St Kilda and Hawthorn endured one of those days at the MCG as the Saints won their AFL match by 46 points.

The losing coach sounded happier than the winner, the best player was a defender who kicked three goals, the season's leading goalkicker was held goalless until late in the match and last year's Coleman Medallist would have finished with 10 goals if he'd kicked straight.

Plus, only the most die-hard Saints fan could have gone home saying they had witnessed a good match to watch.

But St Kilda gained what it needed out of the 15.10 (100) to 8.6 (54) result, going into the mid-season break with six wins and six losses after a below-par month.

"We won very comfortably, but on the end of that it was very frustrating that we didn't take advantage of the opportunities that we had and really put a nail in the coffin earlier in the game, and perhaps went on with it," said St Kilda coach Grant Thomas.

"There's been a lot of pressure on (us)....so you can't be too critical.

"I'd like to use that as not a bad foundation game to bounce off for the rest of the year."

He added Matt Maguire played probably his best game for the Saints, kicking three goals from centre half-back in a best-afield performance as he and his team-mates destroyed Hawthorn's attack.

Thomas thought Max Hudghton was "sensational" on Mark Williams, who had been averaging more than four goals a game before Saturday to lead the competition.

Thomas was only disappointed that Williams kicked his late goal, spoiling a perfect day for Hudghton.

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