Skipper Trent Cotchin kicked a career-best five goals as Richmond scored just their fourth AFL win of the season on Saturday, beating bottom side St Kilda by 44 points at Etihad Stadium.

The Tigers bounced out to a five-goal lead at quarter-time and led by 30 points at halftime and 24 points at the final change.

Richmond won a game that didn’t reach high standards with a tally of 18.9 (117) to St Kilda’s 11.7 (73).

St Kilda’s ninth consecutive loss puts them on a 3-11 record.

Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery and Chris Newman kicked two goals each for the Tigers.

St Kilda’s captain Nick Riewoldt struggled against the tight defence of Alex Rance and also poor delivery from his midfield and finished with one goal while Rhys Stanley and Darren Minchington booted two each.

Cotchin dominated the opening term, kicking three of Richmond’s six first-quarter goals and gathering 11 disposals as the Tigers jumped out to a 6.2 (38) to 1.2 (8) advantage.

The Saints looked more dangerous in the second term and booted four majors. But a goal after the siren to Newman allowed the Tigers to maintain their 30-point break at halftime, 10.4 (64) to 5.4 (34).

St Kilda outscored the Tigers four goals to three in the third term to close the gap to 24 points at three-quarter time, 13.7 (85) to 9.7 (61). Speedy sub Minchington added some zip to the Saints after coming off the bench, but the Tigers kept the Saints at bay as Cotchin booted his fifth goal of the match.

The Tigers finished strongly with a five-goal final term to St Kilda’s two majors.

Brandon Ellis was Richmond’s leading ball-winner with 36 disposals while Cotchin had 31.

Jack Steven and Leigh Montagna were prominent in midfield for the Saints and Billy Longer worked hard in the ruck.

Richmond host Brisbane at the MCG on July 5 while the Saints face Carlton at Etihad Stadium the following day.