ST KILDA further turned the AFL top eight on its head – and broke Adelaide Crow hearts in the process – by belting Essendon to storm into the top four and book a qualifying final with Geelong next week.

Seven goals from small forward Steven Milne – six after half-time – helped the Saints smash the Bombers by 108 points and propel them above the Crows on the ladder and into fourth position.

St Kilda won 21.21 (147) to 5.9 (39) to turn the first week of the AFL finals series upside down.

Adelaide, which before Sunday’s game had seemed destined to play the Cats next week, is now suddenly facing an Elimination Final against Collingwood at AAMI Stadium.

The Saints meanwhile have guaranteed themselves at least two finals and could progress straight to a Preliminary Final should they upset the reigning premiers at the MCG.

Milne, Jason Gram (27 disposals) and Brendon Goddard (30) were all superb for the rampaging Saints, who will head into their clash with Geelong chock-full of confidence.

It was a miserable day for the depleted Bombers, who could only manage one behind in the final quarter and just three points in the second term.

Essendon went into the clash trying to finish its promising first year under coach Matthew Knights on a bright note but also hoping to send some of its bravest warriors off in a fitting fashion.

Jason Johnson and Adam Ramanauskas, both premiership players, along with Damien Peverill and Mal Michael, were all playing their final matches in the red and black, giving Essendon extra motivation to farewell the 2008 season in style.

Ramanauskas was terrific in his last match, while Peverill and Sam Lonergan also worked hard.

Essendon started brightly enough, with Patrick Ryder kicking the opener to give the Bombers’ faithful hope. When two departing veterans – Ramanauskas and Johnson – combined for their team’s second later in the opening term, it was met with greater cheer.

However, it was evident from early in the match that the Saints’ bold bid to snatch fourth spot from Adelaide was a viable proposition.

With Lenny Hayes and Nick Riewoldt dominant in the opening term, Ross Lyon’s side gained control and led by 20 points at the first break. It could have been far more if not for some wayward kicking close to goal.

That margin stretched to seven goals at the main break as the Saints continued to track at close to the required pace, although inaccuracy inside 50 again hurt.

After a poor second term from both sides, only the Saints threatened to keep the scorers particularly busy as the mostly inexperienced Bombers couldn’t match St Kilda, which had plenty to gain.

Essendon went goalless for the second quarter as it struggled to penetrate half-forward despite the best efforts of Jobe Watson and Angus Monfries through the middle, while St Kilda continued to bombard its own forward 50.

The question remained as to whether the Saints could finally find their range and keep the goals ticking over at the required rate to secure a top-four berth.

Three goals inside four minutes to start the second half – two of which came to Milne – certainly helped St Kilda’s cause, but the Bombers managed to boot three goals for the remainder of the term to not only add some respectability to their own scoreline but make the Saints’ task all the harder.

At the final break, St Kilda, with a proppy Riewoldt after he landed awkwardly from a mark, led by 61 points and needed to outscore the Bombers by about six goals in the final term.

It quickly became apparent the Saints would knock off the required 95-point margin, with Milne and Gram running forward with ease while the mistake-riddled Bombers continually turned the ball over.

Milne made it 89 points the difference in the 15th minute, and then two minutes later the Saints hit their magical figure when the little forward dynamo booted his seventh.

Adam Schneider ensured his side would finish fourth with a great mark and goal. Fittingly, it was Riewoldt who capped the Saints’ big day, with the champ icing his fourth goal after the siren.

St Kilda         5.5       8.12    14.15 21.21 (147)
Essendon     2.3       2.6       5.8           5.9  (39)

GOALS
St Kilda: Milne 7, Riewoldt 4, Gram 3, Schneider 2, Eddy, Gardiner, Goddard, King, Montagna
Essendon: Johnson, Lloyd, Magin, Ryder, Watson

BEST
St Kilda: Milne, Gram, Riewoldt, Goddard, Koschitzke, Hayes, Fisher
Essendon: Ramanauskas, Peverill, Lonergan, Watson

INJURIES
St Kilda: Dempster (knee), Schneider (cork) but returned to field, Riewoldt (knee) but returned to field
Essendon: Lloyd (hamstring) but returned to field

Official crowd: 46,161 at Telstra Dome