ST KILDA has sprung a surprise 53-point win on the eighth-placed Bombers.
A seven-goal third quarter set the foundation for the thumping win, with multiple Saints kicking goals from all angles.
In the absence of the injured Max King, Anthony Caminiti and Cooper Sharman were the Saints' focal points in attack, each kicking three goals.
Saints captain Jack Steele, playing his best game for the club since Ross Lyon took over at the end of 2022, was superb with three goals.
Essendon captain Zach Merrett (24 disposals, one goal) never stopped trying in a well-beaten side, while Dylan Shiel kicked two goals.
The Saints repeatedly poked holes in Essendon's defensive structures and took seven marks to two inside 50m in the opening term.
Three goals in as many minutes briefly gave the Bombers the lead midway through the second quarter but St Kilda steadied and took a nine-point advantage to the main break.
Essendon's pressure dropped away during the crucial third quarter as St Kilda piled on the first six goals of the term and took a stranglehold on the contest.
In a telling statistic, the Saints finished with a massive tally of 133 uncontested marks while winning the contested mark count 16-5.
ST KILDA 5.1 7.2 14.4 17.6 (108)
ESSENDON 2.3 5.5 6.7 8.7 (55)
GOALS
St Kilda: Caminiti 3, Sharman 3, Steele 3, Membrey 2, Higgins 2, Owens, Butler, Marshall, Wanganeen-Milera
Essendon: Shiel 2, Draper, Durham, Duursma, Jones, Merrett, Stringer
BEST
St Kilda: Marshall, Steele, Wanganeen-Milera, Sharman, Sinclair
Essendon: Merrett, Duursma, Durham, Caldwell
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Essendon: Jordan Ridley (corked hip)
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Hugo Garcia (unused)
Essendon: Archie Perkins (replaced Jordan Ridley in the third quarter)
Crowd: 39,761 at Marvel Stadium
