at Telstra Dome to win their AFL match by 11 points.

The Tigers responded magnificently to last week's shocking first-round loss, but the Saints had a little more polish when it counted to win 13.10 (88) to 11.11 (77).

Nick Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig kicked three goals apiece for St Kilda and midfielder Lenny Hayes was best afield, while defender Joel Bowden and onballer Shane Tuck were superb for Richmond.

After so much debate this week about whether the AFL was still good to watch, the match was outstanding.

The tackle count - 58 to Richmond, 51 to St Kilda - summed up the hardness of the contest.

At the president's dinner just before the game, Richmond coach Terry Wallace said Friday night would tell him plenty about his team in the wake of last week's humiliating 115-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

What he saw would have given him great encouragement.

The Tigers bounced back three times last year from big losses to win the following week and could easily have caused a massive boilover.

Richmond suffered a crucial blow early in the last term when young defender Will Thursfield was stretchered off with a knee injury.

Thursfield collapsed in agony after the head of Saints onballer Lenny Hayes smacked into the side of the joint.

He had restricted Riewoldt to two first-half goals, but soon after Thursfield left the field the big Saint kicked another to help seal the win.

Troy Simmonds' goal at 12 minutes in the last had put Richmond in front by a point.

That was the first time they had led since Patrick Bowden's miracle snap at the start of the second term.

Saints forward Aaron Hamill epitomised the hardness of the game when he crunched Richmond defender Jay "Sargeant" Schulz with a tackle on the outer wing in the third term.

Like his television namesake, Schulz's look said "I know nothing" as he left the field.

One of the highlights of the game was Patrick Bowden's party trick to open the second quarter.

Richmond quickly cleared the ball from the opening bounce and Bowden gathered the it in the forward pocket.

His right-foot banana kick somehow threaded through for Richmond's fourth goal.

Saints captain Luke Ball was a shock late withdrawal from Friday night's game, with the club saying he had suffered an abdominal strain.

Daniel Jackson was also a late replacement for ruckman Greg Stafford, who was supposed to resume from a leg injury.

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