MELBOURNE still lacks a matchwinner in the vein of Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield who can turn the tide of games, according to Demons coach Paul Roos.

Although Roos praised midfielder Jack Viney for his efforts to lift the team late in the third quarter of the 36-point loss to the Saints, he said the Demons didn't yet have players with the experience to consistently change the likely outcome of a game.

However Roos remained optimistic that in time, with hard work and good coaching, such players could emerge in a Melbourne jumper. 

WATCH: Paul Roos' full post-match media conference

"I say this with respect to our players who we are developing and who are getting better but we don't have a [Patrick] Dangerfield type who can kick four going forward when the team is not going well," Roos said. 

The lack of individual brilliance meant the Saints were able to pile on seven unanswered goals between quarter-time and late in the third quarter without much resistance. 

When a comeback eventually came, two contentious decisions involving Melbourne key forward Jesse Hogan ensured the revival was snuffed out before the Demons regained the lead.

Despite being surprised by the decisions, Roos said they weren't the reason the Demons lost.

Five talking points: St Kilda v Melbourne

The two incidents came either side of three-quarter time as Melbourne was storming back into the contest that St Kilda had dominated after quarter-time.

In the first, a shot at goal late in the third quarter from Hogan was ruled a touched behind. 

Then, early in the last quarter, the 21-year-old was reported for throwing a high elbow back into opponent Jarryn Geary while going for a mark deep in attack.

Roos said the goal umpire was closest so therefore he backed him to make the right call in relation to the touched behind.

However, he admitted to thinking Hogan should have been having a set shot at goal to put the Demons in front, rather than giving away a free kick and finding himself reported.

Immediately after Hogan's report, the Saints ran the ball up the other end of the ground to kick a steadying goal en route to regaining the ascendancy.

Roos described the incidents as "side issues" in the context of the game, acknowledging that the Saints – who kicked 15.20 – were too good.

"You wouldn't want [the incidents] to detract from their performance because their performance was better than ours," Roos said.

Although St Kilda has beaten Melbourne twice this season, Roos would not concede the Demons were behind St Kilda in terms of their list rebuild. 

He said the Saints' experienced greats such as Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna and Sean Dempster were vital in the wins, which meant the two clubs had to take different approaches.

The Demons' average experience of 60 games, compared to St Kilda's 90, reinforced Roos' point.

Roos imagined that in two or three years, both clubs would be in comparable positions. 

"We're trying to get an upward trajectory in terms of where we want to head," Roos said.

The return of Angus Brayshaw meant the Demons saw Christian Petracca and Brayshaw in the same team together for the first time. 

Roos said he was happy with Brayshaw's first game since round five, although it reinforced the idea that it takes young players time to step up from VFL to AFL.

"It's just a huge gap. I was really pleased with the way both of them played today," he said.