Brendon Goddard says the Bombers ability to pressure the Saints played a key part in the side’s 61-point win.

The Dons laid 18 more tackles than their opponents and had 15 more contested possessions while also conceding fewer turnovers (74-66).

“They really pride themselves on their pressure and they’ve got a goal to be the best pressure team in the competition so we touched on that during the week,” Goddard said.

“If St Kilda did manage to win it around a stoppage I thought it came out rushed and was always under pressure, so that helps our backs and they set up really well.”

The win came six days after the Bombers beat Collingwood by 37 points and sees the Dons move to ninth on the ladder with a percentage of 108.5.

“To respond the way we have in the last two weeks against Collingwood – an archrival of Essendon – and the Saints who were up and about and have arguably been playing the best footy in the competition in the last month, it was really pleasing,” Goddard said.

Only Essendon’s inaccuracy in front of goal prevented the team from taking a bigger advantage into the half time break.

The Bombers kicked 6.10.46 to 2.6.18 in the opening half, but eventually the weight of territory and execution yielded a greater return with a seven goal third term blowing the game open, before a four goal to three final quarter rounded out the contest.

“It was a pretty solid performance – we’ve struggled to string together four quarters of effort particularly against quality opposition,” Goddard said.

“So that was the most pleasing thing and to keep a very good offensive team to a pretty low score (57) at the end of the night.

“They were the two things that most pleased me.”