MELBOURNE remains in touch with the top eight after outclassing a wayward St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, the Demons' 39-point victory continuing the Saints' miserable start to 2018.
Melbourne's cleaner skills and finishing in front of goal were decisive in Sunday's game, which ahead of this season had loomed as one between two teams widely predicted to break long finals droughts.
The Demons led at every change and extended their lead in each of the final three quarters to record a comfortable 16.10 (106) to 9.13 (67) victory.
DEES DOWN SAINTS: Full match coverage and stats
After seven rounds, the Demons have a 4-3 win-loss record that puts them just percentage outside the top eight and in a good position to taste September action for the first time since 2006.
The Saints' endeavour could not be faulted, but their inability to consistently hit targets and their demoralising inaccuracy in front of goal meant they were always behind the eight ball.
Clayton Oliver (36 possessions and nine clearances) was outstanding around the stoppages for Melbourne, while Angus Brayshaw (33 possessions and eight inside 50s) underlined his undoubted talent with his best senior game for some time.
WATCH: Oliver slams one home
Jesse Hogan (25 possessions and three goals) was again dangerous in front of goal and roaming up the ground, while Tom McDonald (three contested marks and two goals) showed enough to suggest he can be a valuable sidekick.
WATCH: Hogan's sprinting stunner
Max Gawn (20 disposals and 34 hit-outs) was his usual towering presence at ruck contests, while Dom Tyson (27 possessions) was a prolific ball-winner and Oscar McDonald was stingy on the last line of defence.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said his team's performance had built on the promising signs shown in the round six win over Essendon.
"I didn’t think it was a highly contested game, which we adapted to. I thought our pressure was pretty solid but it probably wasn't as contested as what we normally plan," Goodwin said.
"But to the boys' credit, I think we're starting to establish some things offensively and defensively that are standing up and becoming difficult to play against.
"We're playing a more consistent footy across the four quarters. We're starting to play the right way for longer periods in games, and that's full credit to the playing group."
The Saints remain winless since their round one victory over Brisbane – they drew with Greater Western Sydney in round five – and will have to dramatically turn their season around to make the finals for the first time since 2011. On Sunday's evidence, it is almost impossible to see them making the top eight.
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St Kilda also continued its horror run in front of goal. Since opening the season with a 16.11 return against the Lions, St Kilda has kicked more behinds than goals in every game.
After Sunday's game, they have kicked 45.78 over the past six rounds.
Midway through the second term, they had had the same number of scoring shots as Melbourne, but their 2.8 return to the Demon's 7.3 ensured they trailed by 25 points.
Too often the Saints missed wide open targets when mounting promising attacks, but to their credit they kept throwing themselves into the contest.
Jimmy Webster's bravery in running back with the flight of the ball to spoil Sam Weideman late in the first term was inspirational.
Saints coach Alan Richardson conceded after the game his team's poor finishing had become a concerning and costly habit.
"It's been a real pattern hasn't it? No doubt about that," Richardson said.
"We felt for big parts of the game we were in the game. They certainly looked cleaner in and around the ball and looked much more effective going forward than us, but we had some opportunities but weren't able to maximise them."
If there was a silver lining to the Saints' loss, it was the fact Paddy McCartin escaped another suspected concussion.
The former No.1 pick has been plagued by concussion in his fledgling AFL career, having suffered six separate episodes since 2014, and was restricted to just five games in 2017.
The spearhead was involved in an accidental head clash with Demons defender Neville Jetta midway through the second quarter and came from the ground for the rest of the term for assessment.
WATCH: McCartin and Jetta's head clash
However, McCartin was cleared to return to the ground early in the third term.
On a tough day for the Saints, Sebastian Ross (35 possessions and 10 clearances) , Jack Steven (29 possessions and 10 inside 50s) and Jack Newnes (25 possessions) battled hard, while Webster was valiant in defence.
MEDICAL ROOM
St Kilda: McCartin came from the field early in the second term and appeared to have some blood tests and treatment to his leg before returning to the ground shortly afterwards. Ten minutes later, McCartin was involved in an accidental head clash with Neville Jetta. The Saint spearhead took a few seconds to get to his feet and came from the ground again soon after and headed into the Saints' rooms. He returned at the six-minute mark of third term and played out the game until he came to the interchange bench for the final term midway through the final quarter. St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said McCartin's game had ended early because of a case of whiplash suffered in the clash with Jetta, while his blood sugar levels had been high early in the game but had been managed. Shane Savage came from the ground in the last quarter after suffering a corked thigh in a contest with Angus Brayshaw. Sam Gilbert limped off with a rolled ankle injury late in the game. Richardson expected both Savage and Gilbert would be available for round eight, but was unsure about McCartin.
Melbourne: Demons coach Simon Goodwin said his team had emerged with a clean bill of health.
NEXT UP
The Saints travel to play Fremantle next Saturday night, when they will play at Perth's new Optus Stadium for the first time. Earlier that day, the Demons play Gold Coast at the Gabba.
ST KILDA 2.5 3.8 7.10 9.13 (67)
MELBOURNE 5.1 8.6 13.10 16.10 (106)
GOALS
St Kilda: Membrey 2,Long 2,Armitage 2, Gresham, Dunstan, Hickey
Melbourne: Hogan 3, T.McDonald 2, Weideman 2, Spargo, Gawn, Petracca, Jones, Tyson, Harmes, Brayshaw, Oliver, Neal-Bullen
BEST
St Kilda: Ross, Webster, Steven, Newnes
Melbourne: Oliver, Hogan, Brayshaw, Tyson, Lewis, Hibberd
INJURIES
St Kilda: McCartin (head), Gilbert (leg), Savage (ribs)
Melbourne: Jetta (head)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Fisher, McInerney
Official crowd: 25,496 at Etihad Stadium
