First quarter: Melbourne 6.3 (39) to St Kilda 1.1 (7)
Melbourne couldn’t have asked for a better opening. In finals-like conditions, and played at September-like intensity early on, the Demons landed the first one for the day, and by the 14-minute mark had four in a row.
By quarter-time, Melbourne led by 32 points after having nine scoring shots to two.
James Harmes was outstanding with three majors, while he also took a brilliant mark over St Kilda’s Jake Carlisle, before converting his second.
Jack Viney, Dom Tyson and Cam Pedersen all chipped in with one each.
Angus Brayshaw, who made his much-awaited comeback, copped a heavy hit midway through the term, but bounced back to impress.
Second quarter: Melbourne 9.6 (60) to St Kilda 4.4 (28)
The second term proved to be an even period with both sides kicking 3.3 each.
Melbourne got out to a 40-point lead at the 21-minute mark after goals came via Max Gawn and Alex Neal-Bullen.
But when St Kilda kicked consecutive majors, for the first time in the match, the Saints pegged the deficit back to 26 points in time-on.
However, when Pedersen marked and landed his second after the half-time siren, the Demons were back out to a 32-point lead.
Nathan Jones had 19 touches by the main break, with Brayshaw winning 15. St Kilda's Seb Ross was the leading ball-winner with 21.
Third quarter: Melbourne 10.9 (69) to St Kilda 8.11 (59)
St Kilda hit back hard in the third term, reducing the margin back to just 10 points at three quarter-time.
The Saints had 11 scoring shots to four, booting 4.7 to 1.3.
Melbourne’s only major for the quarter came via Jake Melksham, who kicked truly at the 12-minute mark.
Although his goal put the red and blue in front by 31 points, when the Saints booted three in three minutes, just before time-on, they were within two goals.
Saint Tim Membrey had the chance to narrow the gap even further right on the three quarter-time siren, but his kick went through for a behind.
Final quarter: Melbourne 14.12 (96) defeated St Kilda 10.12 (72)
The Saints made it four in succession, when they posted the first of the final term.
Membrey’s second got his side to within four points, just 55 seconds into the last stanza.
With the game on the line, Melbourne stepped up. Jeff Garlett answered with the red and blue’s first for the quarter at the two-minute mark and when Mitch Hannan booted two in two minute, midway through the term, Melbourne was up 24 points.
Although St Kilda’s Jack Sinclair claimed his second early in time-on, when Melksham booted his second at the 26-minute mark, Melbourne was home by four goals.
Jones finished with a game-high 35 disposals, Clayton Oliver had 32 and Jack Billings had 30 for the Saints.
