A last-minute goal to substitute Darren Milburn gave Geelong a one-point win over St Kilda in their AFL match at the MCG.

New Cats coach Chris Scott threw his hands in the air with delight as Milburn snapped the winning goal and the Cats held on in the final 20 seconds to win 6.12 (48) to 6.11 (47).

Milburn had come on in the first term for acting captain Joel Selwood, who was concussed in a sickening collision and was taken to hospital for observation.

The first half was dreadful, with only three goals scored in the swirling conditions, and the equally-disappointing crowd of 42,869 booed the players at the main break.

Jimmy Bartel recovered from an interrupted pre-season - his tonsils were taken out and he was then concussed in Geelong's final practice match - to be best afield.

Team-mate Mitch Duncan was the game's only multiple goalkicker with two, while Saints onballer Lenny Hayes was outstanding.

In an echo of last year's qualifying final, Leigh Montagna kicked a crucial goal in the final term, but it was disallowed because of a free kick.

Geelong lost the qualifying final to the Saints last year after Cameron Ling's goal was similarly disallowed.

After the dour first half, the game finally broke open in the third term, starting with a goal to former Cat Ryan Gamble at eight minutes.

It was only the fourth goal of the match and the first since one minute into the second term.

A goal to Raphael Clarke extended the Saints' lead to 21 points and Geelong were in trouble.

But the Cats hit back with three goals before three-quarter time to trail by just one point.

Then Bartel kicked a freakish goal to start the final term and put the Cats in front for the first time.

Under pressure from Clarke and running close to the boundary on the left side of the goals, Bartel threw the ball onto his left boot and it bounced through.

Selwood suffered a badly-cut lip and was unconscious for a couple of minutes after he was concussed in the first term.

Selwood had just tapped on the ball deep in St Kilda's attack when opponent Farren Ray ran into him, making heavy contact with the Geelong star's head.

Ray will certainly come under video review, but it appeared to be accidental contact as the two players went for a hotly-contested ball.

Saints sub Brett Peake came on in the third term for Andrew McQualter, who then sat on the bench with an ice pack on his right calf.

The Saints announced later that field umpire Shaun Ryan reported Ray for forceful head-high contact against Selwood.

Selwood was back in the Cats rooms post-match was cleared of bone damage to his face.

Scott praised his men for their fighting win, admitting he thought the game was lost until Milburn kicked the winning goal.

He was nursing a sore throat due to his shouting in the box during the final term.

The Cats were missing captain Cameron Ling and Paul Chapman, who will play on Saturday in the VFL.

"I won't lie to you, it was pretty emotional towards the end there," he said.

"We thought the game was gone, but it tells you they never give up.

"These guys never think they're out of the game, they have an intense dislike for people thinking they're better than they are."

Saints coach Ross Lyon said they made a couple of crucial errors late in the game that contributed to Milburn's goal, but he was otherwise pleased with their workrate.

"Obviously we're not happy, (but) I was really proud of our effort," he said.

"it was going to be interesting to see our attitude (in) round one to playing football again.

"I thought it was first class, our attitude, to be honest."

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