The taste of a big win last weekend and the smell of blood in the water is set to fuel vice-captain Callum Wilkie and the Saints as Retro Round against Essendon beckons.

St Kilda recorded its biggest win of the season this Saturday gone, putting the foot on the gas to accelerate to a 72-point win over West Coast and record its biggest win under Ross Lyon in his second stint at the Saints’ helm.

Now, Wilkie is keen to keep the momentum rolling into this week’s Retro Round encounter over the Bombers, exacting revenge for this year’s earlier defeat in Round 3 as the latter’s place in finals remains uncertain.

“It was nice to put a team to the sword a bit in the last quarter. It’s something we haven’t been able to do all year,” Wilkie said at this morning’s press conference at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

“I thought we played pretty well. That first quarter, it lived in our front half and that’s the way we want to play our football. We were probably a bit cute with it at times in that first half, but really fixed that up in the second. 

“It was a weight of numbers performance by the whole group, I think everyone played their role really well, the midfield was awesome, they dominated in there and the connection got a lot better in that second half, especially in that last quarter.”

St Kilda has won two of its four matches post-bye, slipping to Port Adelaide at home by two points before falling to “treacherous” conditions against Adelaide last fortnight after kicking just one major after half-time in the heavy downpour.

Within that time however, the Saints have pulled off a stunning upset over premiership favourites Sydney in heart-racing fashion before their most recent triumph over the Eagles.

While results have been split, Wilkie is adamant St Kilda’s effort has remained constant and is eager to continue that vein against Essendon this weekend, particularly with the latter fighting to retain its spot in the top-eight after a narrow loss to the Crows last Friday.

“I think we’ve put a pretty good block together with our effort and our contest. There’s been a few close losses but some good wins in there too,” Wilkie said.

“Essendon are going to come out hungry. Their finals are on the line and they’ve been good all year and standing up in the big games.

“They’re going to come out and give it their best shot and we’re looking forward to playing them. We play three or four top-eight sides for the rest of the year and it gives us a really good challenge building into next year.

“We just want to keep building, keep improving. That’s the message from Ross (in that) we can take a lot out of these last five weeks.”