Max King's heroics weren't required on this occasion as free-scoring St Kilda continued their AFL resurgence with a third-straight victory, thrashing Hawthorn by 69 points.
Emerging superstar King had grabbed the two previous games by the throat when the Saints needed a hero to step up in frantic finishes against Fremantle and Richmond.
But the Hawks clash was a comparative Sunday stroll as St Kilda posted their highest score under Brett Ratten in the 22.10 (142) to 10.13 (73) win at the MCG.
The Paddy Ryder-Rowan Marshall combination delivered again as the pair outpointed inexperienced Hawk Ned Reeves in the ruck and had an impact in attack.
Ryder kicked two goals from 10 disposals but will attract scrutiny from the match review officer over a late bump on Will Day, who was substituted out of the match with a concussion.
Brad Hill kicked a career-best four goals at half-forward in a tally matched by teammates Tim Membrey and Jade Gresham, who both kicked goals in each quarter.
There were no major fireworks from King, though he also finished with four majors, including three in the final term, as one of eight goal-kickers in the comfortable win.
Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell was good at the stoppages, as were Saints pair Jack Steele and Brad Crouch, while Mitch Lewis kicked 3.5 for the Hawks and took a huge mark on Ben Paton's back in the dying stages.
Luke Breust also kicked three goals for the Hawks.
Hawthorn's pre-match activation signage around the ground proclaimed "this is our house" and Dylan Moore looked right at home in the opening stages.
He put two goals on the board from free kicks in the first two minutes after he was pushed in the back by Paton and then caught the Saints defender holding the ball.
King helped St Kilda respond, nailing a long set shot and setting up an easy goal for Hill as the Saints kicked six of the next seven majors before quarter-time.
Tempers flared when Ryder collided with Day but St Kilda were unfazed, opening up a commanding 37-point lead by the main break.
Their superior efficiency told the tale, with 15 scores coming from 22 forward entries, while Hawthorn had 13 from 26.
Poor field and goal-kicking meant the Saints squandered the chance to finish the contest by three-quarter time but they nevertheless cruised home in the final term.
The result gave St Kilda a 3-1 record ahead of a home game against Gold Coast in round five, while Hawthorn (2-2) face a tough test against traditional rivals Geelong on Easter Monday.
