GEELONG has burst St Kilda's bubble, snapping the Saints' four-game winning streak with a 59-point thumping at the Gabba on Monday night.
The 14.9 (93) to 4.10 (34) victory has elevated Geelong past its opponents on the ladder into third place and right into the thick of the premiership conversation.
It sets up a tantalising Friday night contest against league frontrunners Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium.
The Cats gave St Kilda a lesson in efficiency, pressure and power, kicking the final nine goals of the game and keeping the Saints goalless in the second half.
Sam Menegola started like a house on fire and did not slow down, finishing with 26 disposals, 11 marks and two goals, while Patrick Dangerfield lapped up more time on-ball than the Cats' previous win over North Melbourne, gathering 19 disposals and adding a goal.
Tom Hawkins (five goals) is now level with Josh Kennedy at the top of the Coleman Medal table after outplaying Jake Carlisle, while Gary Rohan was also lively with four goals.
St Kilda missed its opportunities in the first half and were made to pay.
They won the contested ball by 14 in the first two quarters and had generated seven more inside 50s, but struggled to get easy looks from the rock-solid Geelong defence.
Dan Butler's struggles (four disposals and no goals) typified the problems Brett Ratten's men had when going forward.
St Kilda faces Essendon at the Gabba on Sunday.
Rohan goin' alright
While Tom Hawkins proved too good for Jake Carlisle, the real surprise packet for Geelong was the output of Gary Rohan. The former Swan completely flipped the game in the second quarter, kicking three of his four goals to give his team breathing space. Rohan used a combination of speed and power to kick his goals. He was a headache all night, missing a sitter in the third quarter and setting up Zach Tuohy's goal to continue his impact.
The Cats' clamps
St Kilda came into round 11 as the highest scoring team in the competition, but had no answers for Geelong's defence. The Saints generated 44 inside 50s (to Geelong's 40), but after midway through the second quarter did not kick a goal. Aside from a couple of simple shots in the final quarter, they rarely looked like breaking the drought. It was the first time since round three they hadn't kicked 70 points or more. Mark O'Connor totally blanketed the red-hot Dan Butler, while Lachie Henderson made things tough for Max King and Tom Stewart (22) played his usual general's role.
Brad Hill's battles
He had plenty of teammates well below their best, but Brad Hill had another quiet game and must be a concern. The big-name recruit finished with just seven disposals and was barely sighted. St Kilda tried to get him involved, moving him forward momentarily just before half-time, but it didn't help. Hill's lack of impact has nothing to do with his work, but the bottom line is he has topped 20 disposals just once in 11 rounds.
ST KILDA 2.1 4.6 4.8 4.10 (34)
GEELONG 2.4 7.5 11.7 14.9 (93)
GOALS
St Kilda: Phillips 2, Battle, Billings
Geelong: Hawkins 5, Rohan 4, Menegola 2, Dangerfield, Duncan, Tuohy
BEST
St Kilda: Steele, Sinclair, Long, Phillips
Geelong: Menegola, Hawkins, Dangerfield, Rohan, Duncan, O'Connor
INJURIES
St Kilda: Ryder (replaced in selected side by Phillips);
Geelong: Nil