Richmond's poor season has continued, with the Tigers suffering their 19th loss of the season at the hands of an improved St Kilda side on Sunday.

The Tigers fought hard in the first half and were within a kick early in the third quarter, but the Saints lifted late in the game in the 15.9 (99) to 7.9 (51) win.

After a disappointing first part of the season, the Saints have now won three of their last four games and are now just a win behind 13th placed Melbourne with two rounds remaining.

The Tigers, on the other hand, remain a win and percentage behind North Melbourne in second last and look destined to finish the season with the wooden spoon.

The Saints defended their back half very well, pushing back hard to cover Richmond's fast breaks and controlling the aerial battle with ease.

Shai Bolton had just five disposals in the first half, but his final of the term was a goal to trim the margin to 14 points at the main break, despite St Kilda's dominance for much of the game to that point.

Defensive turnovers – usually while taking the game on – were a match-killer for Richmond, with askew handballs and overly risky kicks leading to the Saints winning the footy back.

The third term was a slog, to put it mildly. Richmond would turn the ball over trying to enter 50, then St Kilda would cough up the footy through the middle. Rinse and repeat.

While the Tigers managed to claw their way to within seven points in the third term, the Saints gradually began to pull clear, proving to be cleaner in key moments, especially when they connected and got the ball into forward 50.

They completely controlled proceedings in the final term, with the Tigers' effort and intensity dropping off with each goal that was kicked.

Rowan Marshall comfortably got the better of the ruck dual with Toby Nankervis and was his side's best, while Daniel Rioli was a class above, willing to take the game on and streaming off half-back time and time again.

Jacob Bauer has spent most of this year on Richmond's injury list with a litany of issues including his hamstring, quad and ribs. But after a chunk of time in the VFL, he leapt well and kicked two goals in his first AFL game of the year. 

He was part of a Tiger forward line - along with Samson Ryan, Seth Campbell and Rhyan Mansell as well as the slightly more experienced Jacob Koschitzke – that could form the nucleus of next year's group.

RICHMOND 3.1 5.2 7.5 7.9 (51)
ST KILDA 4.1 7.4 11.5 15.9 (99)

GOALS
Richmond: Bauer 2, Bolton 2, Ralphsmith 2, Koschitzke
St Kilda: Marshall 3, Membrey 3, Sharman 2, Butler 2, Owens, Dow, Wilson, Caminiti, Higgins

BEST
Richmond: Rioli, Hopper, Banks, Taranto, Balta
St Kilda: Marshall, Battle, Sinclair, Steele, Membrey

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
St Kilda: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Kaleb Smith (replaced Samson Ryan at three-quarter time)
St Kilda: Jimmy Webster (replaced Angus McLennan in the third quarter)

LATE CHANGES
Richmond: Nil
St Kilda: Mattaes Phillipou (illness) replaced in selected side by Paddy Dow

Crowd: 21,375 at Marvel Stadium