Quarter-time: Melbourne 2.2 (14) to St Kilda 1.3 (9)

The Demons started their 2014 season in exciting fashion.

Melbourne kicked the first two goals of the match, courtesy of Jimmy Toumpas and Dean Terlich and soon it had a 14-point lead.

The Saints were goalless until the 24-minute mark, when Rhys Stanley opened their 2014 account. At quarter-time, the Dees led by five points.

Half-time: St Kilda 4.5 (29) to Melbourne 2.10 (22)
 
The Demons were wasteful in front of goal during the second term, failing to score a goal and instead adding eight behinds.
 
St Kilda booted three goals via Josh Saunders, Eli Templeton and Nick Riewoldt and at half-time had a seven-point advantage.
 
Jack Grimes was Melbourne’s leading ball winner by the main break with 18 touches; St Kilda’s Clint Jones had 21.

Three quarter-time: St Kilda 8.6 (54) to Melbourne 4.11 (35)
 
The Demons started with a bang in the second half, when Shannon Byrnes kicked truly within the opening minute.
 
But St Kilda soon took control, kicking four in a row, including two from Riewoldt, to gain a 26-point lead mid-way through the term.
 
Byrnes’ second helped reduce the margin at the 19-minute mark, as the Demons trailed by 19 points at the final change.

 

Final score: St Kilda 10.8 (68) d Melbourne 6.15 (51)

Just like the third term, the Demons started strongly, when Dom Tyson had one on the board within 45 seconds.

It soon proved to be a goal for goal term – although just three more majors were added – as the Saints held on for victory in a low-scoring contest.

In the end, Melbourne went down by 17 points.