Saints in form and in the four

St Kilda will ride a wave of momentum into next Sunday’s AFL qualifying final against Geelong at the MCG after making a surprise vault into the top four on the back of a record thrashing of Essendon last night.

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The Saints started the round in seventh position, but a combination of shock losses by North Melbourne and Collingwood and their own percentage-boosting 21.21 (147) to 5.9 (39) victory over the Bombers delivered them the vital double chance.

After looking unlikely to make the finals midway through the season, they will now take with them some impressive form.

Yesterday’s Telstra Dome demolition of the Bombers, the Saints’ biggest win over Essendon ever, followed last round’s convincing 48-point victory over Adelaide, the club they edged past on percentage.

It gave them eight wins in the final 10 rounds and coach Ross Lyon said they would take on the formidable Cats knowing they were a steadily improving side.

“Confidence is a result of actions, at the minute our actions are making us competitive in most AFL games we play in,” Lyon said.

“This is all we know, we’re going to play the hottest team in the AFL and we speak about them as the benchmark team, the way they go about it, their effort, their consistency, so that’s where we’re trying to get to.

“It’s the biggest challenge in football, but we’re excited to be trying to improve our football on a big stage and that’s our aim.”

The Saints’ surprise climb to fourth means retiring dual Brownlow Medallist Robert Harvey will continue his career for at least another two games.

And the chance for the universally admired Saint to farewell the game with a premiership looks much more achievable than when he announced his retirement almost four weeks ago.

The one sour note to St Kilda’s day was a serious knee injury to former Sydney premiership player Sean Dempster, who limped off the field about two minutes into yesterday’s match.

Lyon said it was a significant blow, with Dempster having slotted in well in tagging roles after joining the club this season.

“Unfortunately he did his ACL … we feel for Sean, I can’t imagine what he’s feeling at the moment,” Lyon said.

On the plus side, the Saints are hopeful Luke Ball can return from injury to face the Cats, with Xavier Clarke another in contention.

The Magpies and Kangaroos were the big losers of the weekend, having squandered their top four chances.

While Collingwood had won three-straight before Friday night’s game against Fremantle, coach Mick Malthouse admitted a big month of football had finally caught up with them.

The Dockers beat Collingwood by four goals, 12.8 (80) to 8.8 (56), but Malthouse was confident his team would bounce back quickly ahead of next weekend.

He also insisted suspended duo Alan Didak and Heath Shaw would not be back for the finals.

North coach Dean Laidley apologised to the club’s fans after Port Adelaide humiliated his team 23.10 (148) to 10.12 (72) at the MCG, with the ‘Roos never in the hunt.

Having lost their previous two games, Sydney regained some form with 17.12 (114) to 6.17 (53) home win over Brisbane, ensuring they will stay at home for their sudden-death clash with North.

Adelaide had fourth spot for one day after Saturday’s gritty nine-point win over the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium, but will at least get a home final against the Magpies.

Second-placed Hawthorn were always going to easily dispatch Carlton at Telstra Dome, but Lance Franklin and Brendan Fevola made the 78-point mis-match a game to remember.

Franklin kicked his 100th goal for the season in the first term, making him the first player since Tony Lockett in 1998 to achieve the feat during the regular season.

Fevola kicked seven goals in the second half to fall one short of his “ton” in the 24.15 (159) to 12.9 (81) belting.

Minor premiers Geelong rounded out a near-perfect season Saturday with a 99-point win over second-last West Coast at Skilled Stadium, 24.20 (164) to 10.5 (65). Yesterday, Richmond confirmed ninth spot and Melbourne took the wooden spoon as the Tigers won in an 80-point canter, 18.13 (121) to 6.5 (41).

Snapshot of round 22 of the AFL season

THEY SAID IT: “I’m here to apologise firstly to our supporters and secondly to Shannon Grant’s family and his supporters. It was a disgraceful effort today and it all comes down to effort required and it was non-existent.” – North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley, after his side gave up fourth spot with a shock defeat to Port Adelaide.

STATS THAT MATTER: Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin became the first player in a decade to kick a century of goals in a home and away season, while Carlton’s Brendan Fevola became the first in the league’s history to be stranded on 99.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND: Peter Burgoyne – his future at Port Adelaide was being questioned a fortnight ago, but he showed his class with a 45-possession performance to carve up the Kangaroos, his second best afield game in as many rounds.

MAGIC MOMENT: Impossible to go past Franklin bringing up the 100, with the flood of spectators on to the field only adding to the occasion.

KEY INJURIES: Sean Dempster (St Kilda, knee), Leigh Harding (North Melbourne, knee).

REPORTS: Carlton: Nick Stevens (Carl) for wrestling Chance Bateman (Haw). Jude Bolton (Syd) for rough conduct on Albert Proud (BL). Brian Lake (WB) for high contact on Scott Stevens (Adel). Mathew Stokes (Gee) for striking Chad Fletcher (WC).

UNDER PRESSURE THIS WEEK: North Melbourne and Collingwood both suffered shock losses this weekend and will now be playing for their seasons in sudden-death interstate finals.

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