St Kilda have continued their strong late-season form with a thrilling two-point win over Essendon on Friday night.

Little separated the two sides for much of the night and it was fitting the match came down to the final kick of the game.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mason Redman’s final shot narrowly misses.

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Essendon defender Mason Redman had the chance to win the game, but his flying shot from 50m out narrowly missed the mark as time expired.

It was the Saints’ fourth-straight win, all of which have been by single digits.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera lit it up again with a string of stunning moments, including a goal direct from the opening bounce and an incredible assist after some brilliant work on the wing.

Cooper Sharman kicked three, including one clutch goal in the final term, while Jack Higgins also bobbed up with three.

When Mason Wood and Sharman crucially kicked successive goals in the last term, the Saints’ eight-point lead was their biggest in the match.

Kyle Langford responded to keep Essendon in the game and the Bombers were much better on Friday night at Marvel Stadium, but the Saints were able to hold off their challenge.

Saints onballer Marcus Windhager was outstanding, while young gun Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was prominent at crucial stages as speculation swirls about his future beyond this season.

Wanganeen-Milera suffered a head knock in the last couple of minutes, but was able to play out the game.

Essendon’s much-publicised injury woes persisted, with key defender Jayden Laverde forced off with hip damage and impressive forward Liam McMahon hurting his arm after kicking three goals.

Jack Higgins kicked three goals for the Saints, while Redman had a game-high 36 disposals in defence,

After botching a set shot earlier in the third term, Wanganeen-Milera burst from a centre bounce and kicked a sublime goal on the run to put the Saints six points up at the last change.

Saints coach Ross Lyon had been in an animated mood ahead of the game, taking aim at speculation in the last couple of days about player potentially leaving the club.

He took a swipe at Marvel Stadium management when the roof was left open late enough on Friday for rain to fall on the playing surface pre-game.

Lyon made a rare social media post, joking on X that he had been looking forward to former Essendon player Gary Moorcroft taking another big mark at the venue in the Bombers’ legends exhibition game.

“Oh no might be hard - Marvel Stadium did not manage to close the roof before the rain came,” Lyon said.

But Lyon’s mood would have soured quickly. After Saints small forward Jack Higgins kicked the first goal of the game in the second minute, Essendon came to play.

The Bombers piled the heat onto the Saints and won the opening term for the first time since round 12.

Rhys Unwin, Essendon’s 15th debutant this year, kicked his first goal and was a livewire.

A freakish soccer goal from Luamon Lual and Kyle Langford’s accurate snap took Essendon out to a three-goal lead in the second term.

But Essendon’s shocking luck with injuries this season continued when key defender Jayden Laverde was subbed out of the game in the second term with a corked hip.

The Saints hit back with the last three goals of the half and trailed by only one point at the main break, before edging the Bombers in a hair-raising second half.

- With AAP