Collingwood again showed their AFL premiership defence is rock-solid with a 57-point win over St Kilda in the grand final rematch.

The Saints were leading late in the second term, but the Magpies kicked the last two goals of the first half and then broke clear in the third term to win easily, 16.12 (108) to 7.9 (51).

While Collingwood remain second on the ladder with a 9-1 record, the Saints are in the bottom eight and struggling for consistent form.

Collingwood blitzed St Kilda after halftime with 10 goals to two and the final margin was one point more than last year's grand final rematch.

Midfielder Scott Pendlebury and defender Leon Davis starred for Collingwood and key forward Travis Cloke had a brilliant first half and finished with three goals.

St Kilda's Sean Dempster worked hard to tag Collingwood star Dane Swan, but the Magpie was still damaging with four goals.

Ruckman Ben McEvoy was best for the Saints with 30 hit-outs and 22 possessions.

The Saints had been impressive for much of the second term, kicking three unanswered goals and leading by five points.

St Kilda kicked long whenever possible to break open Collingwood's renowned forward press and the work rate that had gone missing at times this season was much higher.

Captain Nick Riewoldt could have extended the advantage nearing halftime, but his set shot from about 40m in front went wide.

Collingwood defender Ben Reid, who did well on Riewoldt in last year's two grand finals, had another great game and kept the Saints skipper goal-less.

With about a minute left in the first half, Cloke took his sixth contested mark.

The key forward is not renowned for his set-shots, but he kicked truly from an acute angle to put Collingwood back in front.

The Magpies cleared quickly from the next centre bounce and Sharrod Wellingham's long kick went to half-forward.

Saints defender Dean Polo was unlucky not be awarded the mark and Andrew Krakouer swooped, snapping a goal with about seven seconds left to put the Magpies eight points up at the main break.

Collingwood were taking their half chances and then they took control in the third term.

They kicked five goals to one for a decisive 32-point lead at the last change.

Davis kicked a brilliant goal midway through the term, evading three opponents and kicking truly to put Collingwood 21-points ahead.

Saints coach Ross Lyon said his team showed spirit at times, but agreed the two goals just before halftime were crucial.

He added the loss again showed areas of their game that needed plenty of work, especially elements of the Saints' midfield play.

"They're the benchmark team, we're all chasing them. We're further away than others," Lyon said.

"We knew we'd been improving and I'd been stating publicly and privately we still had a bit of work to do.

"I just thought in the simple areas of contested ball and pressuring and ball use, we still have a fair way to go.

"For periods there we were competitive and just their weight of numbers across the board, talent and system, got well on top of us."

Saints onballer Leigh Montagna suffered a knee injury early in the match, putting pressure on their interchange rotations, but he played out the match and they are hopeful he will not miss any games.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the performance was nowhere near as good as last week's win over West Coast, but was pleased his side overcame a tough opponent.

"We knew they were up before the game, the first quarter was relatively even and a bit scrappy," Malthouse said.

"The second quarter, we kicked the first two and then didn't look like scoring another one until those last couple of minutes (before halftime).

"They really controlled the second quarter ... we were under the pump.

"We worked into it in the third quarter, changed a few things up ... luckily we finished it off pretty well."

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