A controversial goal to St Kilda will be the biggest talking point of an unmemorable Sunday lunchtime contest under the roof at Marvel Stadium.

However, it will be the least of West Coast coach Andrew McQualter’s worries after his side once again put in an uncompetitive showing, losing to a previously unreliable St Kilda by an embarrassing 101 points.

The game will be spoken about all week for the goal awarded to Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall in the second term, when the ball was called all the way back from the wing after a minute of play going ahead.

The mind-boggling moment kick-started the Saints, who booted four unanswered before half-time to break the game open on their way to a dominant 22.11 (143) to 5.12 (42) victory.

For McQualter and his young Eagles, it was a moment they couldn’t control and while it will frustrate them, there were several where they failed to meet the mark which will leave them awake at night this week.

The numbers were damning. Not only did they lose their seventh first-quarter for the season, but for the third time in four matches they failed to kick a goal in the opening stanza.

And at half-time, Harley Reid (27 disposals and seven clearances) was their only goal kicker with the 1.6 they had on the board their lowest at Docklands in the club’s 81 games at the venue.

By the end of the game, it was their second biggest ever loss to St Kilda and equal heaviest defeat ever at the venue.

The Eagles’ system forward of centre was a shambled. They took only nine marks inside 50 from 48 entries, while at the other end overly tall defence was unable to contain Jack Higgins, who kicked five goals.

Their best players were a pair of first-year Eagles in Willem Duursma (25 disposals and 11 marks) and Josh Lindsay (31 disposals) as the leaders failed to fire.

Duursma was given the match-up on Saints superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (34 disposals and 11 score involvements) early and while for the viewer it was watchable, tactically for the Eagles it left them exposed as the $2m man provided a spark across the ground he has a love affair with.

Hugo Garcia had a career-best outing for St Kilda with 32 disposals and two goals, while Marcus Windhager (25 disposals and two goals) and Brad Hill (29 disposals) provided plenty of spark and speed.

West Coast’s intent was clear – they wanted to try to attack the game with handball. But too often they went for one too many and it invited the Saints’ pressure who shut them down.

And on the counterattack, the Eagles’ defence was put under unnecessary pressure, which ultimately suited their under-sized forward line led by Higgins who was all over Brady Hough.

Former Eagle Liam Ryan (three goals) enjoyed his first appearance against his old side, kicking the opening goal but missed several opportunities to have a day out despite ample opportunities.

Elliot Yeo had six clearances and 21 disposals, but his day will be remembered for a woeful miss to start the second term when he rushed a set shot from 15m out, only to miss to the right with his hurried snap.

It was a crucial moment for the Eagles who up until that point looked unable to find any avenues to goal.

In the favour of the West Coast was the fact St Kilda had not won a third quarter all season and it was as if they were aware of their poor record.

West Coast were rampaging at the clearances to start the second half, kicking two quick goals as they looked like an all-new side.

Jobe Shanahan had a chance to kick the Eagles’ third within seven minutes and reduce the margin to only 22 points, but he missed the straight-forward set shot.

And the Saints made them pay, going coast-to-coast with Ryan slotting his second.

It would be the last of their hopes when it came to a fightback, as Wagnaneen-Milera stamped his authority on the game.

Moved back into the midfield after a brief stint at half-back, Wanganeen-Milera glided across the Marvel Stadium turf almost unmanned despite his ever-imposing presence.

West Coast couldn’t stop the Saints’ ball movement, as they cut the defensive system up with short kicking before then finding an open to accelerate and give their forwards clean delivery.

By the final break the margin had blown out to 55 points and all that was left to play for was some respect as the Eagles stared down a fourth-consecutive heavy defeat.

Instead, West Coast simply stopped and the Saints unmercifully piled on the pain, kicking eight goals to none to rub salt into the several deep wounds this Eagles’ outfit is unable to heal.

SCOREBOARD

ST KILDA 3.4, 7.10, 14.11, 22.11 (143)

WEST COAST 0.3, 1.6, 5.10, 5.12 (42)

Goals – ST KILDA: J Higgins 5 L Ryan 3 H Garcia 2 M Hall 2 M Hindhager 2 M Phillipou 2 C Sharman 2 D Butler A Caminiti S Flanders R Marshall. WEST COAST: L Baker H Reid J Shanahan J Waterman E Yeo.

Best – ST KILDA: N Wanganeen-Milera H Garcia B Hill M Windhager J Higgins L Ryan J Silvagni. WEST COAST: W Duursma J Linsday H Reid E Yeo R Ginbey.

Umpires: J Howorth N Williamson J Clamp J Fry. Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium.