Jade Rawlings called it a "void", the 77-minute horror patch where Richmond failed to score in Sunday's AFL match against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

In his second game as the Tigers' caretaker coach, Rawlings and his team were given a brutal lesson as the Saints thrashed them by 56 points, 13.14 (92) to 5.6 (36).

They did not score at all from 13 minutes into the first term until four minutes into the last.

It is understood to be the first time since Fitzroy in 1995 that an AFL side had not scored in two successive quarters.

Rawlings was left feeling not so much angry at his team, but awestruck by the unbeaten Saints.

"That void in the second and third quarters showed how big a gap there is between where they've got to and where we want to strive to be," he said.

"I don't know if made me angry, there are certain incidents you get frustrated with in the game.

"But they're a well-oiled machine, they're at the height of their game.

"It wasn't so much a 'we're where at' type of measurement, but I was really keen to see how we'd stack up against a good opposition and we got found out in a lot of areas in two quarters of footy."

The Tigers were impressive early, kicking the first two goals and keeping the Saints goalless in the opening quarter.

It was the first time this season the Saints had gone without a goal for a quarter.

Coach Ross Lyon was mindful that earlier on Sunday, underdogs North Melbourne had pushed the Western Bulldogs for three quarters across town at the MCG.

Also in the first term, key defender Max Hudghton was stretchered off with what looked like a serious ankle injury.

But the Saints steadily rallied and, early in the second term, hit the front.

Hudghton returned to the field for a few minutes either side of halftime, although he finished the game on the bench.

As they grew in system and confidence, the young Tigers wilted and their turnovers started costing goals.

"I reckon they were like red rags to a bull, the Saints, once they saw we were starting to be a bit fumbly, they went even harder at us and closed us down," he said.

Overall, Lyon was not happy with the game, saying two good quarters of play is not good enough.

The Tigers also won the last term to avoid a total wipeout, anyone who saw the match would say it was a consolation.

After winning his first game as coach, Rawlings was given a harsh lesson in how hard it is to develop an AFL team.

"I'm not going to be disheartened by that, we're on an 11-week campaign to be able to see where we come out of at the end of (the season)," he said.

"Whoever is lucky enough to coach this footy club ... hopefully they've got a group that has progressed over the second half of the year."

Saints midfielder Brendon Goddard was best afield and Justin Kositchzke kicked five goals, while Nathan Foley worked hard throughout for the Tigers.

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