ST KILDA’s endeavour and intensity should not be questioned following today’s Anzac Day game against Carlton.

The Blues triumphed by 40 points in a physically demanding contest that was full of stoppages and bone crunching tackles.

However, what ultimately separated the two teams was the way Carlton used the football as opposed to St Kilda. Aside from the first term and patches throughout the last three quarters, Carlton looked to have more run and carry than the home team, who led by 26 points at one stage early in the second quarter.

Skill errors at crucial moments hurt the Saints and Tom Bell and Lachie Henderson capitalised accordingly for the Blues.

St Kilda missed Nick Riewoldt’s presence, though Billy Longer played arguably his best game for the club and he was well supported by David Armitage and stand-in skipper Jarryn Geary.

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Armitage was closely followed by Andrew Carrazzo all afternoon and showed great maturity and endeavour in registering 27 possessions and a late goal.

Longer racked up a career-high 18 disposals - mostly contested - and also competed at ground level in fascinating one-on-one contest with Cameron Wood. 

Jack Lonie was also terrific and a livewire up forward for Alan Richardson's men.

The first ten minutes was a traditional scrap as both teams struggled to find space on the tight confines of the Westpac Stadium playing arena.

Jack Steven broke the duck in the 12^th minute with a clever check side, before Jack Sinclair calmly slotted his first just 90 seconds later.

But perhaps the turning point of the first term was Andrejs Everitt’s apparent goal that was reviewed and found to have shaved the post. The Blues were gaining some momentum, but following the video intervention, Luke Dunstan executed a superb finish from 50 after receiving a sharp handball from Adam Schneider. Josh Bruce and Cam Shenton then extended the lead beyond four goals in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

With defender Nathan Wright back in the side, Shenton was swung forward. Having kicked 43 goals from 17 games for Norwood in the SANFL in 2011, this wasn’t a move that was as unusual as it initially appeared. The 24-year-old also booted a major in the second term to further illustrate his versatility.

Following some stern words from Mick Malthouse, Liam Jones and then Henderson (twice) capitalised on Carlton’s centre clearance ascendancy with the first three goals of the second term.

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Slowly St Kilda began to neutralise Carlton’s stoppage dominance, and when Jack Billings was presented with an opportunity, he took it and steadied the ship. It was the finish of a precociously talented and unquestionably classy young player, and just what the Saints needed at the time.

The Blues continued to push and probe, mainly via Dylan Buckley’s run and Marc Murphy’s inside work, but again a goal from Jack (this time Sinclair), steadied things and provided some breathing space for Alan Richardson and his men.

St Kilda, leading by 14 points at half-time, still had plenty of work to do if Carlton’s second term was anything to go by - and so it proved.

The Blues booted the first of the second half via via Bryce Gibbs and were peppering for a second when Lonie somehow beat four Carlton players to the ball and set up Bruce’s second of the day.

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With the footy Lonie is inventive and clever, but without it he is even more damaging. In the mould of a young Aaron Davey, the 18-year-old who grew up around the corner from Linen House Centre scraps and claws and invariably wins the ball back for his team. No wonder he is so highly rated.

Lonie finished with two goals amongst 18 disposals and five tackles and was probably one of St Kilda’s best and undobutedly the team's mostly lively contributor.

However the third quarter belonged to Carlton, booting six goals to the Saints two. Paddy McCartin was subbed off for Ahmed Saad and St Kilda generally struggled to orchestrate chains of clean possession.

The result was a 13 point margin favouring Carlton at the three-quarter-time break – a fair reflection of how the third term played out.

Despite St Kilda's best efforts, Carlton ran away with the contest and registered its first win for the 2015 season.

ST KILDA: 5.3 8.6 10.8 12.9 (81)

CARLTON: 1.3 5.4 12.9 18.13 (121)

GOALS: Sinclair 2, Bruce 2, Shenton 2, Lonie 2, Dunstan, Bruce, Billings, Steven

BEST: Geary, Longer, Lonie, Armitage, Dempster

SUB: Ahmed Saad, subbed in for Paddy McCartin in third quarter.