The Saints led for much of the day and, while the Demons fought back to level the scores in the third quarter, St Kilda pulled away to win 16.10 (106) to 13.8 (86).
The loss builds the pressure on Melbourne coach Dean Bailey, with his side's thumping 96-point win over Adelaide in round seven shining like a beacon among poor defeats against West Coast, North Melbourne and the Saints in their past four games.
While neither Saints captain Riewoldt nor star utility Goddard were back to their brilliant best, both made significant contributions.
Riewoldt kicked three goals without a miss, while Goddard, playing mostly across half back, picked up 37 touches.
Midfielder Leigh Montagna was a driving force, with 38 possessions and two goals, while goalsneak Stephen Milne sparked his side with three first-half goals and set up two for Riewoldt.
Montagna said there was a feeling of relief more than elation in the rooms after the game, but this was just the first little step towards regaining the Saints' brilliant form from the last few seasons.
"Today was about trying to earn a little bit of respect back and being able to look each other in the eye and give that effort and it's just a relief to have that win," he told Grandstand.
Montagna, who missed last week through suspension, revealed the playing group shared some home truths in the lead-up to the much-win clash.
"This week was a more heart-to-heart with the playing group," he said.
"Looking at each other in the eye and admitted some guys haven't been preparing as well as they have been in the past.
"They haven't been giving that real desire and intensity that we have been known for in the last few years.
"It had to start with the leadership group. It's something we have to build on in the next few weeks but today was definitely a start."
It was just St Kilda's second victory of what has been a horror season while Melbourne's promising start has since collapsed into a ditch of inconsistency with a 3-1-4 record.
The Saints led by two goals at half-time, helped by Melbourne's lack of intensity and sloppy skills.
That was most evident late in the half, when Aaron Davey, who was well held by Clinton Jones, made a woeful attempt to mark at half back, failing to even touch the ball, allowing Jones to pounce for a goal.
Melbourne could have replied, but forward Michael Newton capped a terrible first half by missing a shot from the edge of the goalsquare.
The Demons showed more fire early in the third quarter, kicking three of the first four goals to level the scores.
But after the Saints moved a goal clear, missed shots by Melbourne's Nathan Jones and Ricky Petterd allowed St Kilda to stretch the lead to 11 points at the last change, helped by a classy Montagna goal.
The contest was all but sealed less than a minute into the final term, when Riewoldt goaled from point blank, after Davey gave away a needless 50m penalty.
"We let ourselves down with our ball use inside 50 and there were just some easy goals which we coughed up which ends up swinging the momentum back in St Kilda's favour," Melbourne midfielder Jones said.
"Our skills and execution and the end of certain plays let us down."
Jones battled hard in the midfield for Melbourne, Jack Watts showed class at half back and drifted forward to kick two goals, and 18-year-old midfielder Michael Evans made an impressive debut.
The Demons lost Luke Tapscott to a hamstring injury in the first term.
Saints: 16.10 (106) - N Riewoldt 3, S Milne 3, J Cripps 2, L Montagna 2, A Schneider, A Siposs, B Peake, C Jones, D Polo, F Ray
Demons: 13.8 (86) - L Jurrah 3, A Maric 2, B Green 2, J Watts 2, M Newton 2, J Gysberts, R Petterd
-ABC/AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000, st-kilda-3182 First posted May 21, 2011 17:18:00
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