Red-hot reigning premiers Melbourne have made another emphatic statement by crushing finals contenders St Kilda en route to their 15th straight AFL win.
A defensive masterclass set up Sunday's 38-point victory at the MCG to give the Saints a giant reality check as they slumped to back-to-back defeats.
Melbourne kicked the first five goals of the match and led by as much as 47 points late in the second quarter before running out winners 14.9 (93) to 8.7 (55).
The Demons coasted to victories in the first seven rounds mostly against teams not expected to finish inside the top eight but came out firing with their premiership-best against the Saints, who started the round in fourth place with a 5-2 record.
Melbourne stamped their authority early by strangling the Saints' ball movement and capitalising on each of their own forward forays.
Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw were in typically prolific moods in the midfield, while Steven May, Jake Lever and Harrison Petty completely controlled the air down back.
Kysaiah Pickett lit up the MCG with two electric first-term goals, while St Kilda's nightmare start was topped off when Tim Membrey's regulation set-shot after the quarter-time siren was touched by Petty.
The Saints saved themselves from embarrassment by performing better in the second-half as Melbourne lost a third-quarter for the first time this season.
In further concern for St Kilda, small forward Dan Butler was subbed out with a lower leg injury ahead of the last quarter and replaced by Marcus Windhager.
Saints midfielder Zak Jones made an encouraging first appearance for the season after returning from personal leave but could find himself in trouble with the match review officer for a hit on Demons flyer Ed Langdon in the last quarter.
Things could get seriously ugly next Sunday as Melbourne face hapless West Coast, who have lost their last four games by an average of 83 points, at Optus Stadium.
St Kilda will be hoping to get back on the winners list when they host Geelong at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
