The win, just Richmond’s fourth of the season, was spearheaded by a superb game from captain Trent Cotchin, who kicked a career-best five goals, three by quarter-time, as well as gathering 31 disposals.

Cotchin had plenty of support from Brett Deledio, who had 30 disposals, and  Dustin Martin, while spearhead Jack Riewoldt,  well held after quarter-time by St Kilda’s Luke Delaney, kicked two goals and gave off another in a decisive first quarter in which Richmond built a five-goal lead.

‘‘Trent was outstanding at the start and Jack led from the front also, and Brett,’’ said Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said. The coach had thrown down the gauntlet to his senior men during the lead-up to the game when he said the Tigers’ best players hadn’t performed to the standard required.

‘‘We’ve just got to maintain that consistency. The good sides, their better players perform week in, week out.’’

Brandon Ellis was another star for the Tigers, the emerging midfield winning 36 possessions as well as kicking a goal and giving off a score assist.

Hardwick was happy with Richmond’s first win in just over a month, but believed his side still didn’t play anywhere near its true ability. ‘‘It’s always good to win ...  [but] we probably thought we played below expectations. St Kilda, to their credit, the second and third quarters I thought they actually controlled the game.’’

While Richmond has a good opportunity to record a second straight win next week at the MCG against struggling Brisbane, StKilda remains in firm contention for its first wooden spoon since 2000 after its ninth consecutive loss, albeit one in which it remained competitive.

St Kilda again had trouble converting its forward thrusts, with Nick  Riewoldt often on the end of some poor delivery, and trailed by 30 points at half-time despite having had four more inside 50s.

Coach Alan Richardson bemoaned his team’s tardy start,  managing only one goal in the first quarter while  Richmond slammed on   six.

The Saint’s next month offers more challenges.

After facing Carlton next weekend, they  then take on three top-eight sides in succession – North Melbourne, Fremantle and Gold Coast.