AFTER its 15th straight win – and fifth straight triumph on the road – St Kilda defender Sam Gilbert says his side has banished its poor form outside of Melbourne.
 
Since making a preliminary final in 2005, the Saints won just five of their next 16 games on the road – including home games played in Tasmania.
 
But recent wins in Adelaide, Perth and on the Gold Coast have convinced Gilbert that travelling is no longer an issue for the ladder-leading Saints.
 
"It's definitely something that we've touched on and we realised that we weren't a great travelling side," he said after Sunday's 20-point win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval.
 
"But now it's just another game, just a different ground and we try not to worry about it too much."
 
The Eagles pushed St Kilda for three quarters on Sunday afternoon, taking a seven-point lead late in the third term.
 
It was a testing fixture for the Saints when compared to their 97-point win over West Coast in round three, and Gilbert said his side would benefit from the contest.
 
"It's always good to have a close game, going into finals especially – that's how we want to play," the 22-year-old said.
 
"You're not just going to roll team willy-nilly. So when a team comes at us it's good that we can respond and come back.
 
"They're a different side over here and they play really good footy and that showed at three quarter time with how tight it was. We were lucky enough to get a bit of a roll on in the last and take it out."
 
The Saints settled the issue with five unanswered goals in a clinical 15-minute period to start the fourth quarter but they appeared well off their best up until that point.
 
Gilbert said last week's brutal clash with Geelong wasn't an issue travelling to Subiaco Oval, but playing on the bigger ground was.
 
"You're sore after every game. It was a tough game (but) we'd have no excuses if the result went the other way," he said.
 
Key midfielders Lenny Hayes (13 possessions) and Luke Ball (nine) were well held by West Coast, but Leigh Montagna (43) and Nick Dal Santo (28 and three goals) were superb.
 
Coach Ross Lyon made note of Gilbert's 20 accomplished possessions but the versatile defender was happier to throw the light onto blossoming recruit Farren Ray, who had 24 possessions and a goal.   
 
"Farren stepped up again today, so it was good when two players are down that two players can step up," he said, also praising Montagna's game.
 
Gilbert said watching Adelaide dismantle Fremantle on Saturday night was optional for the group, but they will look at the game closely during the week ahead of Sunday's blockbuster at Docklands.
 
"We know they're a very good side and we look forward to the challenge," he said.
 
"They're an elite side and it'll probably be very tight again."