Essendon are through to the AFL pre-season grand final after an impressive 39-point win over St Kilda on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.

It's another encouraging sign for the Bombers under new coach James Hird, though Henry Slattery is out for at least a month with a broken thumb.

The Bombers haven't done this well in the pre-season since they won the competition in 2000 and they'll play the winner of Saturday night's semi-final in Perth between West Coast and Collingwood.

The Saints lost key defender Sam Fisher early with a blow to the head, but he might only be out of action for a week.

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