There won’t be a better definition of “a tale of two halves” this season.

Limping to the main break with just three goals to their name and trailing by 33 points, St Kilda looked just about dead in the water before producing a sensational, 13-goal second half that had to be seen to believed over Geelong, thrusting them 18 points clear by the final siren.

The Saints, who appeared to come within inches of being put to the sword throughout the match early, rocketed home seven goals to one in an irrepressible third quarter initiated by young gun Darcy Wilson, before jagging another six to round out the game and consolidate the raucous 16.11 (107) to 14.5 (89) result in Saturday prime-time.

The consequences for the Cats may be far more dire, with a top-four spot potentially in jeopardy following today's earlier one-point thriller in Collingwood's favour over Brisbane.  

SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 23

Ravenous hunger, exemplary pressure and a relentless reversal in its stoppage game left Geelong on the back foot, with the game completely turned on its head as the visitors struggled to impact forward of centre in the second half; a few consolation goals late somewhat repairing the deficit.

But the damage had well and truly been dispensed; the performance arguably the Saints’ best of the season.

Jack Steele, who was a major player in getting his side's contest game firing on all cylinders, was tremendous in a true captain’s outing to round out his evening with 27 disposals, 19 tackles and two majors to bookend the Saints’ account, Rowan Marshall (28 disposals, 10 clearances) doing his chances of a maiden Trevor Barker Award no harm, while Callum Wilkie was immense in defence with 28 and 15 marks to galvanise the backline to terrific effect.

Steele in particular was a key cog in winding back Geelong's clearance dominance, which directly contributed five major scores before the Saints' out-of-the-box turnaround.

Lawson Humphries was particularly important for Geelong with his clean use coming off half-back, quickly abating most opposition advances forward to allow the midfielders and forwards further afield to thrive. Similarly, the visitors' indisputable monstering of the centre clearances (2-10 at half-time) had them in the box-seat as the Saints struggled to get any real momentum going.

But all of it dried up heading into what appeared to be a comfortable cruise home for the Cats.

Wilson's third quarter turned the tide as St Kilda rammed home four quick-fire goals — two of which came off the young Saint's boot —to open the term in almost as many minutes, before Tim Membrey and Jack Higgins (three goals) made it five and then six unanswered; the latter's third-decker kick sailing over and silencing the Cats' traveling fans as the home side hit the front. 

Best was saved for last as some magic on the line from Mitch Owens in the term's closing minute, who perfectly thread the needle in a soccer-inspired finish to pip a desperate Tom Stewart, trying desperately to prevent his side's sudden spiral.

With the Cats looking for much-needed avenues for goal as St Kilda transformed their potentially treacherous deficit into a slender lead, Jeremy Cameron was well-held by Josh Battle, despite jagging two late majors in the dying minutes to take his tally to three.

Liam Stocker was also prolific in curtailing the influence of Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield, who was unable to replicate the match-winning heroics from this year's season opener as the Saints reigned supreme on Saturday night.

ST KILDA  0.3  3.6  10.10  16.11 (107)
GEELONG  3.2  9.3  10.4  14.5 (89)

GOALS
St Kilda: Higgins 3, Wilson 2, Steele 2, Sharman 2, Owens 2, Wood, Butler, Membrey, Marshall, Hill
Geelong: Cameron 3, Mannagh 2, Stengle 2, Rohan, Stanley, Neale, Knevitt, O. Henry, Dempsey, Dangerfield

BEST
St Kilda: Steele, Wilkie, Wilson, Marshall, Sinclair, Battle
Geelong: Humphries, Bowes, Manage, Stanley, Kolodjashnij

INJURIES
St Kilda: Bradley Hill (back), Caminiti (arm)
Geelong: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Hugo Garcia replaced Bradley Hill (back) in the fourth quarter
Geelong: Gary Rohan replaced by Mitch Duncan in the third quarter

CROWD
31,945 at Marvel Stadium