It was Maddy Prespakis' game on Saturday. Everyone else was just playing in it.  

If Carlton was going to break its duck in the 2021 AFLW season, it was going to be up to Prespakis to get the Blues moving and that's what the superstar midfielder did against St Kilda at RSEA Park. 

Last year's competition best and fairest winner powered Carlton to a comprehensive 24-point win over the Saints, with Prespakis gathering 24 disposals and a goal in the 6.4 (40) to 2.4 (16) result.   

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

It was billed as a battle between Prespakis and exciting young Saint Georgia Patrikios, but the Carlton 20-year-old was best afield with a dominant first-half display before receiving a close tag after the main break.  

The win was crucial for the Blues, who entered the season viewed as a possible premiership threat after last year's barnstorming finish to the year but dropped their first two games.  

Things looked headed that way again with Carlton kept scoreless in the first term, as the Saints broke the deadlock late in the quarter when Caitlin Greiser's smarts deep in attack saw her muscle her way into position and kick the only major for the quarter. 

The Saints did most of the attacking with the early wind advantage, with nine inside 50s to four, but didn't break too far clear of the Blues, whose first-quarter scoring troubles continued.  

But the Blues put the foot on the throttle in the second term, making best use of the breeze with three goals to take a 10-point lead into the second half. 

Elise O'Dea started the run with the Blues' first goal, before Prespakis calmly slotted one out of a stoppage and Lauren Brazzale chipped in as well.

St Kilda target Kate Shierlaw enjoyed a purple patch in the third term as the Saints pressed, but Carlton's ability to kick two goals to one against the wind – including one set up by Prespakis – gave them a comfortable 15-point buffer heading into the last quarter.  

A clever soccer off the ground late in the fourth term from Nicola Stevens, for her second goal of the game, sealed the Blues' win. 

Rosie shines bright for Saints

Rosie Dillon was one of St Kilda's best across the clash, with the versatile midfielder collecting 14 disposals in a polished display.

Dillon carried on from some impressive performances last year for the Saints and showed her tenacity at the stoppages as well as her poise by hand and foot on the outside.

ST KILDA  1.1  1.2  2.4  2.4 (16)
CARLTON  0.0  3.1  5.1  6.4 (40)

GOALS
St Kilda: Greiser, Shierlaw
Carlton: Stevens 2, Brazzale, Downie, O'Dea, Prespakis 

BEST 
St Kilda: Patrikios, Dillon, Priest, Lucas-Rodd, Shierlaw, Watt
Carlton: Prespakis, O'Dea, McKay, Hosking, Egan 

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Nil 
Carlton: Nil 

Reports: Nil