St Kilda have banked a 34-point win over Fremantle in a topsy-turvy AFL tussle that prompted both coaches to deliver animated addresses.
The Saints kicked the final nine goals of Saturday's Etihad Stadium clash to prevail 15.11 (101) to 10.7 (67).
St Kilda also kicked the opening four goals of the game, only for a withering quarter-time spray from Dockers coach Ross Lyon to spark his winless team to life.
Fremantle threatened to open their 2016 account when they piled on six consecutive goals either side of halftime, during which it was Alan Richardson's turn to demand better.
"Normally they have a bit of a spell and we collect our thoughts as coaches," he said .
"This was one of those conversations that I needed to get the group together (quickly).
"We'd let ourselves down ... at halftime we were as bad as I reckon we've been (at) centre bounce, clearances.
"They were harder, more committed. That's a choice.
"That was frustrating and the great thing about us having the conversation at halftime, as opposed to the end of the game, is we can do something about it."
David Armitage led the rally, tallying a game-high 17 tackles, seven clearances and 28 disposals.
The Saints regained the lead when Maverick Weller kicked truly with 12 minutes remaining and never looked back.
Fremantle, the 2015 minor premiers, have started the season with 10 losses but have a golden chance to finally bank some premiership points next Saturday when they host Essendon.
Not since Footscray opened the 1939 VFL season with 10 straight losses has a club finished in the top four then started their next campaign so poorly.
St Kilda laid 20 more tackles than Fremantle in the first term despite winning much more of the ball.
"The first quarter was terrible," Lyon said.
"We weren't hunting the ball and tackling so I got them in a circle at quarter-time.
"Put them in their divisions and just said we're not accepting it as a football club ... we need to dig in.
"They were pretty simple messages.
"Clearly some right things were mentioned and clearly they listened ... we really responded."
Lachie Neale, Stephen Hill and Michael Barlow helped the Dockers dominate the clearances from that point on but St Kilda stepped up when the game was in the balance.
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