Milburn had come on in the first term for acting captain Joel Selwood, who was concussed in a sickening collision and was taken to hospital for observation.
The first half was dreadful, with only three goals scored in the swirling conditions, and the equally-disappointing crowd of 42,869 booed the players at the main break.
Jimmy Bartel recovered from an interrupted pre-season – his tonsils were taken out and he was then concussed in Geelong’s final practice match – to be best afield.
Team-mate Mitch Duncan was the game’s only multiple goalkicker with two, while Saints onballer Lenny Hayes was outstanding.
In an echo of last year’s qualifying final, Leigh Montagna kicked a crucial goal in the final term, but it was disallowed because of a free kick.
Geelong lost the qualifying final to the Saints last year after Cameron Ling’s goal was similarly disallowed.
After the dour first half, the game finally broke open in the third term, starting with a goal to former Cat Ryan Gamble at eight minutes.
It was only the fourth goal of the match and the first since one minute into the second term.
A goal to Raphael Clarke extended the Saints’ lead to 21 points and Geelong were in trouble.
But the Cats hit back with three goals before three-quarter time to trail by just one point.
Then Bartel kicked a freakish goal to start the final term and put the Cats in front for the first time.
Under pressure from Clarke and running close to the boundary on the left side of the goals, Bartel threw the ball onto his left boot and it bounced through.
Selwood suffered a badly-cut lip and was unconscious for a couple of minutes after he was concussed in the first term.
Selwood had just tapped on the ball deep in St Kilda’s attack when opponent Farren Ray ran into him, making heavy contact with the Geelong star’s head.
Ray will certainly come under video review, but it appeared to be accidental contact as the two players went for a hotly-contested ball.
Saints sub Brett Peake came on in the third term for Andrew McQualter, who then sat on the bench with an ice pack on his right calf.
The Saints announced later that field umpire Shaun Ryan reported Ray for forceful head-high contact against Selwood.
Selwood was back in the Cats rooms post-match was was cleared of bone damage to his face.
Scott praised his men for their fighting win, admitting he thought the game was lost until Milburn kicked the winning goal.
He was nursing a sore throat due to his shouting in the box during the final term.
The Cats were missing captain Cameron Ling and Paul Chapman, who will play on Saturday in the VFL.
“I won’t lie to you, it was pretty emotional towards the end there,” he said.
“We thought the game was gone, but it tells you they never give up.
“These guys never think they’re out of the game, they have an intense dislike for people thinking they’re better than they are.”
Saints coach Ross Lyon said they made a couple of crucial errors late in the game that contributed to Milburn’s goal, but he was otherwise pleased with their workrate.
“Obviously we’re not happy, (but) I was really proud of our effort,” he said.
“it was going to be interesting to see our attitude (in) round one to playing football again.
“I thought it was first class, our attitude, to be honest.”
Redb
Roar Guru
St Kilda and Geelong played probably the best game of Australian football you could ever want to see in July 2009. These teams can now probably be credited with playng the worst game of Australian football, saved maybe by the last quarter. St Kilda play a lock down game like most teams, but they juu dont attack or take risks It's garbage. Fortunately the rest of the round was a cracker.
Chris
Guest
Yeah, St kilda have been like this for years. I remember a few years ago a St Kilda Hawthorn game that was widely lampooned as one of the worst of all time. It may have been 2008 actually. St Kilda have played the same style since. Hawthorn, even though they'll find any possible way to lose from any given situation, at least they play exciting footy. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
sherrin-burley-faulkner
Roar Rookie
The best thing you can do is watch the TIWI island GF today on the ABC, if you want to see footy played how it should be, check it out. Maybe Lyon should watch, there is no logical reason why the Saints should play like this, the more close ones they lose, is a winner for the rest of us.
Swampy
Guest
One word sums up the Saints. Constipated. They need a good dose of Blight to free up the pipes. AFL and St Kilda Media department, Brand protecting, footy show, 15 min documentaries won't help. Talk about the Bubble won't help. Pumping up princess Nick Riewolt or giving Milne a microphone certainly won’t help. And the coach; well you can talk about integrity and holding players to account, but where is the proof. I think it’s all a lie. The best thing they could do is make Goddard the captain. Riewolt should be able to multi task but he can't.
sherrin-burley-faulkner
Roar Rookie
I agree, St Kilda is hard to watch, i have watched two good games today, East Perth V South Fremantle, which was open fast and tough, and to date at half time the Brisbane Freo AFL game is pretty good to watch, why have the AFL given St Kilda so many friday night games ?. If you have Reiwoldt, Milne, a great midfield and good defensive unit, why play such negative defensive football, it's a joy to watch them lose the close ones !!.
Australian Football, Australians Game
Guest
Very ugly game -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
BigAl
Guest
I totally disagree with everyone puttng rubbish on the Saint's style of play. The thing about low scoring games is that they have a the far greater potential to be close. A bit of a blight over Aussie rules has been the tendency of where telephone No. scores are kicked usually one team is blown out of the water ! - sometimes well before half time. This new 'defensive' style of play just indicates a profesional development of the game where tactics and strategy become far more important, as opposed to the old 'hoof and biff' approach.
Yes, a terrible game to watch and the free against Leigh Montagna, in the last quarter ,a ridiculous decision. A player must be allowed to hold his position under the ball against a player coming in or the game will turn into a farce. Geelong would be happy with the result given they have so many players to come back in to the team. It's only early but I'm already thinking my pick of St Kilda at second may be too high. They continually find ways to lose (or draw) close games.
Justin
Guest
We cannot judge any trends after two matches. Leave it til the end of the season. The studies of the past few years have shown an alarming drop off in players hitting targets due to crowding. I am happy to argue at this point that this rule will not lead to missing more targets but time will tell. Lefty you must get across to The Stockade one night. The Rebels supporters are the most vocal of ANY team in Australia that I have seen. I have been to all their matches (rugby man myself) and the atmosphere is unique in Australia.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
I'm not sure Justin. We're reaching a stage, only two games in, where coaches are only rotating two fit players through the last quarter (with one fit player having been subbed off), and the execution skills are dropping through sheer exhaustion. I don't think it's the answer. However, something has to be done about the crowding round the ball syndrome, that the Saints now have down to a fine art - we don't want them in another grand final. Rebels game looked good.
Justin
Guest
Glad I was over the road watching the Rebels last night... Not even 100 points scored is woeful I applaud the AFL for trying the 21 +1 rule. The skill of the game is being ruined by having 20 blokes constantly around the ball. Bring back some fatigue and let the players have some space to show off their real skill.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
I agree. Saints have been heading down this path for a few years - it's absolutely terrible to watch - they're even worse than the Swans when they made their two grand finals - at times, it's completley unwatchable.
Football Fan
Guest
St Kilda are ruining football. Their hatred of anything free flowing makes them painful to watch and I would imagine worse to support. As for Geelong - I hope they don't intend to play like that all year!
Hk47
Guest
Both sides were pretty awful. St. Kilda missed Schneider, Kosi and Gardiner pretty badly, Geelong were the same in chapman, Ling and Selwood. Both have a bit of work to do if they want to be top 4 contendors. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Given the quality of both teams on display, I thought it was a disappointing game that was redeemed by a close finish. Conditions weren't great, but that doesn't excuse the terrible finishing by both teams, especially during the first half. But a close finish always keeps the interest in the contest. The Cats will enjoy that result, especially with it being a reversal of the qualifying final from last year that effectively sealed the Cats' fate for last season. But it continues St Kilda's disastrous 2011 year to date - off-field scandals and now a shock opening round defeat.