St Kilda produced an outstanding shut-down of Sydney, keeping them goalless for over an hour in a 15-point AFL win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

These sides have a history of staging slug-fests in recent years but after quarter-time the Saints were the only side landing punches.

After trailing by 27 points at the first change, St Kilda booted the next 11 goals and won 12.8 (80) to 9.11 (65), although Sydney kicked the last four goals of the game.

The Swans looked like going goalless for three quarters until Martin Mattner broke a drought of 78 minutes of general play, and the final margin flattered the visitors.

St Kilda ruthlessly choked the spark out of Sydney, as Sam Gilbert and Sam Fisher marshalled a defence which kept Sydney focal point Barry Hall quiet and Brendon Goddard closed down Adam Goodes.

Hall's tackle on Jarryn Geary made a goal for Goodes at the 25-minute mark of the first quarter, but the Saints kicked the only three goals of the second term.

They booted all five in the third, and it was Goddard who put his side in front, when he threaded a long goal from Michael Gardiner's handpass.

Justin Koschitzke also provided a boost for the Saints, as he was the game's most effective tall forward, with two goals and several strong marks, while Stephen Milne chipped in with three.

Sydney, as if keen to shake their dour tag, began with intent when Jarrad McVeigh speared a pass to Jarred Moore's chest in the game's opening play.

The Swans built an early lead through four goals in seven minutes, but once Gardiner kicked a steadier, St Kilda gradually chipped away the deficit and then pulled away.

Ex-Bulldog Farren Ray and fellow midfielders Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo, who booted two goals in the third quarter, became more influential the longer the game went.

Sydney's Paul Bevan, Ted Richards and Craig Bolton played well in defence, but no one forward of the centre had an impact.

Coach Paul Roos' headache is unlikely to ease during the week given the Swans play reigning premier Hawthorn in round two.

St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt left the ground in the final quarter because of cramps in the legs and did not return.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said Riewoldt could have come back on had he been needed, but winger Raphael Clarke could not because of a hamstring injury.

Lyon was pleased the Saints lifted their effort from quarter-time and began eliminating turnovers, which cost them three goals in the first term.

"I thought our effort, (it was) not against the odds, but when you lose one (player) and it's round one, no matter how much pre-season you've done it doesn't prepare you for the assault that comes in round one," he said.

"It was pleasing to get the points and we get some momentum and I think our fans can see what we're trying to do with our midfield, with Goddard and (Jason) Gram and Dal Santo and Montagna and the ruck combination.

"... we had 74 tackles and won the contested ball so, you know, our effort was pretty good."

Sydney coach Paul Roos could not remember such a long goal-drought in his time in charge, but attributed the defeat more to effort than a lack of firepower.

"It's the history of this club, even going back to the (2005) premiership year and back-to-back grand finals, the history is as soon as our effort drops off, we struggle with our ball use, we struggle with our decision making, we lose our match-ups and all those sort of things.

"It really hasn't changed for us as a footy team for six years and that's what it showed us tonight, it's not going to change this year either (unless the effort is there)."

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