Saints pip Cats in classical thriller at the 'G ... "Gilly" will be happy

Where do you start?

What a classic. An epic.

And the Saints went marching in.

"Gilly" will be thrilled ... he's caught up an important tip on "Thorpie" in the Marngrook Footy Show's aggressive and highly competitive tipping competition.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon and his players are through to a preliminary final after out-lasting Geelong by four points in a spine-tingling qualifying final at the MCG.

The Cats believed they'd kicked the winning goal ... after captain Cameron Ling had snapped truly with just 1min, 01sec left on the clock ... but the officiating field umpire had awarded a free kick to James Gwilt for a push in the back against Cameron Mooney.

The Cats will be shattered by the loss.

But the Saints certainly deserve their win.

Thanks to an inspired burst from forward pocket Stephen Milne, who kicked three goals in the blink of an eye in the second quarter, St Kilda rocketed to a 33-point lead early in the third quarter.

With rain tumbling, Geelong looked in all sorts of trouble.

But the 2007 and '09 premiers hit back superbly.

They'd narrowed the deficit to 11 points at three quarter-time.

The Cats couldn't buy a goal in the last quarter, though.

They dominated play, but posted just 1.7 to 1.0.

Brendon Goddard, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Sam Gilbert, Sam Fisher and Nick Riewoldt were tremendous for the Sainters.

Geelong lacked consistent performers with the likes of James Kelly, Gary Ablett, Paul Chapman and Joel Corey flashing in and out of play.

The pressure in well and truly on the Cats.

Final scores: St Kilda 12.11 (83) to Geelong 11.13 (79)