It was exactly what you wanted to see if you’re a Saints fan.

New recruits fired on all cylinders, emerging talent justified their high standings and regular contributors starred as Brett Ratten’s side secured its first win of the year over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday night.

Zak Jones (29 disposals, one goal) and Jack Billings (24 disposals, three goals) dominated through the middle and gave immaculate ball-use in the 14.4 (88) to 7.7 (49) result, with Jade Gresham (25 disposals) and Dan Butler (two goals) just as electric heading into attack.

All were made possible by the superb efforts of All-Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder (28 hit-outs), who provided premium service to the Saints’ on-ball brigade.

The Bulldogs – led by Bailey Smith (29 disposals) and Josh Dunkley (28) – bookended their evening with solid patches of play, but weren’t able to secure their first win after relinquishing a first-quarter lead.

After Max King drew first blood to open proceedings, Patrick Lipinski and Smith were part of the force that sliced through the centre and hit their forward targets with precision.

It was only errant kicking (2.4) that let the Dogs down and saw them just three points behind at the first change.

But it was all St Kilda from that point on.

Ratten’s troops clicked into gear and got the scoreboard ticking off the back of their sleek ball movement, dominance in the clearances and potency on the counter-attack.

Whether it be a class act from Hunter Clark coming out of defence, a deft sidestep from Bradley Hill or a seamless front-and-centre from Butler, there was no slowing the accurate Saints down.

As the home side queued up for goals – quite literally with two eye-catching coast-to-coast plays – the Bulldogs were left in their wake as Jones’ grunt got the engine room running.

The Saints booted 11 of their 14 goals after quarter-time, while the Bulldogs suffered their second low-scoring affair after scoring just 34 points in Round 1.

Second-gamer Max King bookended the Saints’ evening with two of his own, while Jack Steele looked right at home with a big hanger at full-forward.

A rotating forward line saw 10 Saints finish with majors and just four behinds registered for the evening.

Skipper Jarryn Geary played up forward after a minor knock, while Bulldogs Ed Richards and Jason Johannisen recovered after knee complaints.

While there were no fans in the stands, the Saints were backed by a legion of loyal supporters watching on from home, as well as an extra contingent who watched the match from the comfort of their cars at the Dromana Drive-In.

Pledge messages from the faithful lined the walls of the changerooms and were read by players in their pre-match preparation.

The Saints wore black armbands and paid their respects to past players and officials Brian Muir, Geoffrey Kerr, Tom McNeil and young staff member Jonathon Summers, who all sadly passed away in recent months.

St Kilda will face Collingwood next Saturday afternoon at the MCG.

ST KILDA  3.1  7.3  12.4  14.4 (88)
WESTERN BULLDOGS  2.4  3.4  5.6  7.7 (49)

BEST
St Kilda: Jones, Billings, Butler, Ryder, Gresham, Wilkie, Ross
Western Bulldogs: Smith, Dunkley, Lipinski, Macrae

GOALS
St Kilda: Billings 3, Butler 2, King 2, Jones, Lonie, Steele, Hannebery, Marshall, Hind, Membrey
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer, Naughton, Wallis, Dunkley, Macrae, Richards, Williams