The Saints have comfortably handled the Demons in a somewhat fitting situation, given it’s the Easter weekend.
St Kilda was brilliant defensively all day, killing Melbourne on transition, leading to the 40-point win.
They kicked eight unanswered goals across the second and third terms, putting the game to bed as the Dees failed to show any fight across that period.
Both teams are missing key personnel, but one came into this year as a premiership contender and the other a wooden spoon favourite.
Melbourne now sits 16th with one win, while St Kilda, the team that came into the season under the most pressure, sit atop the ladder with four wins from five games.
Here’s everything you need to know!
What they’re saying: Lyon and Roos on the Dees
Former Melbourne coach Paul Roos believes it’s time to treat the Saints a better team than Melbourne, given we now have a sample size of five weeks.
“You talk about an upset, but this is a better team in St Kilda beating a poor team,” Roos told Fox Footy.
“I think after five rounds, if it was Melbourne kicking four goals 15, but St Kilda has looked way better.
“St Kilda has handled them really comfortably up to this stage.”
Meanwhile, club legend Garry Lyon added that the Dees try to play fancy and it’s causing basic skill errors.
“Melbourne’s tendency to want to play perfect and fancy, like Christian Petracca gets the ball and wants to handball like Polly Farmer. Just get back off the mark and kick the ball to the free player.”
“Clayton Oliver wants to do the fancy one-touch handball instead of saying get the ball in your hand and then give the handball off.”
BEN LONG!
— AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2019
5 in a row for the Saints! #AFLDeesSaints pic.twitter.com/uYUuAwYb6h
The Talking Point: Where is Tom McDonald at?
After a breakout year as a key forward in 2018, Tom McDonald has come crashing back to earth this year.
He’s kicked two goals for the year as Melbourne’s main man. The club was so confident in him as their spearhead that they traded Jesse Hogan to Fremantle without a great deal of fuss.
Former Melbourne captain and key forward Garry Lyon said the “honeymoon” is over for McDonald.
“He’s going to get criticised and rightly so,” he told Fox Footy.
“He had maybe a honeymoon period as a key forward in the back-half of last year when Melbourne was rolling and he got rolling and did they get rolling because of him or was he rolling because Melbourne were rolling?
“Now, geez it’s a steep learning curve as a key forward and he’s had little impact this year.”
"Simon Goodwin should be sending Tom McDonald to defence now" - Spud.
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) April 20, 2019
McDonald has had 1 kick, 6 handballs and 0 marks.#AFLDeesSaints
The Star: Dean Kent
Dean Kent had a brilliant day against his old side and his goal celebrations showed that.
He kicked three for the day and presented a problem for the Dees as both a marking target and a link player further up the ground.
Kent left Melbourne for opportunities and he has grabbed this role with the Saints with two hands and made the most of it.
Kent burns off Harmes... the Saints are on fire at the MCG!#AFLDeesSaints pic.twitter.com/f8cYVDhA1I
— AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2019
What’s next?
The Dees don’t have long to bounce back, taking on Richmond on Wednesday night in the Anzac Day eve game. It will be a huge stage and a big crowd and Melbourne needs to start showing the form that got them to the final four last year.
St Kilda meanwhile hosts Adelaide at Marvel Stadium with the chance to go 5-1 and maintain their spot on top of the AFL ladder.
Full Score
Melbourne: 3.3, 4.5, 4.8, 7.13. (55)
St Kilda: 4.1, 7.2, 12.5, 15.5. (95)
GOALS
Melbourne: Melksham 2, Preuss 2, Brayshaw, Harmes, Petracca
St Kilda: Membrey 4, Kent 3, Bruce 2, Billings 2, Acres, Long, Lonie, Parker
BEST
Melbourne Oliver, Melksham, Gawn, Preuss
St Kilda Billings, Kent, Newnes, Membrey, Paton, Geary, Savage, Ross, Steele, Wilkie, Steven
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Nil