St Kilda has flexed its muscles in a dominant 53-point win over Gold Coast to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2010 and stay unbeaten under Ross Lyon.

After a slow opening term, the Saints bounced to life with 14 of the next 19 goals including a game-high five majors to Jack Higgins, ultimately winning 17.11 (113) to 8.12 (60).

It sets up a mouth-watering showdown with Collingwood next week in Gather Round where Lyon’s side faces its biggest test yet.

Meanwhile the loss saw Gold Coast, who copped a huge pre-game blow with Jarrod Witts a late out, drop to 1-3 and continue its underwhelming start to the season ahead of a meeting with Fremantle.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT

The Suns got off to the ideal start in enemy territory, with Ben King kicking the opening goal of the night.

Both clubs had opportunities to from there but couldn’t convert, until Seb Ross shrugged off Touk Miller inside 50 with a classy finish to get the Saints on the board.

“One of the best of his career,” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said of Ross’ goal.

Malcolm Rosas made good on his next opportunity, perfectly roving a pack deep inside 50 for Gold Coast’s second goal.

But the Saints responded at the other end with a blistering chain finished by Brad Hill, while Dan Butler came off worse for wear after a brutal tackle.

The Suns took a two-point lead into quarter-time, 3.4 (22) to 3.2 (20).

Coming off a huge performance last week, Jack Lukosius made a decent fist of a long-range shot, but couldn’t convert it.

Ben King ran into a much easier opportunity from point-blank range, but fumbled the ball under pressure to botch a golden opportunity.

Noah Anderson capitalised on a half opportunity inside 50, weaving through traffic and snapping truly with a highlight goal.

“The Matrix move by Mr. Anderson - amazing!” Russell exclaimed.

Kangaroos legend David King added: “He (Anderson) just doesn’t panic at any stage ... he’s a mix of all things — he’s a clearance winner, a damaging centre forward player. He’s a total star.”

Jack Higgins responded at the other end with a snap from a tight angle at distance to draw scores level at Marvel Stadium, while Anthony Caminiti added another to give Ross Lyon’s side the lead.

Higgins kicked another goal — his second major of the day — after a surging Saints play.

“They’ve got to look at this matchup now,” King said. “It was a good matchup for the first 40 minutes, it’s turned.

Higgins continued his brilliant form with a third goal from a set shot to really break the game open.

“He’s the one, he’s the danger matchup and he’s a quality player. Ross (Lyon) has been able to mould him back into the player he needs this team to be,” King said.

“It was easy for him to get personal reward and get out the back over the last couple of seasons, and credit to him he worked out how to kick goals.

“This version of Higgins is the the one who can play serious AFL footy — pressure forward, works high up the field and then charges back and challenges at all times.”

St Kilda led by 22 points at half-time, 8.6 (54) to 4.8 (32).

Joel Jeffrey kicked the opening goal of the third quarter before St Kilda exploded, with Jack Sinclair hitting the scoreboard before assisting on another.

“He’s a superstar Sinclair, he really is,” King said. “Fantastic season or two across half back, but now more responsibility in the midfield, and he’s making hay.

Brad Hill and Mitch Owens stacked on two more goals for St Kilda — having kicked nine of the last 10 majors of the game in a dominant run.

“It‘s fun to be a Saint at the moment, isn’t it? They are playing some great footy,” King said.

“Get excited Saints fans, this is brilliant. They’ve waited a while for this ... they’ve done it the right way ... their harassment and tackle pressure is through the roof.”

Russell added of St Kilda: “They look like a serious contender.”

The Saints led by 47 points at the end of the third quarter, 13.10 (88) to 5.11 (41).

Higgins kicked his fourth goal after drawing a free kick for a high fend off to extend the Saints’ lead to 53 points.

Owens added another — much to the delight of Lyon, who the camera panned to — with King noting he “knows he has a beauty” in the young gun.

Higgins would kick his fifth goal later to put the icing on the cake on a big night for the Saints as they stayed undefeated in 2023.

THE 3-2-1 (with Jono Baruch) ...

3. ‘POWERFUL’ SAINTS IMPROVE TO 4-0 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2010

If we hadn’t already, it’s time to take serious notice of St Kilda.

Ross Lyon’s side produced one of its most potent and well-rounded performances of 2023 to remain unbeaten at the top of the ladder, marking the first time the club has been 4-0 since its 2010 grand final season.

And while beating Gold Coast isn’t the biggest scalp, it’s the way the Saints did it and the hunger and intensity they played with over four quarters.

Could St Kilda fans dare to dream about a deep September run? If nothing else, it has the makings of a promising year.

“It is a powerful performance. It’s all on system, taking the game wide and turning it into an athletics meet. And they’ve put them to the sword regularly,” Kangaroos legend David King told Fox Footy

“This is an asset that’s hard to stop.

“Jeez, there’s a lot to like about this football club, they’re united again. It’s a happy place to be.

Rhose that were wondering if the club made the right decision (on the coaching position) in the last six months or so, you have to be swung by what you’ve seen.”

After a slow first quarter, the Saints turned the screws, booting 14 of the next 19 goals and playing with much more polish and intent — dominating inside 50s (64-51) and marks inside 50 (15-3).

“You’ve got to stay true to your brand. That first term I thought the Suns were really good defensively and forced the Saints to play a different version of themselves – they don’t want to play through the corridor, they want to play wide,” King said at quarter-time, noting how Lyon’s side quickly got the game back on its terms.

“This is what they want it to look like. They fan wide and that’s where they put speed on the game and accentuate their running power.

“The Suns can’t go with them … once the game turned and became a Saints game, the margin blew out.”

Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton was full of praise of a Marcus Windhager play that exemplified the team’s drive and desire to get back in the game.

It comes despite the Saints’ lengthy injury list – which may have gotten worse after Jack Bytel appeared to hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter mere minutes after getting subbed on.

But as pointed out by King, St Kilda could already be set for some selection dilemmas as it prepares to welcome back several guns including Jack Steele, Max King, Tim Membrey and Jack Billings in the coming weeks.

“They’re going to have the luxury over the next few weeks of integrating some high-level talent back into this team,” Kind said.

“Spots are going to be hard to come by, it doesn’t look like too many are prepared to give theirs up.”

Of course, personnel has mattered not for Lyon’s undefeated side so far ahead of a huge showdown with Collingwood next week in Gather Round.

It presents the ideal opportunity for St Kilda to make its biggest statement yet.

2. GAME-BREAKER HIGGINS THE ‘PLAYER HE NEEDS TO BE’

Last week it was the popping of the collar with each of Jack Higgins’ four goals against the Bombers.

This week, there was something different every time for Higgins including breaking the game open in the second quarter with three of his five goals on the night.

Trailing by two points at the first change, Higgins sprung to life in the second quarter, kicking three of four St Kilda goals in a game-breaking stretch. It started a procession of eight of the next nine goals heading the Saints way.

Higgins is one of several St Kilda players enjoying a new lease of life under new coach Ross Lyon, with two time North Melbournep premiership player David King explaining that Higgins is exactly the type of player that Ross Lyon loves to mould into his teams.

“He’s the one, he’s the danger matchup and he’s a quality player. Ross (Lyon) has been able to mould him back into the player he needs this team to be,” King said on Fox Footy.

“It was easy for him to get personal reward and get out the back over the last couple of seasons, and credit to him he worked out how to kick goals.

“This version of Higgins is the one who can play serious AFL footy — pressure forward, works high up the field and then charges back and challenges at all times.”

Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton heaped praise on Higgins uniqueness as a “smart footballer” who has a way to exploit every matchup he is given by opposition coaches.

“He’s a smart footballer isn’t he?” Brereton said on Fox Footy at half time.

“He looks at his opponents and says if you have the agility to come with me, I’m going to take you into the pack and lose you in traffic.

‘If you’ve got reach on him, he’ll say right I’m going to body you off the ball, I’ll go somewhere where I definitely know I’ve got space. I’ll turn you around and crumb you.

“He’s got something to throw at every backman they’ve put up against him”

1. ‘SPIN THE MAGNETS’: GREAT’S CHALLENGE TO SUNS

It wasn’t Gold Coast’s night at Marvel Stadium as its season was dealt another blow.

But dual premiership Kangaroo David King has challenged Stuart Dew to be more bold when things aren’t going well and “spin the magnets.”

In a third period where the Suns were getting dominated through the midfield — losing 11 of the last 14 clearances at one point during a St Kilda’s surge — King called for Dew to change up his Touk Miller-Noah Anderson- Matt Rowell midfield mix.

Of course, it didn’t help that the Suns were without star ruckman Jarrod Witts, but the North Melbourne legend still urged Gold Coast to not be afraid to shake things up.

“Stewart Dew has to break trust with this midfield group right now and challenge someone else to go and pick up the slack. Expose fresh talent,” King said on Fox Footy.

“They’re getting beaten at the source, and nothing is changing.

“If you change the roles over, you start to win some contests forward of the ball.

“Get Rowell (forward) for a while, charge Miller with the role at half-forward for a bit.”

Rowell was particularly down on his best form after an encouraging start to 2023, finishing with season-lows in disposals (12), clearances (5), and inside 50s (2).

For King, Dew simply has be able to throw something different at opposition when the chips are down or when the Suns are in need of a spark.

“At what stage do you need to do something with Matt Rowell? He hasn’t been a factor at all,” King posed during the one-sided affair.

“I think you need to spin the magnets and say: ‘OK, you’re out of there, you’re not getting the job done.’

“We saw what Alastair Clarkson did with Ben Cunnington on Friday. If they’re not the clearance player you need them to be and the centre square operator, then give them another role, challenge someone else to go in.”

It came after King at half-time was already critical of Gold Coast being too reliant on its star midfield – with Anderson (37 touches, 10 tackles, one goal) and Touk Miller (32 disposals, eight tackles) prolific on the night – imploring other Suns to step up.

“It’s the same old names with the Suns – Anderson, Miller and Rowell – the responsibility lays with those three,” he said.

“It’s the reason they’re still a dangerous commodity tonight, their charge and want to go and the work rate of their leaders.

“Unfortunately, it’s left to too few.”