ST KILDA was thoroughly outplayed by Collingwood on Friday night, going down by 74 points in a free flowing contest at the MCG.

Number one draft pick Paddy McCartin was given the all clear to debut at the last minute, replacing skipper Nick Riewoldt (calf) in St Kilda’s starting team.

The conditions hardly suited the 18-year-old, who was well held by Jack Frost all night but did some clever things late.

David Armitage skippered the club for the first time in Riewoldt’s absence, following his 36-disposal performance last week with a further 33 tonight in addition to two goals and nine tackles. 

He was well supported in the grunt department by Jack Steven and Luke Dunstan, who both won their fair share of hard ball but weren’t as damaging on the outside as their Collingwood counterparts.

Most notably, Scott Pendlebury was his usual smooth moving self, disposing at an efficiency normally reserved for perfectly dry conditions - not tonight’s slippery ones - and aided by seven free kicks. Dane Swan was also damaging for the home team, pumping the ball inside forward 50 a whopping 15 times.

Jarryn Geary kicked an early goal but spent the majority of the game where the ball was, in St Kilda’s back half. Fellow leadership group member Jack Newnes was lively in his 50th match, while Adam Schneider’s re-inclusion was justified with a typically polished performance.

One of the biggest positives despite the defeat, was Dylan Roberton, who continued his good form playing as an attacking half-back and occasional wingman. The 23-year-old looks to have shaken off any lingering self-doubt stemming from 2014 and rediscovered his 2013 form. Tonight he collected a career-best 28 possessions and booted his ninth career goal.

While the intensity predictably died down late, the pace of the game was nothing short of blistering earlier on.

12 goals were kicked between the two teams in the first term, while five of the Saints six majors for the quarter came in the first 14 minutes from five different sources.

McCartin had one golden opportunity to get his hands on the ball but couldn’t quite grasp a low down chest mark 30 metres out from goal, though he did work his way into the game late and did one especially clever act when he switched the ball to Jack Newnes on the wing.

Riewoldt presented McCartin with his playing guernsey before the game.

Leading by a solitary point at the first break, the Saints had every right to believe they were up for the fight, but unfortunately for the away fans, the second quarter was all Collingwood.

St Kilda had an opportunity to stem the flow of black and white goals via Jack Steven, but the 2013 best and fairest hooked his set shot left. At the other end, the Magpies booted six goals and if not for a late David Armitage major, the margin would have exceeded 40 points at the main break.

The Saints simply couldn’t provide their Nick Riewoldt-less forward line with the supply it needed to breath and as a result, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey and McCartin were metaphorically suffocated.

Alan Richardson’s men registered just four inside 50s to Collingwood’s 25 for the quarter, illustrating how one-sided this term was.

Tim Membrey’s long-range effort in the first minute of the third term was the kick of a seasoned pro rather than a fourth gamer, but when Dane Swan replied immediately after, it seemed to knock the wind out of St Kilda’s sails for good.

As was the case last week for Gold Coast, relatively straightforward set shots were missed that potentially could have made Collingwood squirm at tense times of the match. In case we needed reminding, tonight’s clash proved that taking your opportunities when they arise is unequivocally important. There is no greater pressure than scoreboard pressure and beyond the first half-an-hour, St Kilda struggled to maintain this.

Regardless of this result, the Saints continue to develop as a unit. This high intensity game style will take time to master, but the players who are seeking to accomplish it are constantly showing signs of improvement. Next Saturday's clash against Carlton in New Zealand promises to be a captivating affair as St Kilda aim to level its season at two and two.

Jack Steven enjoyed yet another standout performance.

ST KILDA: 10.6 (66)

COLLINGWOOD: 21.14 (140)

GOALS: Armitage, Bruce, Sinclair, Steven, Roberton, Geary, Saad

BEST: Steven, Roberton, Armitage, Schneider, Billings, Newnes

CROWD: 45,197

Sub: Nathan Wright replaced Jack Lonie in the fourth quarter.