UNDER the old best-team-on-the-park theory, St Kilda should have been ready to challenge Geelong at Telstra Dome last night, the Saints popping four prominent players back into their line-up.

But a rider should be added to the theory popularised in these times of the salary cap and the inability of clubs to stockpile their depth of high-quality players. What you need is your best team on the park, up and running.

The hidden cost of injuries is the time spent regaining touch, form and full fitness, as Ross Lyon's team found out last night in a 10-goal defeat by the rampant Geelong.

On paper, Max Hudghton, Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna and Raphael Clarke, all inclusions from the week before, should have helped St Kilda. But while Gram was brilliant running out of defence and Montagna workmanlike through the midfield, Hudghton and Clarke struggled to make an impact, and St Kilda had others — notably Lenny Hayes — who need more game time.

Second-placed Geelong is not in the mood to allow anyone the luxury of a gentle return to competition. It just does not work like that.

In the first quarter last night, Geelong cobbled two goals through gut-busting chasedowns of St Kilda defenders, one to Steve Johnson and the other by Joel Corey. It was a portent of things to come. The Cats have no personnel issues to speak of, and appear to be at the height of their powers. Seven first-quarter goals set the tone.

St Kilda battled manfully to stay in the game to half-time, but the floodgates burst soon after. It did not have the leg-speed to cope with Geelong's rebounding to begin with, let alone when the muscle fatigue kicked in. Corey, Jimmy Bartel and Gary Ablett drove the ball forward continually, where Cam Mooney and Steve Johnson caused all manner of troubles for the St Kilda defence. In the second, David Wojcinski gathered the ball on the wing, took off for two bounces and bombed a goal from 50 metres that would serve as a symbol of the contest.

In the third term, it all became a little surreal. Turning back the clock to his schoolyard days, Mooney launched himself on to the shoulders of James Gwilt to take a picture-perfect high mark, landed on his feet and strolled in to an open goal.

St Kilda had no answers. Lyon's plight was typified by his attempt to curb Ablett's influence by sending the tough, little Steven Baker on to Geelong's dynamic half-forward. But Baker could not stay with Ablett; by quarter-time, the Geelong man had eight disposals to none and Baker's frustration induced him to throw his opponent to the ground in an off-the-ball clash. Ablett dusted himself off and took the free kick. Baker had to be dispatched elsewhere and Ablett became one of the most influential players on the ground.

The Saints were beaten hands down just about everywhere. Lyon allowed Luke Ball to play head-to-head with Bartel in the middle, and Ball held sway for a time. But Bartel rolled right over him as the game wore on, finishing with a game-high 32 disposals. Similarly, Nick Dal Santo found himself with Cameron Ling for a tag, and the numbers told that tale. Ling had 19 disposals and sneaked forward for three goals. Dal Santo was limited to just 12 touches, showing again that he is still to learn how to shake a hard tag.

Not even Nick Riewoldt's outstanding performance at centre half-forward, continually winning the contested ball, could make a difference for St Kilda. Riewoldt's opponent, Matthew Egan, fought back after a difficult start, and Riewoldt's kicking again let him down.

St Kilda was physically spent by the final quarter, and even Gram felt the heat. His dreadful turnover at the 17-minute mark gifted Travis Varcoe a goal as Geelong went in for the kill.

At 7-3 and with Paul Chapman and Tom Harley back in the side, the Cats confront next weekend's trip to Adelaide with a new mindset. Everything ventured, lots to gain.

GEELONG 7.2 10.5 15.8 19.11 (125)
ST KILDA 4.1 7.6 9.8 9.11 (65)
GOALS Geelong: Ling 3, Mooney 3, Ottens 2, S Johnson 2, Wojcinski 2, Rooke, Corey, G Ablett, Stokes, Bartel, N Ablett, Varcoe. St Kilda: Riewoldt 2, Gehrig 2, Blake, Montagna, Milne, Ball, Gram.
BEST Geelong: Ling, G Ablett, Bartel, Corey, S Johnson, Chapman, Wojcinski, Mooney. St Kilda: Gram, Riewoldt, S Fisher, Ball, Montagna, Koschitzke.
UMPIRES Ryan, Ellis, Pannell
CROWD 42,188 at Telstra Dome.