GEELONG 3.7 7.10 16.15 17.17 (119) ST KILDA 1.1 3.2 5.5 8.13 (61)

Goals: Geelong: B Ottens 3 C Mooney 3 J Bartel 2 T Lonergan 2 T Varcoe S Johnson M Stokes G Ablett M Rooke P Chapman C Ling. St Kilda: S Milne 2 X Clarke L Montagna N Riewoldt A Schneider R Clarke B Goddard.

Best: Geelong: J Bartel G Ablett B Ottens M Scarlett H Taylor J Corey. St Kilda: S Fisher L Hayes R Harvey.

Umpires: H Kennedy S Meredith S McInerney

Official crowd: 71,653 at the MCG.
Injuries: Geelong: P Chapman (hamstring/quad) B Prismall (knee). St Kilda: J Blake (thumb).

Reports: St Kilda: L Hayes (St Kilda) reported by emergency umpire S Jeffery for striking J Selwood (Geelong) in the third quarter.

GEELONG'S relentless advance towards successive AFL premierships gathered pace today as they blew away St Kilda by 58 points at the MCG.

Brent Prismall's serious knee injury and an apparent hamstring injury to Paul Chapman were the only two worrying notes for the Cats as they beat the Saints in their qualifying final 17.17 (119) to 8.13 (61).

Geelong now have the week off and will play either the Western Bulldogs or Sydney in a preliminary final.

The Saints face surging Collingwood next Saturday night in a semi-final.

Prismall's right knee collapsed as he went for the ball early in the first quarter and he will most likely need a reconstruction, putting him out of action until late next year.

Chapman did not play after halftime and appears to have a hamstring injury.

But St Kilda's worst nightmare for this match came true as Geelong kicked nine goals to two in the third term.

Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel was best afield with 34 disposals and two goals, one of four Cats with 30-plus touches, while typical of their forward system they shared the goals among 11 players.

Cameron Mooney and Brad Ottens kicked three apiece.

The game attracted 71,653 fans, despite the wet weather, and the big crowd was a welcome sight for AFL officials after yesterday's disappointing elimination final crowds in Adelaide and Sydney.

If there was a moment where the floodgates opened today, it came midway through the third term, immediately after Brad Ottens kicked a goal.

Saints small forward Stephen Milne bumped Steve Johnson from behind in frustration as the Cats celebrated.

The umpire immediately awarded a free kick in front of goal to Johnson, who converted.

The Cats kicked six of the last seven goals in the quarter.

A week after the Saints kicked 20 goals in a match for the first time under coach Ross Lyon, they nearly suffered the biggest loss during his tenure.

Only Geelong's early inaccuracy - they were 1.7 in the first term and 7.13 early in the third - prevented even great carnage.

The Saints kicked the first goal of the game, but it quickly became apparent they were on the defensive.

When Mooney goaled from point-blank range after a silly 50m penalty against Max Hudghton and Bartel kicked another from an acute angle, the Cats had a three-goal break at the first change.

Geelong then kicked four goals to two in the second term to take a 32-point lead into the main break.

After the Cats opened the second half with three-straight behinds, the Saints kicked a goal through Brendon Goddard.

It was the first time in the match they had kicked two in a row and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of hope.

Brownlow Medal favourite Gary Ablett then goaled magnificently on the run four minutes later to restore order.

For the Saints, Sam Fisher was best with 31 touches on a dispiriting day.

AAP