St Kilda have outclassed injury-ravaged Richmond to claim a comfortable 36-point victory and move to ninth on the AFL ladder.

The Saints, still without prime mover Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (calf), reeled off the first four goals at Marvel Stadium on Sunday and the hot start proved the difference in a 16.13 (109) to 11.7 (73) win.

Adem Yze's Richmond entered the round with 18 players on their injury list and didn't field an AFL player in their VFL match - and things got worse when Campbell Gray limped off with a hamstring injury in the second term.

Gun defender Nick Vlastuin was also proppy after an aerial duel with St Kilda's Anthony Caminiti in the third quarter, but both players returned to the fray.

Vlastuin could also come under scrutiny for a fourth-quarter tackle on Ryan Byrnes.

The Tigers (1-9), who only had emergencies Mykelti Lefau (managed), Samson Ryan and Kaleb Smith in reserve, could struggle to field a team on Friday against Essendon if they don't regain any players.

St Kilda dynamo Jack Higgins battled through a knee issue as Ross Lyon's Saints moved to 5-5 ahead of their daunting trip to face second-placed Fremantle on Friday.

St Kilda ruck duo Tom De Koning (two goals, 23 hitouts) and Rowan Marshall (19 hitouts, 19 disposals, one goal) gave their midfielders first use.

Hugo Garcia (25 disposals, 10 clearances, two goals) and Max Hall (25 disposals, seven clearances, two goals) were excellent, giving St Kilda midfield punch, while Jack Sinclair and Callum Wilkie were typically prolific.

Mattaes Phillipou jagged two goals, as did Cooper Sharman and Caminiti.

Richmond young gun Liam Fawcett kicked three goals while Tom Lynch landed two. Veterans Jayden Short (24 disposals) and Vlastuin (10 intercept possessions) were also important.

After the Saints' hot start, Tiger debutant Noah Roberts-Thomson stemmed the bleeding with his first AFL goal, then added his second later in the term, with St Kilda up by 21 at halftime.

Tigers big man Noah Balta cut a frustrated figure in the ruck against De Koning and had an animated discussion with coach Yze at quarter-time.

Richmond gave a better account of themselves in the second term, but still trailed by 26 points at halftime.

The Saints faithful erupted when debutant Charlie Banfield, son of West Coast champion Drew Banfield, kicked his first goal late in the third quarter.

To their credit, the Tigers never gave up and Lynch cut the deficit to 26 points early in the final term, before St Kilda put the foot down and kicked away.