St Kilda's Max King and Jack Higgins produced an inspired third-quarter display to lift St Kilda to a 10-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

King tallied just two disposals in the first half of Sunday's match, but he burst to life in the third term when he booted three goals in the space of 132 seconds of actual game time.

Higgins kicked three goals for the quarter himself, with the onslaught helping overturn a 13-point deficit and set up the 9.11 (65) to 8.7 (55) win.

King, who took a strong mark with six minutes remaining in the match to kick the sealer, finished with four goals and four contested marks in a match-winning display.

Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw racked up 39 disposals and eight tackles, while Rory Lobb and Travis Colyer kicked two goals apiece.

Freo ruckman Sean Darcy limped off early in the second half with a right ankle injury, and he was eventually subbed out after making a brief return to the field.

St Kilda's inaccuracy cost them dearly in a hard-fought first half that featured plenty of huge bumps and tackles.

Fremantle goalsneak Lachie Schultz produced the highlight of the first term when he thumped back a bouncing ball on the boundary line for Travis Colyer to run onto and kick a goal.

Saints trio Jade Gresham, Higgins, and Tim Membrey all missed gettable shots on goal in the first quarter.

Turnovers from Fremantle duo Hayden Young and Jordan Clark gifted the Saints two quick goals early in the second term, but Freo's efficiency up forward ensured they entered half-time with a 12-point buffer.

St Kilda had 2.7 to their name at the break, with Membrey posting 0.3, however, it was the Higgins and King show in the third quarter as Fremantle lost its way.

King's three-goal burst in the space of two minutes was particularly destructive, with each goal coming from a mark.

Freo dominated for long periods of the final term, but wayward kicking into attack meant the Saints' defenders picked them off time and again.

Debutant Nathan O'Driscoll finally broke the shackles with a superb running goal from a tight angle, but King's pack mark minutes later killed off the home side's fightback.

FREMANTLE    3.0    5.1     6.4      8.7 (55)
ST KILDA         0.4    2.7    8.10    9.11 (65)

GOALS
Fremantle: Lobb 2, Colyer 2, Brayshaw, Meek, Walters, O'Driscoll
St Kilda: Higgins 4, King 4, Butler

BEST
Fremantle: Brayshaw, Ryan, Young, Brodie, Aish
St Kilda: King, Hill, Higgins, Steele, Crouch, Gresham

INJURIES
Fremantle: Darcy (ankle)
St Kilda: None

MEDICAL SUBS
Fremantle: Nathan O'Driscoll, replaced Sean Darcy in the fourth quarter
St Kilda: Cooper Sharman (unused)