The Gold Coast SUNS have put in a valiant effort against a Saints side running on top of the ground in the early parts of the season.

Winning their fourth game on the bounce St Kilda fought hard for a 26-point triumph over the SUNS at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints were challenged by the SUNS early, but had enough firepower to run away with the 13.9 (87) to 9.7 (61) victory.

The Saints lost the inside-50 by three but were much more efficient in attack.

In last week's upset win over Carlton, the SUNS dominated clearances, but on Saturday, the Saints won that statistic by 17.

SUNS onballer Touk Miller also impressed with a game-high 32 disposals and 16 contested possessions.

After an even first quarter, the SUNS took a nine-point lead early in the second term with three-straight goals.

Stuart Dew's men will be rueing missed opportunities after hanging in the contest for most of the afternoon and even inside 50 count, just failing to make the most of their opportunities going inside 50.

But the Saints kicked the last two goals of the half and controlled the game through the third, before kicking four goals to two in the last to seal the win.

Gold Coast's Mabior Chol left the field in the final term with an adductor injury and teammate David Swallow hurt his hand, while Saints star Bradley Hill also was forced from the field late in the game.

ST KILDA            3.3     6.7     9.8    13.9 (87)
GOLD COAST      3.1      6.1    7.4    9.7 (61)

GOALS  
St Kilda: Higgins 5, King 3, Gresham 2, Hayes, Membrey, Ross
Gold Coast: Ainsworth 2, Corbett 2, Rankine, Casboult, Ellis, Holman, Chol

BEST   
St Kilda: Higgins, Steele, Crouch, Ross, Sinclair, Marshall
Gold Coast: Miller, Anderson, Ellis, Weller, Powell, Ainsworth

INJURIES  
St Kilda: Nil
Gold Coast: Chol (adductor)

SUBSTITUTES  
St Kilda: Ryan Byrnes
Gold Coast: Rory Atkins (replaced Chol in the last quarter)