ST KILDA'S finals aspirations have taken another hit as Geelong stretched its unbeaten run to 12 matches, following their 28-point win over the Saints at the MCG on Saturday night.

In their second meeting this season - after the Cats scraped home by a point in their low-scoring thriller in round one - Geelong withstood a brave performance from the Saints to eventually run out 15.10 (100) to 11.6 (72) winners in front of 39,539 fans

The only downside in the Cats' win was the injuries sustained to a number of key personnel.

Already missing Joel Selwood through suspension, influential ball-magnet Jimmy Bartel suffered concussion after some friendly fire from teammate James Podsiadly in a marking contest midway through the first quarter and was substituted by Mitch Duncan at the first break.

James Kelly (ankle) and Duncan (concussion) also spent time on off the ground, with the latter on the receiving end of a slinging tackle by Justin Koschitzke, a late replacement for the injured Jason Blake.

After an even first quarter that saw the Saints grab a slender three-point lead, the Cats ramped up their defensive pressure in the second term, stifling their opponent's ball movement forward.

After kicking four goals within the first ten minutes of the quarter, the Saints could only manage one for the term, epitomising the Cats' new-found defensive steel under the regime of coach Chris Scott.

With the Saints yet to chalk up a victory at the MCG this season, and with four of the past five matches between the two sides being decided by two goals or less, many expected the Saints to be breathing fire after the main break.

But as was the case in the first half, sloppy entries inside 50 and turnovers in the Saints' defensive half proved costly; particularly after they had worked hard to reduce the margin to just two goals during the term.

After an altercation on the three-quarter time siren involving Steve Johnson and Sean Dempster, the Saints kicked the first goal of the quarter before the final-quarter specialists steadied to record their twelfth win for season 2011.

QUARTER BY QUARTER SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER
The game begins with James Gwilt on James Podsiadly, Tom Lonergan on Nick Riewoldt, Harry Taylor on Justin Koschitzke and Matthew Scarlett on Ryan Gamble, with Clinton Jones tagging James Kelly. At the two-minute mark, Podisadly shows better anticipation, better than two St Kilda opponents, to run on to a loose ball and handball over the top to Daniel Menzel, who kicks truly from 30 metres out.

David Armitage replies after a clearance from the centre, running into an open goal for St Kilda. Steve Johnson and Sean Dempster are involved in a scuffle at ground level on the wing which is heated. Armitage, drifting forward, scores another goal.

Mid-way through the term Vardy kicks truly from 35 out. Ben McEvoy takes a strong mark at centre half-forward, which begins a chain of possessions that ends in a goal to Farren Ray.

Riewoldt and Johnson have no stats at the 20-minute mark. Podsaidly, in everything, soars over teammate Jimmy Bartel to mark on the wing, but hits Bartel's jaw. Bartel looks shaky as he comes off. He does not return.

Peake kicks another and the quarter ends with McEvoy taking a strong mark on the wing, his fifth in an impressive first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
Geelong starts with goals to Menzel (two minutes) and Mathew Stokes (four) — both from just outside the goalsquare — before Ottens marks at half-forward on eight minutes and handballs to the racing Johnson, who lollops the ball up for Ling to run on to. Ling, running off Dal Santo, pops it through from 30 metres out. Geelong gets the clearance from the resultant bounce, and forces the ball forward until Podsiadly is able to kick around the corner from just outside the goalsquare for the Cats' fourth goal in nine minutes. The Cats have gone from three points down at quarter-time to 21 points up. Riewoldt takes his first mark for the night, a strong mark over a pack at centre half-forward. The Saints badly need a goal but Riewoldt, with his first kick for the night, misses from 40 metres. On 14 minutes, Gram sends a scrubby kick towards the wing. Enright intercepts and sends the ball forward where it ends up with Stokes, who, from a free kick, screws the ball through from a tight angle. The Cats have five unanswered goals for the quarter.

Jones wraps up Paul Chapman on the edge of the centre square and sends it forward, where Steven emerges with the ball from a pack and snaps the Saints' first for the quarter. Geelong lead by 19 points. Geelong end an impressive quarter 23 points ahead, a margin that fails to reflect their dominance.

THIRD QUARTER
On four minutes, Podsiadly punches from behind and then grabs the ball at ground level and hooks it over his shoulder for a behind. His enthusiasm is not infectious. Play limps along until Gwilt sends a curling helicopter kick in the general direction of Koschitzke. The Saints big man reaches over Nathan Vardy to take a mark. He kicks truly from 35. The Saints are 18 points down, close enough to launch a challenge despite quiet games from Milne and Riewoldt. Gamble takes a big mark, launching himself onto Milburn just out the goalsquare. His goal brings the Saints within two goals. 

Play oscillates for seven minutes before the Cats bring the ball through the middle, Duncan gets on to it and, from just inside 50, kicks the goal that halts St Kilda's threat. Podsiadly gets a free kick because Gwilt was holding him by the arm. He kicks a goal as St Kilda look like losing their grip. The Cats lead by 25 points. Players converge in the siren for a push and shove.

FOURTH QUARTER
Peake opens the scoring with a running goal on two minutes. His celebration suggests he believes the Saints can kick on. They don't. On seven minutes, Varcoe kicks inboard from the boundary line to Menzel who has led into the corridor. Menzel kicks truly from 35 metres out, dead in front. His four-goal haul is the best of the night. Three minutes later, Gamble dodges around Geelong defenders before finding Peak, who kicks his second for the quarter; Geelong leads by 19 points.

St Kilda won't quite go away. Another six minutes elapses without a goal. Then Corey, who has been busy throughout, streams through the centre square and kicks it to the fat side. Vardy hares out from full-forward and takes a strong mark in front of Dawson. His nerveless goal, his second for the game, suggests the Cats might have found their answer for the second ruck-forward role.

Later, Ottens - normally so lumbering - spins clear of a pack to kick an unlikely goal. The Cats are in control. The 33-point margin is the largest of the night. Armitage kicks a consolation goal for the Saints.

Geelong  3.3  9.3  11.6  15.10 (100)
St Kilda  4.0  5.4  7.5   11.6 (72)

GOALS
Geelong:  Menzel 4, Podsiadly 2, Stokes 2, Vardy 2, Chapman 2, Ling, Duncan, Ottens
St Kilda: Armitage 3, Ray 2, Peake 2, Steven, Gamble, Koschitzke, Jones,

BEST
Geelong: Enright, Stokes, Corey, Kelly, Chapman, Lonergan, Taylor, Ling
St Kilda: Fisher, Jones, Peake, Steven, McEvoy, Dal Santo

INJURIES
Geelong: nil
St Kilda: Blake (knee) replaced in selected side by Koschitzke.

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Duncan replaced Bartel (concussion) at quarter-time.
St Kilda: Clarke replaced Montagna during the third quarter.

REPORTS
Geelong: Nil
St Kilda: Nil

Umpires: Chamberlain, Meredith, Pannell.

Official crowd: 39,539 at MCG.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL