St Kilda have reached their second-straight AFL grand final, blowing away the Western Bulldogs in the third term to win by 24 points at the MCG.

After a stuttering first half that reflected his team's poor start, captain Nick Riewoldt starred in the second half with three goals as they won Saturday night's preliminary final 13.10 (88) to 8.16 (64).

Riewoldt missed half the season after badly injuring his hamstring in round three, but has made an incredible comeback.

Unlike last year's epic grand final loss to Geelong, the Saints will start underdogs against minor premiers Collingwood.

The Magpies destroyed the Cats in Friday night's preliminary final and St Kilda will need to improve appreciably to win their first premiership in 44 years.

It was a tough farewell for revered Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson, who retired after a club-record 364 games.

In stark contrast to Riewoldt, who finished with seven marks and 3.3, at the other end of the ground Bulldogs key forward Barry Hall only managed 1.3.

The Bulldogs were gallant, but they were simply outclassed after failing to take their chances early in the match.

They have now lost their past three preliminary finals.

The Bulldogs have also lost all eight games to other top-four sides, going back to last year's qualifying final and excluding the pre-season.

The Saints kicked 10 goals to four in the second half and the Bulldogs only managed 5.15 after quarter-time.

St Kilda were outstanding in the third term, lifting their game noticeably and eliminating errors as they put the Bulldogs away.

Stephen Milne marked and goaled in the first minute of the quarter to level the scores.

After another goal to Michael Gardiner was overruled, with the umpires deciding it was touched on the line, goals to Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke piled the pressure on the Bulldogs.

Brett Peake joined the procession and, after Lindsay Gilbee broke the run with the Bulldogs' only goal of the term, Adam Schneider produced a brilliant play.

Breaking clear in the forward pocked, Schneider eluded Gilbee and ruckman Ben Hudson to run into an open goal.

Riewoldt's snap for his second goal of the term followed two minutes later and the game was over, with the Saints leading by 31 points at the last change.

The Saints' third-term burst came from nowhere, after a first half when the Bulldogs were unable to make the most of their good work.

Leading by eight points at quarter-time, the Bulldogs had St Kilda on the back foot for much of the second term.

At one stage the 'Dogs led by 11 points, but St Kilda kicked two goals to one in the term.

The halftime score was 4.6 to 3.6 - last year the Bulldogs also led their preliminary final at the same stage 4.7 to 3.6 before losing by seven points.

Saints star Nick Dal Santo had a quiet night and left the field in the second term with an apparent leg injury.

But he was able to return for the second half.

Saints coach Ross Lyon said his team played with much better method in the third term after a first half where they lacked their usual disciplined game style.

"We started really (intensively) with our pressure and we won the ball, but I thought we were still playing dry-weather football," he said.

"We invited them into the game and once they got that enthusiasm on the back of last week, it was always going to be difficult.

"Our second quarter, we just played a bit of circle work with them and a little bit organised, but we spoke at half-time about what needed to be done, get organised, really re-structured our forward set up a little bit.

"We obviously drove the ball deeper, more to the goal mouth and we were rewarded - as that scoreboard pressure built, it cracked wide open."

He praised Riewoldt's third term, but stressed the captain was only one of 22 and the team as a whole had eventually imposed their will on the match.

Riewoldt looked as if he nearly convulsed after a collision with Koschitzke, but he played out the game.

Dal Santo and Jason Gram, who left the field late, should be fit for the grand final.

A big subplot this week will be defender Steven Baker, who is trying to force his way back into the team after a nine-week suspension.

Lyon said the Saints knew better than most clubs that they must take this chance, especially given last year's grand final loss.

"You'd rather have had the experience than not have it, it's a unique week," he said.

"But ultimately once the ball is bounced, it's another game of football.

"We know anything can happen, no-one understands that better than this football club."

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade praised the "spirit and character" of his group, but conceded they needed to be further ahead at half-time and were outplayed in the third term.

"Their better players rose to the top, they obviously took the game by the scruff of the neck," he said.

"We should have been three or four up at halftime, but I was really pleased for three of the four quarters."

He is confident about the Bulldogs' future, pointing to their shocking run with injuries late in the season and their ability to make the preliminary final despite plenty of adversity.

Eade revealed the injury toll continued on Saturday night, with Easton Wood and Dylan Addison suffering cracked ribs, Liam Picken knocked out and Robert Murphy hurting a knee.

Murphy is among eight players who will need post-season surgery.

Eade added they must be more consistent in winning the contested ball and applying pressure.

"Pardon the pun, I'm quite bullish about the future," he said.

"I'm very confident ... we showed tonight we have the basis of a good side and the right ingredients as far as spirit and courage.

"We just little to be a bit more poised at times."

Eade added the physical attrition from this match could count against the Saints in the grand final, saying they would also have some sore bodies.

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