First quarter: Melbourne 5.3 (33) to St Kilda 3.4 (22)
In an entertaining and fast-paced first term, Melbourne booted five goals to three, holding an 11-point lead at quarter-time.
Jesse Hogan started in great fashion, registering the first two goals, as Sam Frost landed two for the term.
It was the first time Frost, the defender-turned-forward, had booted two goals in a game.
Melbourne led by 17 points when Tomas Bugg kicked truly at the 25-minute mark, but when Saint Tim Membrey kicked his second deep in time-on, it was back to within two goals.
Skipper Nathan Jones had 10 touches by quarter-time.
Second quarter: St Kilda 9.9 (63) to Melbourne 8.3 (51)
The Saints took control in the second term and if it wasn’t for their inaccuracy (6.5 to 3.0), Melbourne could’ve been in greater trouble.
St Kilda dominated the first part of the term, booting four unanswered goals to lead by 16 points.
The margin could’ve been greater, as the Saints had seven scoring shots to zip in the opening 11 minutes.
But when Hogan broke the drought at the 12-minute mark, it was the start of an outstanding period for the young key forward, as he registered three goals for the term to have five by half-time.
Hogan also brought the margin back to five points at the 24-minute mark, but when St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt kicked his third, the Saints led by two goals at the main break.
Third quarter: St Kilda 17.11 (113) to Melbourne 11.5 (71)
St Kilda upped the ante considerably and dominated the third term, booting eight goals to three.
At three quarter-time, the Saints led by 42 points.
Membrey was pivotal for his side with three goals, giving him five by the last change.
Jack Watts looked like being Melbourne’s only goalkicker for much of the term, when he booted two goals.
But Hogan managed his sixth just before the three quarter-time siren.
Final quarter: St Kilda 20.15 (135) d Melbourne 15.6 (96)
With Melbourne trailing by seven goals, it would take a comeback akin to the one it did against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena in round three to get back into the contest.
Although Melbourne added four goals to three in the final term, it was never going to be enough.
In the end, St Kilda won comfortably by 39 points.
Hogan added his seventh goal, capping off an outstanding individual effort, but it was an otherwise disappointing performance by the red and blue.
It means Melbourne now has 3-3 win/loss record after six rounds.
