St Kilda has overcome a sluggish start to breathe some life into its season with a 38-point win over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, handing the Kangaroos their eighth defeat of the year.

The Roos started well and never dropped their heads but the Saints always had the match in their keeping after half-time, going on to win 15.13 (103) to 10.5 (65).

North's promising start included three successive goals midway through the opening term to gain an early 12-point advantage.

The third of those goals came when St Kilda defender Webster's kick across goal was intercepted by North Melbourne youngster Tom Powell.

Webster predictably earned the opprobrium of the Kangaroos fans, having been suspended for seven weeks for a late, high shot on North co-captain Jy Simpkin in a pre-season game. Simpkin was the first Kangaroo to get in Webster's face on Saturday after the error.

The Saints then wrested control of the game, kicking six successive goals either side of the quarter-time break, a run finally broken late in the second term by Kangaroos forward Cam Zurhaar.

Small forward Paul Curtis kicked the first goal of the third term to trim the margin to 21 points, but the Kangaroos never got closer than that as the likes of Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Marcus Windhager kept the Saints in control.

SAINTS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Playing his first game since breaking his collarbone in Round 2, former Kangaroo Wood made a solid return while Jack Hayes also impressed in his first game of the season.

North Melbourne's better players included young guns George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher and Harry Sheezel (who played predominantly in midfield), while full-back Aidan Corr comprehensively won his battle with St Kilda spearhead Max King.

The Saints improved their win-loss record to 3-5 ahead of a round-nine clash against Hawthorn in Launceston.

The Roos' next match is against Gold Coast in Darwin.

Webster-Simpkin battle resumes
Returning after a seven-game ban, Jimmy Webster was always going to cop plenty of heat from North fans after his huge bump on Roos co-captain Jy Simpkin in the pre-season. But Webster gave the Roos supporters - and Simpkin - an extra reason to get in his face early with a wild and risky kick from the back pocket that landed in the lap of Tom Powell, who slotted an easy goal.

ST KILDA    4.2  8.6  12.8  15.13 (103)
NORTH MELBOURNE   3.2  4.2  7.4  10.5 (65)

GOALS
St Kilda: Wilson 3, Sinclair 2, Hill 2, Hayes 2, Wood, Ross, Membrey, King, Hastie, Marshall
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 3, Larkey 2, Curtis 2, Wardlaw, Simpkin, Powell

BEST
ST KILDA: Wilson, Sinclair, Howard, Hayes, Wanganeen-Milera, Windhager, Hill
NORTH MELBOURNE: Wardlaw, Xerri, Sheezel, McKercher, Fisher

INJURIES
ST KILDA: Nil
NORTH MELBOURNE: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
ST KILDA: Ryan Byrnes (replaced Angus Hastie in the third quarter)
NORTH MELBOURNE: Toby Pink (replaced Riley Hardeman in the third quarter)

Crowd: 27,009 at Marvel Stadium