St Kilda have finished just shy of the top eight despite claiming a thrilling 20-point win over Carlton.
Full of confidence after toppling competition heavyweights Brisbane last round, the Saints claimed their first victory in four meetings with the Blues, 7.4 (46) to 3.8 (26) at Ikon Park on Sunday.
Stuck in a logjam of four teams with six wins, St Kilda needed Fremantle to beat fellow finals hopefuls Sydney in the last game of the round to claim the coveted eighth place by percentage.
But it was not to be for the Saints, after the Swans prevailed by 22-points against the Dockers.
Saints coach Nick Dal Santo said a failure to convert opportunities had cost his side again.
"I felt that we performed relatively well today but I still think we probably left quite a few goals out there," Dal Santo said.
"If we just used the ball a bit better going forward, the scoreboard would've taken care of itself.
"Even in the last quarter, we had multiple opportunities and it just didn't work out that way.
"I've always said we've got areas of growth and today, that felt like the main one."
Georgia Patrikios showed her class in the do-or-die match, collecting 25 disposals and eight contested possessions in a powerhouse display, while skipper Hannah Priest was a brick wall in defence, with nine intercept possessions.
Abbie McKay worked overtime to counter Patrikios in the midfield, but her side was outclassed across the park.
McKay racked 28 disposals and 12 clearances alongside Mimi Hill (30 disposals) while defender Keeley Sherar (17) toiled against a potent Saints attack.
Mia Austin opened the game for Carlton backed by Lily Goss in the second term, but that was the last time the Blues goaled until the final term.
The Saints broke away easily thanks to a blitz of goals from Nat Exon and Nicola Xenos (two each), Maddie Boyd and Ella Friend.
Carlton had a chance of closing in on the visitors but were dogged by wayward kicking, scoring 0.5 in the third term.
Ruck Breann Moody took matters in her own hands, winning the ball from a centre-bounce clearance before flaunting her speed and sending the ball through on the bounce from 50 metres to break the Carlton drought with a goal-of-the-year contender.
But J'Noemi Anderson cut the party short with goal of her own, sealing the win for the Saints.
