A late goal to Andrew Walker has allowed Carlton to hold on and deny St Kilda what could have been a season-igniting comeback AFL victory at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.

The Saints came from as much as 28 points down to hit the lead in time-on in the final quarter, before Walker's pressure set shot gave the Blues the 11.18 (84) to 12.9 (81) win.

It kept Carlton in third spot, while St Kilda, grand finalists of the past two years, are languishing in 14th position, with just one win and one draw from six matches.

Pacy forward Jeff Garlett kicked three goals for Carlton, all in the second term, while Stephen Milne snared four for the Saints.

Three of Milne's goals came in the opening term, to help his side to a four-point lead at the first change.

That stretched to 10 points when big forward Justin Koschitzke goaled from a pack mark early in the second term.

But the Blues kicked six of the last seven goals of the first half - the last three of those to Garlett - to lead by 20 points at the main break.

After a fiercely-fought start to the third quarter, Carlton's Jarrad Waite kicked the opening goal of the term at the 15-minute mark to stretch the lead to 28 points.

It looked likely to break the Saints' resolve, but instead they surged back.

Captain Nick Riewoldt, who was well beaten by Carlton's Michael Jamison in the first half, worked extremely hard to take eight marks in the second half and help his side back into the contest.

He set up the Saints' first two goals of the third term, before teammate Brendon Goddard capitalised on a Carlton interchange infringement to narrow the gap to 12 points at the last change.

Goals early in the final quarter to Milne and Adam Schneider added to the tension, and after a settler to Carlton's Setanta O'hAilpin, Saints' first-gamer Arryn Siposs kicked a 55m goal to close the gap to three points.

A snap from Jason Gram put St Kilda ahead more than 23 minutes into the quarter, for the first time since early in the second term.

But, with 90 seconds left, Walker marked and goaled to regain Carlton's lead, with the Saints unable to score again, a strong defensive mark by O'hAilpin helping to deny them.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten said it was frustrating the Blues wasted chances to make it a more comfortable win, but the positive was fighting through a challenge.

"We've been in those spots where we've had to fight and dig and (find) the will to win and I think that's showing through the group, that we've matured a little bit as a team across the board," Ratten said.

Saints coach Ross Lyon said while disappointed his men could not finish the job after hitting the front, there were some signs to build on.

"Obviously we're under some pressure on the win-loss front and all those things, but we've just got to keep working,"

"There were some signs of improvement and it's been such a fine line in the early rounds."

The Blues lost Ed Curnow to an AC joint injury in the first term, but were unsure how much football he will miss.

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