Melbourne have capped their solid AFL pre-season with a 26-point win over St Kilda at Casey Fields.
The Demons followed their easy win over North Melbourne with a tougher 18.11 (119) to 14.9 (93) Thursday night result.
After briefly losing the lead late in the third quarter, Melbourne kicked six goals to two in the last term and had 13 goalkickers for the match.
The Demons have not made the finals since 2006 but, increasingly, they have the look of a team who can break that drought.
While the Saints lost their two pre-season games, they rallied impressively in the third term.
Demons midfielder Clayton Oliver starred with 27 possessions and half-back Shane Savage impressed for St Kilda.
The Demons opened well, with a long kick in the third minute splitting open the Saints’ defence and setting up Christian Petracca for a simple goal.
St Kilda briefly rallied, kicking the next two majors, but the Demons then went on a four-goal run as they took charge.
Melbourne booted eight goals to four in the first quarter and they had 12 scoring shots from only 15 inside 50s.
St Kilda were having enough of the ball, but were handballing too often and the Demons looked much better organised.
Melbourne key defender Oscar McDonald left the field early in the second term with back tightness and did not return.
After slumping to a 39-point deficit, the Saints rallied in the second quarter.
Hunter Clark, the Saints’ No.7 November draft pick, kicked an excellent snapped goal a few minutes before halftime, but he only had a handful of disposals for the match as he pressed for round-one selection.
That brought the Saints to within 31 points at the main break.
While St Kilda stopped the rot in the second term, their third term was still a surprise.
It was their turn to split Melbourne open, kicking 6.3 to 1.3 and briefly taking the lead late in the term.
Savage had eight disposals off half-back and Josh Bruce kicked three goals, but it was more a lift across the team in intensity and a clear intent to kick more than they had in the first half.
St Kilda overwhelmed Melbourne in the third quarter with sheer weight of disposals – 103 to 77 – and significantly, the Saints had 57 kicks to 46 handballs.
Saints star Jack Steven had to be helped from the field late in the third quarter with a rolled left ankle.
Jeff Garlett put the Demons a point in front at the last change with their only goal of the third term.
Melbourne continued the rally with four of the first five goals of the last term, including two to Angus Brayshaw, as they killed off the Saints’ challenge.