ST KILDA has fallen to a 27-point loss against the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome on Sunday after failing to capitalise on a promising start.

The Saints went one on one across the ground for much of the first half and effectively curtailed the Dogs’ ability to run and carry the ball, but were unable to sustain that pressure over four quarters.

Wayward in front of goals, St Kilda led by 12 points at quarter-time, but was outscored heavily in the next two terms to go down 15.16 (106) to 11.13 (79). 

Nick Dal Santo (27 possessions) worked tirelessly around the stoppages while Jason Gram (28) and Sam Fisher (25) also saw plenty of the ball.

Nick Riewoldt battled with Dale Morris all day and finished with two goals and 13 disposals.

Jason Akermanis was outstanding for the Bulldogs with the former Lion gathering 24 possessions and booting six goals, while Matthew Boyd finished with a game-high 34 touches and 13 marks.

The Saints’ cause wasn’t helped by the late withdrawals of Robert Harvey and Steven King who were replaced by Leigh Fisher and James Gwilt.

St Kilda had the upper hand in the early exchanges, but failed to make its superiority around the stoppages count on the scoreboard.

In the first quarter the Saints went inside their forward 50 zone on 17 occasions to the Dogs’ nine, but saw several gettable shots sail wide of the mark. The Bullies were more efficient with their limited opportunities with two goals giving them the lead midway through the quarter.

It was all St Kilda as the term progressed with Shane Birss, who played a defensive role on damaging runner Lindsay Gilbee in the first half, goaling from long-range and Lenny Hayes converting to help their side to 12-point lead at the first break.

The Bulldogs made their move in the second with Akermanis leading the charge with three goals.

Clinton Jones finished off some good pressure work from his teammates to goal 20 minutes in, but it was St Kilda’s only major for the term as the Dogs opened up a 16-point gap at half-time.

Saints’ fans had their hearts in their mouths late in the half as Justin Koschitzke was left clutching his left knee after falling awkwardly in a contest with Dylan Addison. The big ruckman hobbled off the ground after hyper-extending the joint, but returned to the field after the break.

Riewoldt narrowed the margin with a goal inside the first to minutes of the third, but that was it for St Kilda in a term dominated by the Dogs.

Outscored 4.8 to 1.2, the Saints trailed by 40 points at the final change with a mountain to climb to get back into the contest.

But Akermanis booted his fifth early in the quarter to seal the premiership points for the Dogs.

To their credit the Saints battled on to win the quarter six goals to four, but the damage had already been done.

ST KILDA: 3.6, 4.7, 5.9, 11.13 (79)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.0, 7.5, 11.13, 15.16 (106)

GOALS:
St Kilda: Gram 2, Riewoldt 2, Jones 2, Hayes, Birss, Milne, Dal Santo, Blake
Western Bulldogs: Akermanis 6, Giansiracusa 4, Ray, Welsh, Ward, Williams, Griffen

BEST:
St Kilda: Gram, Ball, Birss, S. Fisher, Goddard, Dal Santo
Western Bulldogs: Akermanis, Lake, Cross, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Boyd, Hargrave, Welsh

INJURIES:
St Kilda: Koschitzke (knee), Harvey (calf) replaced in selected side by L. Fisher, King (back) replaced in selected side by Gwilt
Western Bulldogs: Nil

Reports: Hudson (Western Bulldogs) reported for striking Montagna (St Kilda) in the second quarter

Umpires: McLaren, Schmitt, Chamberlain

Official crowd: 38,914 at Telstra Dome