St Kilda has shaken off the early staggers to overpower a gallant Carlton side by 40 points at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

The Blues burst out of the blocks, kicking the first four goals of the game to open up a 23-point lead midway through the first term. But the Saints - led by burly forward Fraser Gehrig's four goals in his first game for the year - seized control from that point on to run away with a 19.11 (125) to 12.13 (85) victory.

The win was St Kilda's 10th straight over Carlton dating back to Round 20, 2001 and came in its 100th match at Telstra Dome.

Xavier Clarke played perhaps his best game in a St Kilda jumper with 21 disposals and three goals, while Jason Gram was back to his best off half-back with 27 touches and seven entries into the forward 50.

Midfield trio Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes and Luke Ball each had 28 possessions and gave their forwards plenty of avenues towards goal. Steven Milne complemented Gehrig's work with four goals of his own.

For the Blues, Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy - both No.1 draft picks - were the standouts with 26 and 23 disposals respectively, while Bret Thornton did an excellent job holding Justin Koschitzke to just five possessions.

Chris Judd still looked underdone in his second match as Carlton captain, but still managed 19 touches.

St Kilda seemed shell-shocked in the opening term as the Blues came out looking like they - and not the Saints - were early premiership favourites with quick movement of the ball and pinpoint passes into the forward line.

Carlton led by 23 points midway through the term but two late goals to St Kilda stemmed the flow and gave the Saints the momentum heading into the second quarter.

Gehrig was back to his imposing best as St Kilda booted six goals to two to take a stranglehold of proceedings before a further four goals to nothing in the third term stretched the margin to 35 at the last change.

Nick Riewoldt, who was well held by Jarrad Waite all night, didn't get his first goal until the final quarter as the Saints goaled a further seven times to put the issue beyond doubt.

Carlton scored six of its own - including two to Brad Fisher and the goal of the night to Eddie Betts - but by then, the game was already over.

ST KILDA: 2.5, 8.7, 12.9, 19.11 (125)
CARLTON: 4.4, 6.6, 6.10, 12.13 (85)

GOALS: ST KILDA: Gehrig 4, Milne 4, X Clarke 3, King 2, Riewoldt 2, Schneider 2, Gram, Blake
CARLTON: Fevola 2, Fisher 2, Murphy, Hampson, Edwards, Pfeiffer, Houlihan, Bannister, Stevens, Betts
BEST: ST KILDA: Montagna, X Clarke, Gram, Hayes, Ball, Fisher
CARLTON: Murphy, Gibbs, Thornton, Betts, Houlihan
INJURIES: ST KILDA: Nil
CARLTON: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Jamison replaced in Blues' selected line-up by Pfeiffer
UMPIRES: Head, Ellis, Keating
CROWD: 43,396 at Telstra Dome

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3 - L Montagna (St Kilda)
2 - X Clarke (St Kilda)
1 - M Murphy (Carlton)