Melbourne remains in touch with the top six following an impressive 44-point victory over St Kilda on Saturday night.

Consecutive losses for the Demons over the past two weeks saw them fall to seventh place on the AFLW ladder, but their victory at RSEA Park has kept their finals chances alive.

Captain Daisy Pearce led from the front with 2.1 and 13 disposals, while Karen Paxman (24 touches) and Eden Zanker (23 touches) also starred. 

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The game was played completely in the Demons' front half early, with the St Kilda defence under siege from the very start.

Melbourne didn't make the most of their opportunities but was able to keep St Kilda scoreless and kick two first-quarter goals through Pearce and Alyssa Bannan. 

St Kilda finally got its first major on the board in the second quarter, after a Melbourne turnover inside 50 allowed Nat Exon to weave her way through Demon defenders and kick a much-needed goal.

It kickstarted a promising few minutes for the Saints, who suddenly started getting repeat forward-50 entries and looked threatening for the first time.

But St Kilda's good work was soon undone after a controversial ruck infringement free kick inside 50 led to a Tegan Cunningham goal and put Melbourne 18 points up at half-time.

It was more of the same after the break, with Pearce, Bannan and Jacqueline Parry all adding goals in the third term and putting the game out of reach for St Kilda, which fell to its fourth loss of the season. 

MELBOURNE 2.2 4.3 7.6 9.12 (66)
ST KILDA 0.0 1.3 1.3 3.4 (22)

GOALS
Melbourne: Pearce 2, Bannan 2, Scott, Cunningham, Parry, McNamara, Hore
St Kilda: Exon, Whitfort, Luke

BEST 
Melbourne: Gay, Pearce, Hanks, Zanker, Bannan
St Kilda: Priest, Patrikios, Exon, Phillips, Watt

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil 
St Kilda: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: N/A at Casey Fields

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