Livewire forward Kysaiah Pickett has provided the spark as Melbourne strengthened its grip on a top-four spot by surviving a huge late scare to post a tense four-point win over the Adelaide Crows.

Elsewhere on Sunday, St Kilda came from behind to defeat North Melbourne, while GWS made it six straight wins with its defeat of the Gold Coast Suns.

At the MCG, Pickett kicked two goals and had a direct hand in two more to help lift the Demons to a 14.13 (97) to 13.15 (93) victory.

The result gave the Demons a two-match buffer over the fifth-placed Western Bulldogs and kept them within sight of the top two.

The Crows' third straight loss — a seventh defeat in eight interstate trips this year — left them in danger of dropping out of the finals race.

The fall-out could yet become worse, with Izak Rankine (hamstring) and Nick Murray (knee) failing to finish the match.

The Crows went down swinging, overcoming woeful inaccuracy from set-shots to draw level in the final term after trailing by as much as 32 points during the third.

Melbourne substitute Joel Smith took a towering grab to set up his steadying goal and the Demons kicked three in a row before the Crows — inspired by Taylor Walker's three final-quarter majors — got to within a kick with two minutes left to play.

Key defenders Adam Tomlinson and Jake Lever helped Melbourne thwart the Crows' final two attacking thrusts with the match on the line.

Pickett (20 disposals) shone at various key moments, while Angus Brayshaw (25 disposals, eight clearances) and Jack Viney (27 disposals, five clearances) were also influential.

Max Gawn (38 hit-outs, eight marks, two goals) made an impact and recalled small forward Kade Chandler kicked three goals.

Taj Woewodin and Jake Melksham added two goals each for the Demons.

Walker finished with four goals and Rankine had three for the Crows.

Saints sneak home

St Kilda denied North Melbourne's stand-in coach Brett Ratten some revenge, beating the Kangaroos by nine points to stay in the top eight.

The Saints trailed by 16 points and were in deep trouble at three-quarter time in the twilight match at Docklands, but stormed home to win 9.15 (69) to 9.6 (60).

St Kilda would have dropped out of the top eight had it lost.

It was an emotion-charged match, given the Saints ruthlessly sacked Ratten last year after extending his contract only weeks before.

But the Kangaroos could not maintain the momentum they built through the middle of the match as St Kilda kicked five goals to one in the last term.

It was a much-needed win for the Saints after they had lost four of their past five matches, while the Kangaroos' losing streak grew to 16.

The loss was no fault of Kangaroos on-baller Luke Davies-Uniacke, who was best afield with 33 disposals — with 23 of them contested — and 11 clearances.

Saints captain Jack Steele also racked up 33 disposals and put his side in front 12 minutes into the last term when he intercepted a clearing kick from Kangaroos defender Paul Curtis.

That crucial play typified the turnover-laden match, with neither side able to build momentum thanks to a succession of handling errors.

But after trailing at quarter-time, the Kangaroos built a two-goal lead at the main break and looked more likely to win as they kicked two goals to one in the third term.

The Saints quickly kicked the first two goals of the final term, however, and the Kangaroos were unable to curb their momentum.

Tarryn Thomas and Nick Larkey kicked three goals apiece for the Kangaroos, while Mitch Owens and Jack Higgins had two for St Kilda.

Giants continue winning run

GWS is inside the top eight for the first time since round one, having extended its winning streak with a 40-point triumph over the Gold Coast Suns at Canberra's Manuka Oval.

Six of the third-quarter's seven goals saw the Giants turn an arm-wrestle into a comfortable win, with skipper Toby Greene's three majors crucial in getting his side across the line.

Adam Kingsley's squad now has a 10-8 win-loss record and a massive chance to play finals in his first season in charge, after their campaign looked close to dead when they were 4-8 after round 12.

Greene became the hugely influential forward-half factor his side needed as the match wore on, taking some clever marks and creating chances for his teammates while booting 3.4.

And the Giants' pair of gun backs were also in full flight to deliver another stellar defensive display, with Harry Himmelberg and Sam Taylor combining for 22 marks.

Stifled early by a Suns outfit intent on keeping their season alive, GWS' slick running game emerged as proceedings wore on.

Prime movers Lachie Whitfeld, Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly were joined by halfback Lachie Ash to slice through the middle at will and deliver the Giants scoring chances.

They found six different individual goal scorers in an explosive third term, none better than Toby Bedford's snap seconds before the siren after some dazzling work from fellow forward Brent Daniels to break 31 points clear.

It was a disappointing fade-out from a Suns side who began their afternoon playing high-pressure footy.

AAP/ABC