The Cats, with a flavour of their 2007 premiership-winning form, maintained those efforts in the final term to win 21.10 (136) to 12.16 (88).
Sixteen points up at the main break, it was St Kilda that dealt the first blow of the second half through Fraser Gehrig before the Cats responded across an emphatic nine minutes.
Two goals to Tom Hawkins and majors from Cameron Ling, Mathew Stokes, David Wojcinski and Joel Selwood had Geelong sailing.
When Steve Johnson kicked his third goal to push the lead to 47 points, the Saints faced an ominous task with more than a quarter to play.
They didn't lie down, as Justin Koschitzke slotted his third goal to open the final term and captain Nick Riewoldt worked hard to create scoring opportunities.
However, Riewoldt missed a crucial one of his own, sending the ball out of bounds on the full when a true kick would have brought the deficit under five goals.
Lively small Stephen Milne replied to big Cat Cameron Mooney's third goal until a third to Hawkins, one to Josh Hunt and a fourth to Johnson with just minutes to play sealed the match.
It was errant kicking that cost St Kilda many chances from the first bounce. The seven-point lead held by the Saints at quarter time was courtesy of its seven behinds.
And a seven-goal second term from Geelong had the Saints chasing.
St Kilda was well served by Riewoldt's three first-half goals as he dominated Geelong equivalent Tom Harley, who was moved from him in the second half.
Geelong's brand of football was far more effective, offering quick reply almost every time the Saints threatened to surge.
Avenues to goal grew with defenders Matthew Scarlett - arguably the best player on the ground - and Darren Milburn working very well in connecting with Geelong's midfielders and forwards.
The brigade of Ling (28 possessions), Joel Corey (29) and Jimmy Bartel (31) was equally damaging, clinical in disposal and well supported by Selwood (21) and James Kelly (18).
Saints Lenny Hayes had 19 possessions and Leigh Montagna 13 in a productive first half, and they continued those efforts until the game was out to finish with 32 and 35 possessions respectively.
Nick Dal Santo (18) and Luke Ball (27) were also handy, however, veteran Robert Harvey was the most influential midfielder in the game's early parts.
The Saints won the first nine stoppages of the game, until Harvey suffered a heavy cork and was forced from the ground. He returned but struggled to have an impact.
It was likewise for small defender Xavier Clarke, who took a surprise bump from Cat Trent West and was stretchered off only to return in the third term.
Nevertheless, the Saints finished the match 39 to 23 ahead in the clearances and the ruck contest between former teammates Steven King and Mark Blake was solid - eventually producing a scuffle early in the second term.
The Saints made one change to their line-up before bouncedown with former Swan Adam Schneider ruled out with a hamstring strain. He was replaced by utility player Clinton Jones.
Geelong 4.0 10.6 17.9 21.10 (136)
St Kilda 4.7 7.8 10.11 13.16 (94)
GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Koschitzke 3, Gilbert 2, Milne 2, Gehrig 2, Fisher
Geelong: Johnson 4, Mooney 3, Hawkins 3, Kelly 2, Stokes 2, Wojcinski 2, Gamble, Chapman, Ling, Selwood, Hunt
BEST
St Kilda: Hayes, Riewoldt, Ball, Montagna, Goddard
Geelong: Scarlett, Corey, Kelly, Bartel, Ling, Selwood, Ablett, Hunt
INJURIES
St Kilda: X. Clarke (heavy knock), Harvey (corked thigh)
Geelong: Nil
Reports: Gamble (Geelong) reported for striking Dal Santo (St Kilda) by emergency umpire James in the second quarter
Umpires: Rosebury, Chamberlain, Meredith
Official crowd: 44,368 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
