St Kilda ruckman Michael Gardiner has taken a pack mark the equal of Leo Barry's infamous grab which won the Sydney Swans a Grand Final and kicked his fourth goal with a minute to go as the Saints beat Geelong by six points – 14.7 (91) to 13.7 (85) - to be the AFL's only undefeated side.

In front of a record crowd of 54,440 at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, the Saints kicked the first five goals of the game and were never headed, although Geelong did pull level with four minutes to go when Matthew Stokes drilled a goal 25 minutes into the final term.

After the Saints' amazing start the Cats fought back all afternoon and trailed by just 10 points heading into the final term.

Saints big men Justin Koschitzke and Gardiner booted the first two goals in the final term to give their side a handy 23-point lead eight minutes in.

But the never-say-die Cats hit back with Max Rooke snapping a great goal and best-on-ground contender Jimmy Bartel taking a gutsy mark, winning a 50-metre penalty and setting up Paul Chapman for a goal to cut the gap 11 points.

Cameron Mooney then stepped up by drilling a 60-metre set-shot which forced an eruption from the Geelong contingent in the packed crowd – the Cats within five points 19 minutes in.

Stephen Milne answered with his first goal of the afternoon, but Nick Dal Santo then blew a great chance to ice the contest and paid for it immediately with Bartel setting up Darren Milburn who again brought the margin back to a goal before Stokes' major.

Lenny Hayes was unbelievable for St Kilda in the last term, when he racked up 13 of his 32 possessions and won five clearances. Gardiner had 13 possessions, seven marks and won 20 hit-outs to go with his 4.0.

Nick Riewoldt was an inspirational leader for the Saints and ran himself to near exhaustion before finsihing with three goals next to his name from 16 touches and 11 marks.

Other important players for St Kilda in their epic 15th win of the year were Brendon Goddard, Jason Blake, Sam Gilbert and Sam Fisher - but no players shirked their task.

For the Cats in the desperate final term, Bartel and Chapman were the catalysts – the pair finishing the game with 37 and 40 possessions respectively. In a glittering career, Bartel's game was one of his best ever. Gary Ablett gathered 27 disposals and kicked two goals for the Cats, which went into the game without Steve Johnson.

Joel Selwood (30 touches) was brilliant as well for Geelong, particularly in the third term surge which got the Cats back into the game. Other good players for the Cats were Corey Enright, Matthew Stokes and Andrew Mackie.

Harry Taylor tried his guts out on Riewoldt but was knocked out in the contest when Gardiner took his match-winning screamer. It is believed he did not sustain a facial fracture but the results of scans will be needed to confirm this.

Koschitzke and Cats defender Matthew Scarlett fought out a terrific two-man war all afternoon with the Saints forward kicking two goals.

The first half was all about one thing – St Kilda's tackling pressure.

The contest exploded from the first bounce as expected, but the Saints not only beat the Cats in terms of clearances and hard-ball gets but they were also better in applying intense physical pressure every time an opposition player was in possession.

It was a poor Ablett handball while he faced the Saints' pressure which led to Clinton Jones – Ablett's direct opponent – snapping the game's first goal two minutes in.

The Saints then slammed through the next four goals unanswered, with both Riewoldt and Koschitzke looking dangerous and Sam Fisher racking up touches across half-back at will.

Riewoldt's first goal came after he took one of his now trademark pack marks running back with the flight of the ball which had Cats fans applauding such was the bravery required to pull off the feat.

Tough-nut Steven Baker's behind-the-stick job from a running shot with blood streaming down his face from a head clash made it 32-2 on 17 minutes.

Ablett, off his game courtesy of Jones' hard tag early, won a 50-metre penalty against the Saints' tagger and finally kicked Geelong's first goal at the 26-minute mark. His major was followed up by Travis Varcoe's conversion of a free he was awarded after he was smashed head-on by Zac Dawson who couldn't pull up from his sprint at the contest.

Varcoe's goal made it 5.3 to 2.2 at the first change, and while St Kilda's amazing tackling continued in the second quarter, Geelong's hard work and perseverance started to tighten things up prior to the half-time break.

Riewoldt's great lead, mark and finish two minutes into the term gave the Saints a 25-point lead and after Mooney's lack of confidence to not take a shot from 25 metres resulted in a behind only, Andrew McQualter made him pay with a goal down the other end to stretch the gap to 29 points.

But the Cats hit back as Bartel and Ablett started winning the ball and Varcoe's creativity became a problem for the Saints.

Varcoe's dare across half-back and follow-up set up a goal for Milburn 13 minutes in and he then set up Ablett for his second major after laying a brilliant tackle as the Cats crept to within 23 points.

Adam Schneider hit back immediately after the restart to again stretch the gap to four goals but Geelong had the final say in the half.

After Bartel took a 'Riewoldt-like' mark in the Saints' forward 50, the Cats rushed the ball to the other end where Joel Corey showed great poise and patience before slotting a goal which kept his side in it – the Saints still leading 8.4 to 5.5 at the main break.

The tackle count, which was 20-10 in favour of the Saints at one stage, was 40-33 by half-time as the Cats put their hands up to be counted in the bruising encounter.

Geelong started to take control of the game early in the third term, but the Cats  could not convert their wonderful pressure and hard work into scores.

After eight minutes of Geelong dominance, it was the Saints through Gardiner's second goal who drew first blood in the term.

But the Cats kept coming, appearing to relish in the role of being the hunter rather than the hunted.

Andrew Mackie slotted a long set-shot for goal before Mooney had his chance to stand up after taking a mark on 50. His great kick sailed through as the Cats pulled to within nine points at the 15-minute mark.

Cats players Stokes, Rooke and Selwood then combined under great pressure before the latter expertly dribbled through a snap-shot as the Cats made it three unanswered majors and had the crowd at fever pitch.

Both Koschitzke and Riewoldt then missed set-shots for the Saints before the St Kilda skipper stamped his mark on the contest yet again with a brilliant individual effort.

Riewoldt marked 60 metres out before taking Taylor on and drilling a 55-metre bomb which helped the Saints to a 10.5 (65) to 8.7 (55) lead at the final change, the four points well and truly up for grabs.

Bumper Super Sunday on 3AW

3AW Football mixed the old with the new prior to the clash of the titans match. Aside from speaking to match-day coach Ross Lyon and injured Cats star Josh Hunt, the panel went down memory lane with 'Cowboy' Neale.

• Hunt v Hunt in the box
• Cowby says howdy to 3AW

Sports Today TV: Saints the best?

3AW's Gerard Healy, Dwayne Russell and David King debate whether there is more than two teams that can win the flag given Brisbane and the Bulldogs' convincing wins on the weekend. King also explains why he think St Kilda will beat Geelong in Round 14.

Hawks title defence all over?

Hawthorn is sitting 10th on the AFL ladder after being thrashed by the Bulldogs and could be as low as 11th by the end of Round 14. What has gone wrong this year? Can Hawthorn bounce back quickly or will 2009 go down as nothing more than a 'premiership hangover'?

The leader of the (dog) pack

Western Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson speaks to 3AW Football from the jubilant rooms after his side made Hawthorn look silly. He talks about whetehr he thinks the Dos have improvedd from last season and discusses his future after 2009.

• Clarkson at a loss after loss

Honesty is the best policy

If you wanted the view from footy's inner sanctum without the 'one week at a time' PR spin, ypou'd be hard pressed to find three more direct people than Neale Daniher, Nick Maxwell and Chris Connolly. 3AW Football spoke to them all on Saturday.

• Maxwell after six in a row
• Opinionated Chris Connolly

Harry O'Brien for All Australian

Collingwood defender Harry O'Brien is becoming one of the most reliable players in the AFL, and after another stellar effort in his side's win over Essendon, the Brazilian shares some fascinating insight into his own life and the leadership skills of Nick Maxwell.

• Maxwell after six in a row
• Fraser, Swan spark Pies win

3AW Football Central

Your home for breaking AFL news, views and anaylsis from Melbourne's No.1 team of Rex Hunt, Dennis Cometti, Robert Walls, Nathan Buckley, Graeme Bond, Denis Pagan, Tony Leonard, Shane Healy, Tony Shaw, David King, Scott Cummings, Caroline Wilson, Mike Sheahan, Rohan Connolly, Nick Butler and Shane McInnes.