St Kilda’s slim chance of returning to September has been dealt a savage blow after North Melbourne eased to a 23-point win in an ugly affair at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

After registering three consecutive wins, and seven of the past nine, the Kangaroos snapped the Saints’ unbeaten run, keeping the game at arms distance throughout before saluting 12.13 (85) to 8.14 (62).

On an iconic night for the game, with North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey setting a new games record at 427 appearances to eclipse seven-time Hawthorn premiership legend Michael Tuck, the football didn’t do the occasion justice.

It was far from an enthralling spectacle, with both sides butchering the ball across the ground and wasting convertible opportunities inside 50. Despite accumulating 12 more inside 50s, St Kilda couldn’t buy a goal at times, before kicking four of the last five goals to improve the bottom line.

But for a large patch through the middle part of the game, things didn’t work for the Saints. A goal from Leigh Montagna in time on in the third quarter broke a 40-minute period without a goal from the Saints – a period where North Melbourne booted four goals to five behinds by St Kilda.

At the final change, there was still a pulse, but it didn’t last long. A goal from North Melbourne spearhead Drew Petrie in the opening 18 seconds of the final quarter put the game to bed, extending the margin to 28-points; double St Kilda’s score at that point in time.

Despite an absence of pure standouts from either side, North Melbourne got the better of St Kilda through the midfield. Not only did they win where it counts, the Kangaroos also swept almost all of key indicators, winning contested ball (+7), clearances (+9), disposals (+44) and tackles (+7).

In stark contrast to the last fortnight, the Saints level of contribution was found wanting. Too much was left to too few, and even then individuals produced patches of quality rather than four-quarter efforts.

For the umpteenth time this season, reliable small defender Jarryn Geary produced another sensational performance, this time clamping livewire Kangaroos forward Lindsay Thomas. A week after kicking five goals to torch Collingwood, Thomas was held to minimal impact.

At the other end of the ground, Maverick Weller continued his excellent season, producing another typical workmanlike performance. He was brave when it was his turn to go and clinical by hand on transition. Nick Riewoldt also made an impact, kicking 2.2 from 16 possessions and eight marks.

Seb Ross was the pick of the midfielders, with Jack Billings producing a strong first half before fading after the main break. Jack Steven worked his way through a hard tag from young North Melbourne midfielder Trent Dumont, although the dual best and fairest winner was down on his recent run of form.

NORTH MELBOURNE       2.4      4.7      7.8      12.13     (85)
ST KILDA                           1.4       2.7     3.10      8.14     (62)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 3, Waite 2, Petrie 2, Thomas, Harvey, Macmillan, Dumont, Mullett
St Kilda: Riewoldt 2, Bruce 2, Montagna, Acres, Weller, Dunstan 

BEST
St Kilda:Geary, Riewoldt, Ross, Acres, Montagna, Weller

Official crowd: 44,287 at Etihad Stadium