Small forwards aren't supposed to be this generous.

But St Kilda goalsneak Adam Schneider says the fact the Saints forwards are happy to share the load to avoid relying on one source of scoring has helped establish the club's excellent start to the season.

St Kilda's 7-0 start has been based on the stingiest defence in the league, a midfield damaging with the ball and ferocious without, and a multi-pronged forward line.

The Saints produced their most impressive team performance in thrashing Collingwood by 88 points on Monday night.

"Everybody's doing their little bit and I don't think we're relying on anyone to kick goals or do any magical things or get heaps of touches," Schneider said.

St Kilda's forward line has functioned beautifully this season, to the point that only Geelong have scored more points, in a far cry from the days where Nick Riewoldt or Stephen Milne had to boot a bag.

While the fit-again Justin Koschitzke has become a regular tall target in attack alongside Riewoldt, Milne and Schneider have formed a lethal combination at ground level.

They have booted a combined 29 goals this season and the former Swan said the partnership had blossomed in the past season-and-a-bit.

"It has, it's worked out well," Schneider said.

"Milney's a super player, he kicked 60 goals last year and you can't sort of fluke that in a season for a small forward.

"We've also got guys like Rooey (Riewoldt) and Kosi (Koschitzke) and Andrew McQualter and James Gwilt doing their bit as well.

"Andrew McQualter had nine tackles on (Monday) which set up a lot of goals for us and he kicked a couple as well.

"So we're performing well together down there and we're just sort of helping each other out.

"We no longer need to rely on Rooey kicking six or seven for us to win."

Having set the benchmark high overt the first third of the season, the Saints will aim to extend their unbeaten run against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.

Although the Bombers have not produced the consistency St Kilda have, their best - as seen against Hawthorn in round seven - can be brilliant.

"Essendon are in very good form and they've a very young and quick team and they can cut teams apart when they get going," Schneider said.

"We've got to take it as a very good challenge for us and we can't take them lightly because they will hurt us.

"If we don't turn up and apply that sort of pressure we have been the last few weeks they're definitely capable of kicking a lot of goals and really hurting us, so it will be a great test."

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