St Kilda key forwards Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt kicked 13 goals between them as the Saints roared back into form with a 22.10 (142) to 13.14 (92) AFL win over the Western Bulldogs to keep their top four hopes alive.

The Saints' 50-point victory at Telstra Dome was set up by a 10-goal second quarter, after they had trailed by 17 points at the first change.

It was an encouraging performance by the Saints a fortnight out from the start of the finals series, and an important confidence-booster after last weekend's limp 58-point loss to Fremantle at Subiaco.

The 'Dogs were on top in the midfield early, with giant Peter Street dominating the ruck against Cain Ackland, and midfielders Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd and Adam Cooney taking advantage at ground level.

But the Saints worked their way into control in the midfield after quarter-time, helped by a lift in the ruck from Michael Rix and later Justin Koschitzke, allowing their power-packed forward line, dominated by Gehrig and Riewoldt, to do the rest.

The Bulldogs shuffled their defenders around on the Saints' talls several times, but Gehrig, who kicked eight goals, and Riewoldt, who kicked five, were too strong and talented for any of them, taking marks with imperious ease at times.

Saints' half-forward Brett Voss also chipped in with two goals.

In the midfield, classy performances by Nick Dal Santo and Robert Harvey, who gave great service to their forwards, were backed up by hard work in the packs by Luke Ball and Brendon Goddard and a strong tagging job by Stephen Powell on Scott West.

Running defenders Jason Gram and Sam Fisher also worked their way into the match to have a big impact, while pacy wingmen Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna were constantly causing damage.

Brothers Xavier and Raphael Clarke also showed signs they were working their way back into form after missing a large stretch of the season with injury.

The Saints kicked seven of the last eight goals of the first half, and the first four of the second to give them a 49-point lead midway through the third quarter and complete control of the match.

The Bulldogs kicked three of the last four goals of the third quarter, and the first of the last term, to sneak back within 28 points, to give a faint hope they could mount a comeback similar to last weekend's stunning recovery against Adelaide at the MCG.

But it only served to ignite the Saints again, with Gehrig quickly slotting consecutive goals, his seventh and eighth, to end that threat.

Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson finished with six goals in an excellent performance, including three in the first quarter, while Chris Grant was also good up forward and Cross the Bulldogs' best midfielder.

In another encouraging sign for St Kilda, returning star Aaron Hamill made it through unscathed after being out since round seven with a knee injury, although he spent large periods on the bench and did not have a big impact.

St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said he was pleased with the character his side showed to cope with consecutive six-day breaks and recover from last week's disappointing loss.

"It was good that we ran the game out as well as we did, given our circumstances which have been a real test for the whole club, especially the playing group," Thomas said.

"To have our second six-day break, which we've been pretty poor at so far this year, to come back from Perth with a really bad loss and to respond like they did was a real credit to the playing group." Thomas said the Saints made a tactical decision to play to their own strengths, of size and power up forward, rather than take on the pacy Bulldogs at their running game.

"We had a decision to make during the week whether to try to go against them for pace and pick a smaller team," he said.

"We just felt that a taller, more powerful team, if you got the ball moving quickly and got it long to them you'd either mark it or get it to ground and it would put enormous pressure on the opposition and it sort of worked out that way." Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said he was baffled by how poorly his side played after quarter time.

"It was hopefully one of those games where we get smashed and we've just got to move on from it," Eade said.

"We've obviously got to learn from it, but in a lot of areas we were down, which was disappointing." Eade said his side did not work hard enough and showed a lack of fight to try to stay in the game when St Kilda started pulling away.

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