Collingwood remain anchored in the bottom eight of the AFL ladder after going down to St Kilda by 14 points in a scrappy contest at Etihad Stadium.
The Magpies wasted chances in the first half and fell well off the pace in the second as St Kilda surged to a well-deserved 9.15 (69) to 7.13 (55) win on Sunday.
Unheralded half-back Dylan Roberton (32 touches, 12 marks) and skipper Jarryn Geary played vital defensive roles for the Saints, while Tim Membrey was an important playmaker with six inside-50s.
Membrey and Josh Bruce led the goal-scoring tally with two majors each as the Saints improved their record to 2-2.'
With conditions optimal underneath the closed roof, the first half nonetheless resembled a wet-weather scrap.
Neither side seemed able to kick straight - either in front of goal or up the ground - and the scoreline read 4.7 to 3.7 at halftime.
But the intensity lifted in the third quarter, with goals to Membrey, Nick Riewoldt, Blake Acres and Jack Billings opening up a 22-point Saints lead at the final break.
The Saints were simply dominant in the third term, out-tackling the Pies 22-13 and winning twice as many inside-50s.
Collingwood threatened in the final term with goals to Will Hoskin-Elliott and Henry Schade but left their push too late.
There were few positives for Magpies coach Nathan Buckley, who is bound to come under renewed pressure after his side's 1-3 start.
The high-flying Jeremy Howe was brilliant in the Magpies' backline, taking 10 grabs - including a mark of the year contender in the third quarter - and seeing off plenty of St Kilda's entries.
Magpies ruckman Brodie Grundy dominated St Kilda counterpart Tom Hickey, finishing with 37 hitouts and seven marks to continue his strong start to the season.
But Collingwood's midfielders lacked their usual impact, with captain Scott Pendlebury held to just one touch during the pivotal third quarter after winning 15 disposals to halftime.
Goalsneak Jamie Elliott also had a day to forget in his comeback from a serious back injury, managing just six touches.
With the 13th-placed Magpies badly in need of polish, Buckley will be desperate to have star recruit Daniel Wells available for next week's crunch Anzac Day game against Essendon.