MELBOURNE has suffered a defeat at the hands of St Kilda, going down by 28 points at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs. 

The Dees kicked the first goal of the game, but the Saints kicked the next six first-quarter goals and led comfortably from then onwards to seal their win at 7.21 (63) to 14.7 (91). 

St Kilda kept its foot down early in the second quarter by kicking the first goal, moments after being controversially penalised for a bump on Trent Rivers.

But Melbourne responded, kicking four goals, including two from Christian Petracca when they needed someone to stand up.

Scoring dried up early in the third quarter. It took 14 minutes for Bradley Hill to kick the first goal of the second half, but Melbourne kept peppering the goals, with Harry Petty paid a free kick for holding the ball on Mason Wood in the pocket before reducing the margin to two goals.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was at his exquisite best by foot in the third quarter, swerving through traffic and drilling the ball with penetration, which resulted in a goal late that extended the margin to 17 points at the final break.

Melbourne took two marks inside 50 in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, but Daniel Turner, who was moved forward at three-quarter time, and Jake Melksham missed both chances.

St Kilda swept forward and Mitch Owens made the Demons pay by converting their first chance of the quarter. It was the tale of the game. St Kilda converted its chances; Melbourne didn't. 

MELBOURNE     2.2     6.9     7.13     7.21 (63)
ST KILDA          6.2     9.4     11.6     14.7 (91)

GOALS
Melbourne: Petracca 2, Petty, Melksham, Johnson, Fritsch, Chandler
St Kilda: Butler 4, Keeler 3, Hall 2, Travaglia, Owens, Hill, Higgins, Clark 

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Nil
St Kilda: Phillipou (calf)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Bailey Laurie (replaced Aidan Johnson in the fourth quarter)
St Kilda: Jack Carroll (replaced Mattaes Phillipou in the first quarter)

Crowd: TBC at TIO Traeger Park