The Western Bulldogs have pulled off a stunning turnaround to record their first AFL win over St Kilda in four seasons, a runaway 19.11 (125) to 13.9 (87) victory at Telstra Dome.

They kicked 18.9 to 6.6 after quarter-time to notch the 38-point win, their first over the Saints since 2004, after trailing by 37 points at the first change.

With the Saints' dominance of their head-to-head record in recent years thanks largely to the dominance of their big forwards, the first quarter of the match suggested that trend was set to be followed again.

St Kilda blitzed the Bulldogs 7.3 to 1.2 in the first term, with star forwards Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt looking too strong for their respective opponents Cameron Wight and Dale Morris, to kick two goals each.

But that was pretty much where it stopped for the Saints' tall towers - neither scoring another goal until deep in the final term - and their side as a whole, as their opponents worked their way on top and the Bulldogs took over the contest in the centre of the ground.

With Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen and exciting youngster Josh Hill providing a huge lift through the midfield and up forward, the Bulldogs started a scoring avalanche of their own.

They outscored the Saints 5.4 to 2.3 in the second quarter to draw within three goals, then booted the first five goals of the third term to stream to a 13-point lead and never look back.

Saints midfielder Luke Ball narrowed it to seven points from a free kick late in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs burst out of the blocks in the final term to bury their opponents.

Cooney gathered a ton of the ball to lead the midfield revival, after the Bulldogs were thrashed in that area in the first term, as well as kicking two goals, to take best-afield honours.

He had great help from Griffen, who also fought hard for the ball in the centre square, as well as kicking two inspirational goals in the second quarter to help spark his side's fightback.

The first of those was a match highlight, Griffen receiving a handball from Cooney in the middle of the ground, weaving around opponent Jason Blake and sending through a running shot from outside 50m.

It sparked a four-goal run for the Dogs, with Griffen also kicking the last of those, to bring them back within striking distance.

Hill followed up his Rising Star nomination-winning performance against Melbourne last round with a vital contribution, kicking a goal in each of the second and third terms, as well as taking some important marks and winning his share of the ball on the ground.

Then he produced a highlight of his own early in the third term, having a pass to full-forward Scott Welsh spoiled by Saints defender Max Hudghton, but gathering the crumbs himself and speeding past an opponent to fire through a running shot.

Daniel Cross, Daniel Giansiracusa and Scott West also deserved credit for their midfield work which helped their side take over the match.

Half-forwards Robert Murphy and Mitch Hahn provided important sparks up forward, after their side struggled to find a winner in attack early.

Morris was superb on Riewoldt after quarter-time, preventing him from having an impact, and Wight also grew in his impact on the game, after struggling early on Koschitzke.

For the Saints, Sam Fisher was clearly their best, keeping Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson scoreless and providing a lot of rebound himself, with ex-Sydney recruit Adam Schneider finding plenty of the ball around the ground.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade, who celebrated his 50th birthday, said it was a pleasing victory for many reasons.

"It was a good win because it was against good opposition, they're a quality side as we all know and they've had the wood on us through probably height and some physicality at times," Eade said.

"I think to be able to answer that challenge and then to be able to match them in a lot of areas was pleasing.

"I think all three games (this season) we've shown a resolve to be able to keep working for the whole game."

The one down note for the unbeaten Bulldogs came before the match, with the club learning that young half-forward Shaun Higgins' ankle injury sustained last week against Melbourne was worst then first feared.

Eade said he had damaged ligaments and was expected to be sidelined for 12 to 14 weeks.

Saints coach Ross Lyon said there was little else to say about the performance other than that his side was "annihilated" in the midfield.

"Clearances were really poor through there, it was an annihilation in the contests through the midfield," he said.

"Games are won and lost through the midfield, you can package it up any way you like, if you get beaten in clearances, get beaten in midfield ground ball, you're not going to get much flow."

But he said it was a one-off poor performance that they could bounce back from.

"It's not catastrophic, it is in isolation, but in the context of the season we're 2-1 and we play the benchmark team (Geelong) next week, so that will really switch us on mentally straightaway.

"We'll analyse it straightaway tomorrow, we'll learn from it and we'll have an opportunity to rectify it."

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