MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 03: Jack Steele and his Saints team mates look dejected after losing the round 3 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

St Kilda have responded to a vile racist message that was directed to a player and their partner on social media.

The fiancé of a Saints player received vile and racist messages on Instagram following the club's loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday.

St Kilda released a statement to Twitter in regards to the matter, expressing their disgust in the incident and stating their support to those impacted by the messages.

"This has to stop," the statement reads.

"A loss is a loss. It does not give people the right to racially abuse or personally vilify a player, their family, or anyone in the community.

"Too many times this year, our players and their loved ones have been victim to this type of abuse - enough is enough.

"If you engage in online abuse, you are not with us.

"Together we rise above and help stamp out racism."