A STRONG start to the match was not enough for Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night, with St Kilda dominating the second and third terms to record a solid 31-point victory - 13.15 (93) to 9.8 (62) - in the first game of the 2007 AFL season.

An eight-point quarter-time lead after the Demons kicked the first three goals of the match became a 10-point deficit at the main break.

St Kilda then piled on 4.5 to just two behinds in the third quarter to turn for home with a daunting 37-point lead.

A goal in the first minute of the last term to skipper David Neitz raised Demon spirits - and their fans' hopes - and Melbourne scored three goals to two for the quarter, but it was too little, too late.

Neitz and Russell Robertson, who snared an early contender for goal of the year just before half-time when he grabbed the ball out of the air while lying flat on his back and slotted it through, each kicked three for the Demons.

To compound the disappointment there were concerns over a foot injury to Brock McLean and a neck injury to Matthew Whelan.

The last time these two teams met, Melbourne ended St Kilda's season with an outstanding win last September in their elimination final.

And Neale Daniher's side showed early signs it meant to deliver a repeat dose, starting much the stronger, with Neitz kicked the opening goal of the season, seven minutes into the game.

But after Demons ruckman Jeff White opened the second term with his 100th AFL goal in his 200th match, extending the lead to 14 points, the Saints took control.

They kicked the next five goals, with Robertson's freakish snap reducing the margin to 10 points at the main break.

It was only the Saints' inaccuracy that enabled Melbourne to go into the final break clinging to hopes of clawing back the deficit.

Melbourne, far too reliant on handball in the first three quarters, was more direct in the last quarter and pulled to within four goals before St Kilda closed out the game.

Goals: St Kilda: F Gehrig 4 S Baker J Koschitzke 2 X Clarke A Fiora B Goddard A McQualter R Harvey. Melbourne: D Neitz R Robertson 3 B Green C Bruce J White.

Best: St Kilda: F Gehrig J Montagna N Dal Santo X Clarke L Ball. Melbourne: B Moloney C Bruce N Jones.

Crowd: 49,490

Umpires: S McBurney M Stevic S Meredith.