NOT THIS time.

A new-look Melbourne has held off a brave St Kilda to register its first win of the season, defeating the Saints by 13-points.

DEMONS v SAINTS Full match coverage and stats

It was a see-sawing match with multiple lead changes, but unlike Melbourne’s Round 20 match-up with St Kilda last season, this time the Demons held on to win 18.12 (120) to St Kilda’s 15.17 (107) in front of a crowd of 44,577.

Thirty-four-year-old Max Gawn (22 disposals, 35 hit outs, one goal) wound back the clock to put in a captain’s performance, whilst young key forward Jacob van Rooyen played the match of his short career kicking six goals.

It was also the club’s first win under new coach Steven King, who has clearly implemented a fast and exciting new game style that had Melbourne fans out of their seats.

The Demons kicked four final-quarter goals to St Kilda’s two, proving the difference in the tightly fought contest, with Bailey Fritsch kicking the sealer.

With three minutes remaining, the Demons held onto possession and wound down the clock, showing they had learned from their mistakes made against the same side last season.

They were two very different looking sides when they walked out onto the ground.

Former St Kilda captain Jack Steele made up part of Melbourne’s new-look midfield and the Saints’ big-name recruits Tom De Koning, Jack Silvagni and Liam Ryan donned the candy stripes for just the second time.

But it took less than three minutes for Melbourne fans to realise one thing hasn't changed - Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is still a handful.

The superstar opened proceedings, kicking the first goal of the match after breaking free from a hard tag applied by Koltyn Tholstrup, reminding Melbourne fans of the damage he did to them last season. 

But that's where the similarities with last year's encounter ended.

From start to finish it was a close affair, with single-digit margins separating both sides at every break.

Melbourne's new running game style under King was evident and it was van Rooyen who was the beneficiary. 

The key forward was a focal point when the Demons’ went into attack. The quick ball movement allowed van Rooyen to get separation from his opponent, whilst his strong hands held onto marks in contested situations. 

The 22-year-old looked confident and calm when going in for set shots, kicking five goals straight in the first half.

The youngster was joined by new recruit Brodie Mihocek, providing a one-two punch in attack. After a shaky start, the former premiership-winning Magpie found the big sticks, kicking three goals. 

Debutant Latrelle Pickett provided some highlights with his creative run and dash, whilst for St Kilda Max Hall was outstanding with four goals of his own and 25 possessions.

The Demons' biggest lead came in the final term when goals to Gawn and van Rooyen extended the lead to 18-points.

The Saints refused to give up, kicking two of their own through Hall and Wanganeen-Milera, but hard-running Harry Sharp and Fritsch’s goals put the win out of reach, sending St Kilda to a 0-2 start.

Pickett x 2
Melbourne fans have years of electric footy to look forward to with Latrelle and Kysaiah Pickett lining up together in the red and blue. The cousins provided moments of excitement on Sunday afternoon, from Latrelle’s goal on debut and Kozzy’s game-high five centre clearances. New coach Steven King was thrilled with both players. "It's pretty exciting," said King after the match. "As you saw today, those two do some things that are unscripted. Some magical things with the footy. Sometimes they come off, other times they've got us all gasping and wondering what's happening. They're going to be a pretty special connection for this footy club for a long time."

Nas tag
For the second week running, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has found himself with a hard tag. And for the second week in a row, the star has been quiet after half-time, registering seven disposals in the second halves of both matches. In Opening Round he was held by Collingwood's Harry Perryman, on Sunday afternoon by Melbourne’s Koltyn Tholstrup. It will be something Ross Lyon and his team will continue to work through as the season continues, as there’s no doubt the rest of the league is watching on with interest.

MELBOURNE    3.3   9.7    14.9    18.12 (120)
ST KILDA         4.4   9.5    13.11    15.17 (107)

GOALS
Melbourne: Van Rooyen 6, Mihocek 3, Windsor, L Pickett, Culley, Chandler, Steele, K Pickett, Gawn, Sharp, Fritsch
St Kilda: Hall 4, Wanganeen-Milera 3, Higgins 2, Owens 2, Ryan, Wilson, Keeler, Wood

BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, van Rooyen, Mihocek, Windsor, K Pickett
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Hall, Sinclair, Wilkie, Windhager

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
St Kilda: Matteas Phillipou (corked quad), Liam Ryan (corked shoulder)

Crowd: 44,577 at MCG