ST KILDA comfortably overcame the absence of a stack of stars to beat Richmond by 40 points in Friday night's round-one NAB Cup encounter at Telstra Dome.
Although both sides finished outside the eight last year, it was the Saints who looked a class above at times and they ran out winners 1.15.12 (111) to 2.7.11 (71).
Midfielders Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna were impressive and Justin Koschitzke (two goals) dangerous as a marking target in attack, but coach Ross Lyon would have also been pleased with the improvement in his side's depth of talent.
Ex-Eagle Michael Gardiner provided strength in the ruck, ex-Cat Charlie Gardiner was useful around the ground, forward Clinton Jones set up a couple of goals and youngsters Luke Miles and David Armitage showed some spark.
Their showing will be vital in St Kilda's campaign in 2008 given stars Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball and Matt Maguire were among a long list of absentees.
The Saints began well by booting the first three goals, overcame a Richmond fightback in the second term by pulling away before half-time, and had the game stitched up in the third quarter.
Chris Newman's nine-point goal just before the final change brought the Tigers within 23 points, but the Saints' strong tackling in their forward line earned them two goals from free kicks early in the last quarter, which sealed the win.
St Kilda will now play the winner of Saturday's Geelong-Melbourne game in a pre-season quarter-final in Canberra next weekend.
In contrast to St Kilda's encouraging performance, Richmond were almost at full strength - minus a couple of tall defenders - but the skill problems were evident, along with a midfield which was beaten.
However, the endeavour was what it should be for a side aiming to move on from last year's wooden spoon.
Brett Deledio booted two goals in a new role as a leading forward, ruckman Troy Simmonds got through the match after last year's injury setbacks and recruits Mitch Morton (ex-West Coast) and Jordan McMahon (ex-Western Bulldogs) did enough to suggest they will earn regular games this season.
For St Kilda, Fraser Gehrig and Stephen Milne each booted three goals while Montagna dobbed a nine-pointer, but only after a review at the long break.
Richmond's best were midfielders Nathan Foley and Newman, while Nathan Brown kicked two goals.
ST KILDA 0.4.1 1.7.5 1.11.9 1.15.12 (111)
RICHMOND 0.3.2 0.4.4 2.6.7 2.7.11 (71)
Goals:
St Kilda: Nine-point goals: L Montagna. Goals: F Gehrig 3 S Milne 3 J Koschitzke 2 J Allen 2 R Eddy X Clarke D Armitage S Birss C Gardiner.
Richmond: Supergoals: G Tivendale C Newman. Goals: B Deledio 2 N Brown 2 M Richardson K Pettifer M Morton.
Best:
St Kilda: N Dal Santo L Montagna J Koschitzke X Clarke C Gardiner S Fisher C Jones.
Richmond: N Foley C Newman J King N Brown M Richardson.
Umpires: D Goldspink H Kennedy T Keating J Armstrong.
Crowd: 23,329 at Telstra Dome.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
