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St Kilda livewire Stephen Milne kicked five goals to set up a low-pressure 25.13 (163) to 5.5 (35) AFL win over Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
While both sides were missing many first-choice players, it was clearly the Giants who felt it most as they stagger towards the end of their debut season.
The Saints booted seven goals to two in the first term and 10.4 to 0.2 in the second to be 93 points clear by halftime.
Milne’s five goals all came in the first half, including three in the second quarter, along with a spectacular mark at halfback to help set up a passage of play which led to another Saints major.
It looked like St Kilda were on track for one of the biggest wins in VFL/AFL history.
But the Saints were clearly eyeing experience for their youngsters more than records, subbing off veteran Lenny Hayes at the main break to give youngster Sebastian Ross his first taste at the top level.
The Giants showed some fight in the third term, kicking the first goal of the quarter and keeping the Saints to just two.
But the Saints posted three majors in the opening 10 minutes of the last quarter to ensure the final margin would be in triple-figures.
Midfielder Leigh Montagna stood out with his run and kicking, Nick Dal Santo was particularly damaging in the first half, while Brendon Goddard (three goals), Sean Dempster and Jarryn Geary all worked hard.
For the Giants, hard-nosed young midfielder Toby Greene was a clear standout with 34 disposals and four tackles.
The win kept the Saints in with an outside finals shot.
They will need Fremantle to lose to North Melbourne on Sunday and to Melbourne in Perth six days later.
Then the Saints would have to beat Carlton on the final day of the home and away season to snatch eighth spot.
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