Scintillating Sydney have plunged St Kilda’s AFL season further into crisis with a comprehensive 71-point demolition at Etihad Stadium.
An awe-inspiring first-quarter blitz set up the 19.12 (126) to 7.13 (55) smashing in front of 27,569 fans in the annual Pride Game.
It was the Swans’ highest score and biggest win of the season and the Saints’ heaviest defeat.
Josh Kennedy (31 possessions) and Isaac Heeney (27) were outstanding, while Lance Franklin was the leading goalkicker with four.
Seb Ross, standing in for injured St Kilda skipper Jarryn Geary, battled hard for his 25 disposals.
It was Alan Richardson’s 100th game in charge of St Kilda and he won’t have overseen many worse starts to a contest.
In contrast, Sydney could do no wrong in a blistering opening onslaught.
Callum Sinclair and Franklin each booted two goals as the Swans registered their highest score in a quarter this season.
But as much John Longmire’s men impressed, St Kilda were putrid.
Eight Saints registered two disposals or less, including star midfielder Jack Steven, who was kept to one ineffective kick by George Hewett.
With his side trailing by 48 points, Richardson marched onto the ground at quarter-time and gave his charges and old-fashioned spray.
The ear-bashing actually had the desired effect, St Kilda attacking the contest with vigour after the restart.
But as it has done for most of the season, inaccuracy cruelled their efforts, Sinclair booting his third after the half-time siren to make it a 61-point lead.
Nathan Brown had struggled to contain Franklin but his night ended late in the second term when he suffered a concussion.
The scoring slowed for Sydney after the break but Gary Rohan chipped in with two goals to push the margin out to an imposing 75 points at three-quarter time.
If there is any consolation to be had for Saints fans, it’s that their team at least fought the game out.
Josh Battle became St Kilda’s only multiple goalkicker when he booted his second as the home side won the quarter by four points.
Sydney’s ninth win of the season set up a tantalising clash against ladder leaders West Coast at the SCG on Friday night.
St Kilda will be looking for their first win since round one when they take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.