A first-quarter onslaught has kept Narrm's unbeaten streak alive, with the Demons defeating a plucky St Kilda outfit by 26 points at RSEA Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Demons, rebranded as Narrm for the AFLW's Indigenous Round, kicked all their goals in the opening quarter of the 6.10 (46) to 3.2 (20) contest.

After the initial barrage, the Saints held firm in their first game against a non-expansion side this season.

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The win leaves the Demons with a 3-0 record, while the Saints are 2-1.

Narrm's Olivia Purcell had a game-high 27 disposals, equalling her career best, while Eden Zanker kicked two goals for the Demons. Tall forward Kate Shierlaw shone for the Saints with two goals.

SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 3

The Demons ran rampant in the first term, kicking 6.1 with the wind with the Saints unable to hit the scoreboard until Shierlaw converted a free kick late in the second quarter.

Round v Narrm
  • 10:12

    AFLW RD3 | Mini-Match: St Kilda v Narrm

    Extended highlights of the Saints and Demons clash in round three of the 2022 NAB AFL Women's Competition

    AFLW
  • 05:38

    AFLW RD3 | Dal Santo post-game

    Watch St Kilda's press conference after round three's match against Melbourne

    AFLW
  • 04:48

    AFLW RD3 | Highlights v Narrm

    The Saints and Demons clash in round 3 of the 2022 NAB AFL Women's Competition

    AFLW
  • 00:32

    AFLW RD3 | Shierlaw nails her second after slick Saints footy

    Kate Shierlaw kicks truly after St Kilda's great attack through the middle

    AFLW
  • 00:37

    AFLW RD3 | Greiser grunt finished by Matin for superb Saints major

    Caitlin Greiser lays a brilliant run-down tackle before Jessica Matin converts

    AFLW

Narrm opened the third term with seven inside 50s to none, but could not capitalise before an excellent tackle from St Kilda's Caitlin Greiser set up Jessica Matin for the only goal of the third term.

When Shierlaw kicked her second goal early in the last quarter, St Kilda only trailed by 24 points. But the Saints couldn't break through again, leaving the Demons with enough of a buffer to see out the game.

Positive signs for the Saints

While the Demons had eked out wins against reigning premier Adelaide and fellow flag fancy North Melbourne in recent weeks, the Saints had posted huge wins against expansion clubs Sydney and Hawthorn - two clubs that are yet to record a win. Facing the Demons - who made last season's Grand Final - was a much more daunting prospect for St Kilda, and the first quarter exemplified that fact. But the Saints, as they perhaps would have in previous years, didn't go back into their shells. They found a way to dial up the pressure and wrestle control back away from Narrm. Keeping the Demons and its multi-faceted forward line goalless is no mean feat, but the Saints managed to do just that for three quarters, a sign that they're perhaps closer to the top of handful of team than the bottom.

02:39

AFLW RD3 | 'Just fight, fight, fight': Vesely on loss to Narrm

Olivia Vesely spoke to STK Media following our Round 3 loss to Narrm on Sunday afternoon

Say what?

"What I’ve seen previous to today is that we are really capable, but today we were a little bit off against a good team. I thought overall we were always half a metre or a metre away, and when you give the Dees that amount of space, they can cut you up pretty quickly." – St Kilda coach Nick Dal Santo.

ST KILDA  0.0  1.1  2.1  3.2  (20)
MELBOURNE  6.1  6.3  6.7  6.10  (46)

GOALS
St Kilda: Shierlaw 2, Matin
Melbourne: Zanker 2, Bannan, Fitzsimon, Hore, Paxman

BEST 
St Kilda: Jakobsson, Patrikios, Vesely, McKinnon
Melbourne: Purcell, West, Hanks, Mithen

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Nil
Melbourne: Nil

AFLW | Round 3 v Narrm - Indigenous Round

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