St Kilda charge past Bulldogs to go 2-0 in AFL

St Kilda have proved their resurgence under Ross Lyon wasn’t a one-off, dismantling a listless Western Bulldogs by 51 points to maintain their perfect start to the AFL season.

The Saints booted the first five goals of the game, then held their nerve through a Bulldogs second-term resurgence before kicking away for a 14.8 (92) to 5.11 (41) victory to condemn Luke Beveridge’s charges to a 0-2 start.

Boom draftee Mattaes Phillipou underlined his talent with a brilliant performance in attack, scoring three goals including a sensational long-range effort to steady the Saints at the start of the third quarter.

With Max King and Tim Membrey still sidelined, Mitch Owens (three goals), Jade Gresham, former Bulldog Zaine Cordy and late signing Anthony Caminiti (two goals apiece) helped Phillipou kick a winning score.

Ruckman Rowan Marshall (20 disposals, nine clearances, 28 hitouts) was a force and Mason Wood (24 disposals) continued his standout start to the season on the wing.

Skipper Jack Steele (28 disposals, six clearances) and Jack Sinclair (33 touches) were typically excellent.

Bulldogs pair Tom Liberatore (24 touches) and Bailey Smith (28 disposals, 596 metres gained) worked hard all game while skipper Marcus Bontempelli lifted in the second quarter.

But the disjointed Bulldogs largely lacked bite and explosiveness, and were unable to find answers to St Kilda’s relentless pressure.

Aaron Naughton booted two goals but young talls Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy failed to influence the scoreboard.

The Saints burst out of the blocks, nabbing their first goal via Phillipou inside the opening 35 seconds and a second to Owens barely a minute later.

Bulldogs defender Liam Jones required a first-quarter concussion test after his head hit Phillipou’s legs then the ground, but was cleared to return.

The Saints led by 32 points early in the second quarter but recruit Oskar Baker finally nailed the Bulldogs’ first goal 18 minutes in, starting a run of four in a row.

The fourth arrived when Tim English slotted a free kick after the siren to cut the halftime deficit to five points.

The late score prompted a brief scuffle among the players, with Cordy in the thick of things.

The start of the third term was an arm wrestle but the Saints wrested back control when Jones marked in the middle of the ground, attempted to burst forward and was run down by Dan Butler.

The quick turnover ended in a lovely long-range goal to Caminiti, his first at the top level.

The Saints never looked back from there, kicking nine goals to the Bulldogs’ one in the second half to cruise to victory.