St Kilda have capitalised on two crucial 50m penalties to beat Essendon in a scrappy clash and maintain their perfect AFLW start.
The Saints are top after Sunday's 3.5 (23) to 2.3 (15) win at Windy Hill, with Adelaide the only other team to boast a 3-0 start.
It is St Kilda's first regular-season AFL or AFLW win at Windy Hill since 1978.
Darcy Guttridge's second goal in the third term, which put the Saints ahead, came after a 50m penalty.
Replays showed a St Kilda player had pushed Essendon's Paige Scott into Guttridge, prompting the 50m penalty that gifted the goal to the Saints.
The only goal of the last term also came after a 50m penalty to St Kilda's Ashleigh Richards.
There were several other 50s during the game, with Essendon's Lily-Rose Williamson unable to convert her set shot from close range late in the last quarter.
That proved to be the last score of the match.
"Given it was a strong contested game, there were lots of decisions going both ways at different times," Essendon coach Natalie Wood said.
"It's always frustrating when you give away 50s - one of them was actually a St Kilda (player) pushing our girl into someone else. Some were there, some weren't."
Essendon's Maddison Gay looks certain to be suspended for a big hit on Alice Burke in the last term. Burke did not appear to be badly hurt in the clash.
While the Saints did not take the lead until well into the second half, they looked the better team in the blustery conditions for much of the game and out-tackled Essendon 91-69.
Essendon had 10 more inside-50s, but could not find a way through St Kilda's outstanding defence.
Saints defender Serene Watson had a game-high 22 disposals and racked up seven rebound inside-50s.
"We were just fortunate enough to be in front at the final siren. We have a lot of work to do, no doubt about that," said Saints coach Nick Dal Santo.
"We probably didn't expect that style of football ... it was harder and a bit more of a grind than what we probably thought we were going to get.
"We've never spoken about ladder position ... we've rarely been happy or proud of where we've sat.
"We can't have it the other way now. Yes, we're pleased we've been winning some games, but I don't know how many highlights will come out of this one. Once again, we have so much work to do."
St Kilda lost J'Noemi Anderson in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.
Wood bemoaned Essendon's poor disposal efficiency, adding St Kilda's strong defence was no surprise.
"It's a really strong method. We knew what they would do and we weren't able to get around it," she said.
While Essendon defender Amber Clarke held Jesse Wardlaw goalless, the Saints star was busy in the last quarter and helped keep the ball in their attack.
In-form Bombers midfielder Georgia Nanscawen racked up 21 possessions, but her star teammate Maddie Prespakis was held to 18 disposals.
