St Kilda leader Jack Newnes echoed his coach’s sentiments on Friday night, suggesting that the Saints were embarrassed by Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
After a month of positivity, the Saints were taught a harsh lesson by John Worsfold’s team and have now tumbled out of the eight, taking a percentage hit in the process too.
Newnes, who was one of only a few Saints to stand tall with 27 possessions, 490 metres gained and five rebound 50s, said St Kilda’s midfield was comprehensively outplayed by the Bombers.
“We just got embarrassed all over the ground,” Newnes told 3AW Football after the 61-point loss on Friday night.
“I think it starts in the midfield; Essendon’s midfield was outstanding; all their mids got a heap of the ball and they just got on the outside.
“They attacked the ball harder; they read and react a lot better than us; we were pretty embarrassing.”
A week after stunning the competition with a dominant display against finals bound Richmond, Newnes said the Saints left their pressure game at home on Friday night.
Alan Richardson’s men registered the worst pressure factor for Round 17 with 1.625.
“Pressure is our one wood; we
“Essendon brought that from the start and they were all over us. They got on top of us in that area and it all just unfolded from there.”
St Kilda now travels to the SCG this weekend to face a red-hot Sydney Swans, who after starting the season 0-6, have won nine of their last ten games to amazingly be one of the premiership favourites.
