ST KILDA has gone down to the Western Bulldogs by 23 points in front of a healthy crowd at Etihad Stadium in what was a high scoring and fast-paced contest.

Despite mounting a couple of mini comebacks, the Saints trailed on the scoreboard and in open play for the vast majority of the afternoon - forever a gallop or two behind the slick Bulldogs.

Regardless of the result, the highlight of the afternoon from a St Kilda perspective was Lenny Hayes' goal late in the third term. After winning a free kick, the Saints faithful stood and applauded their hero before they cheered as if he'd just booted the winning goal in a Grand Final.

Hayes pumped his fist to the crowd, reconfirming that he truly is the 'people's player.'

In general, the Saints had a number of players who faired reasonably, but struggled to contain the Dogs' counter-punch speed for much of the day.

David Armitage was industrious as always, Seb Ross promising and Jack Steven elusive - but stemming the flow against a vastly-improved side requires total effort and 22 contributors - and to this end the Saints performance was promising and patchy in the same breath.

This was the first game Sam Gilbert and Sam Fisher had played together since round six last year. And though both defenders drifted in and out of the contest, their presence and experience was greatly beneficial.

James Gwilt even bobbed up when pushed forward and booted three majors - adding another string to Alan Richardson's bow.

Prior to half-time, St Kilda looked shot on a number of occasions, but a youngster's classy finish from next to nothing kept the home side in the game.

Ross stuck a hand out, smothered, and then snapped truly to reduce the margin to 20 points heading into the main break.

But it was Nick Riewoldt, typically, who began the mini Saints resurgence after receiving a free kick halfway through the second quarter. Tom Curren followed his skipper's long range goal with his second major for the afternoon, and all of a sudden the Saints were in the mix.

The multi-pronged foward-line, which had been starved of opportunities in the first quarter, was suddenly flooded by them, with Josh Bruce and then James Gwilt working exceptionally in a partnership with Nick Riewoldt.

The 27 points that separated the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda at quarter-time largely reflected the gap in offensive flair and dash between the two teams. While St Kilda chipped sideways early, Brendan McCartney's men took the game on via hand and foot with great panache and aggression.

In a fitting tribute to the retiring Hayes, the Bulldogs players formed a guard of honour and applauded him from the ground following the final siren.

ST KILDA: 15.9 (99)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 18.14 (122)

GOALS: Gwilt 3, Curren 2, Steven, Ross, Weller, Newnes, Schneider, Hayes, Riewoldt, Billings, Murdoch, Bruce

BEST: Armitage, Steven, Gwilt, Ross, Riewoldt, Hayes, Fisher, Dempster