A SCINTILLATING 14-goals-to-two second half has propelled St Kilda to an 82-point demolition of Richmond in the final Maddie’s Match at Marvel Stadium.

After a rousing upset of Geelong last week, the Saints started slowly on Saturday and were unable to shake the plucky Tigers as they led by just eight points at half-time.

But St Kilda - even without captain Jack Steele, who was a late withdrawal because of a knee issue - hit top gear after the main break to surge to a 20.15 (135) to 7.11 (53) win.

It has been an impressive response from the Saints (2-1), who suffered a humbling 63-point smashing by Adelaide in round one.

Dual All-Australian Jack Sinclair was prolific with a career-high 40 possessions, with Richmond sending veteran utility Kaidyn McIntosh to him in the final term.

Mitch Owens booted an equal career-high four goals, while fellow forwards Jack Higgins and Mason Wood booted three goals each.

The dynamic Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (29 touches) was at his silky ball-using best.

Richmond premiership forward Tom Lynch was well held in his return from a one-game suspension, and he earned the ire of Saints players and supporters in some fiery incidents.

In one amusing interaction, teenage midfielder Hugo Garcia ran off the bench and straight to shove Lynch, a far taller and heavier man than he is.

Seth Campbell, who kicked a special goal late in Richmond's round-one upset of Carlton, was the Tigers' shining light with three goals.

It was the final time St Kilda and Richmond will play in Maddie's Match, which started in 2015 following the death of club great Nick Riewoldt's sister due to Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome.

It continues Richmond's miserable, winless record across 11 games at Marvel Stadium since former coach Damien Hardwick’s infamous rant about “hating” coming to the venue following a win over Greater Western Sydney in May, 2021.

Steele dramatically withdrew from the game less than 30 minutes before the start.

The Saints were warming up out on the field when the star midfielder returned to the rooms with medical staff.

Debutant Tobie Travaglia, who was set to be the sub, replaced Steele in the starting 22 and impressed with 18 disposals.

St Kilda also lost young defender Liam O'Connell to concussion after a heavy collision in the first quarter.

St Kilda will return to the Adelaide Oval next Sunday for a clash with bogey team Port Adelaide, while Richmond hosts reigning premiers Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday.

Young Saint gets straight down to business
There were big wraps on Tobie Travaglia ahead of the 2024 Draft and he showed a bit in limited time during the Saints pre-season loss to Port Adelaide. Named as sub for his debut, the running defender was moved into the starting 22 with Jack Steele’s late withdrawal and took to the pace of the game from the moment he came on the field, finishing with 18 disposals. Unfortunately his maiden shot at goal sailed wide, but St Kilda fans can rest assured there'll be plenty of highlights in the future.

ST KILDA       3.3    6.6    12.11    20.15 (135)
RICHMOND   1.3    5.4      6.7       7.11 (53) 

GOALS
St Kilda: Owens 4, Higgins 3, Wood 3, Sharman 2, Collard 2, Hall 2, Marshall, Hill, Keeler, Wilson
Richmond: Campbell 3, McIntosh, Bauer, Lynch, Brown

BEST
St Kilda: Sinclair, Marshall, Wood, Owens, Garcia, Macrae
Richmond: Nankervis, Blight, Hopper, Campbell, McIntosh

INJURIES
St Kilda: O'Connell (concussion)
Richmond: TBC

Late change
Jack Steele (knee) replaced by Angus Hastie

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Angus Hastie, replaced Liam O'Connell at quarter-time
Richmond: Kaleb Smith, replaced Harry Armstrong in the third quarter

Crowd: 41,147 at Marvel Stadium