St Kilda cruised past Western Bulldogs at Docklands on Sunday night on a 4.20 [104] to 11.10 [76] scoreline.
The relatively small crowd of 36,302 saw the Saints notch up their sixth straight win of the season against a disappointing Bulldogs side.
The Saints hard-running game proved too much for the visitors but they only led by 15 points at the first break after some wastefullness in front of goal.
That advantage had been pushed out to 7.14 [56] to 4.5 [29] at half-time, thanks in the main to three goals in as many minutes late in the second quarter.
St Kilda effectively put this game to bed in the third quarter, registering five goals as the Bulldogs' defensive pressure dropped away badly.
Nick Riewoldt, was the most impressive player of the field for the Saints, finishing with 17 possessions, 13 marks and 4.5.
St Kilda's Brendon Goddard, who tallied a match-high 33 possessions and kicked a goal, says the Saints's defensive performance set up another triumph.
"I guess the best thing about it was our pressure and tackling were really good...it was a good team effort," Goddard admitted.
Goddard revealed the Saints are benefiting from the interchangeable approach to the roles he and his team-mates assume from match to match.