The Western Bulldogs have cruised to a 72-point win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. 

The 20.12 (132) to 8.12 (60) victory marks the Dogs' first since Round 10, temporarily moving them back into the top eight in the process. 

The Dogs have now beaten the Saints by a combined 143 points this year.

Their ability to release the ball to a runner from the contest was quite simply a game breaker. While the Saints went with them in terms of clearance numbers, winning the metric 40-39, it was the Dogs' second layer release that gave them the upper hand.

In partnership with that contested nous, the hard-running efforts of the Dogs on the wing and across half-back was exceptional. Sam Davidson and Ryley Sanders never stopped moving, while Bailey Dale's efforts out of defence were a constant issue for the Saints.

Normally a beautiful ball user, St Kilda's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (31 disposals, nine marks) didn't quite have his pinpoint kick on show, despite working hard to find plenty of the footy. But he wasn't the only one a little bit off as the Saints as a whole struggled to neatly chain possession down the ground, often leaving them trapped in their back half and at the mercy of the Bulldogs' intercept markers.

Dale (36 disposals, 10 marks) was afforded plenty of space and time coming off the half-back line, while Bailey Williams' (17 marks, three contested) aerial intercept game was impressive early.

The Bulldogs' ability to control the footy was extraordinary, using short kicks to generate a running option, then sliding forward at speed. Such a style of attack allowed their key forwards to isolate themselves in one-on-ones, resulting in a combined eight goals between Buku Khamis, Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton.

Sam Darcy starred in his return from injury, finishing with three goals from 19 disposals, while Ryley Sanders also hit the scoreboard on multiple occasions.

Ryley Sanders also hit the scoreboard on multiple occassions.

The Dogs will now enjoy a 10-day break before hosting Richmond in Kidzmania at Marvel Stadium next Sunday afternoon.

MATCH DETAILS

ST KILDA                                 1.4    5.6    7.9   8.12 (60)
WESTERN BULLDOGS             4.2    10.4    16.9   20.12 (132)

GOALS 
St Kilda: Higgins, Keeler, Sharman, Windhager, Wood, Byrnes, Wanganeen-Milera, Hill
Western Bulldogs: Darcy 3, Naughton 3, Khamis 2, Sanders 2, Kennedy 2, Freijah, Richards, Davidson, English, McNeil, West, Hynes, Treloar

BEST 
St Kilda: Sinclair, Marshall, Wanganeen-Milera, Wilkie
Western Bulldogs: Darcy, Richards, Dale, Lobb, Davidson, Kennedy

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES 
St Kilda: Jack Carroll (replaced Dan Butler in the third quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Cooper Hynes (replaced Buku Khamis in the final quarter)

Crowd: 20,508 at Marvel Stadium