It was a brutal way to learn a lesson, but St Kilda definitely learned from their mistakes at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Eight days after having a drought breaking victory at Adelaide Oval snatched away at the death, St Kilda found itself in a similar position against West Coast before closing out a crucial victory in the context of their season.
After a week of scathing external analysis and close dissection inside the four walls of Linen House Centre, St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson was thrilled his side could execute what they
“It was a hard way to learn, but absolutely (we learned from last week),” Richardson told reporters after St Kilda’s eight-point win at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
“Most of our game last week was really positive against Port but we were shattered as a team and as a group that we weren’t able to get the job done. It was a great opportunity for us to learn.
“It wasn’t quite the same scenario today but we had the opportunity to put that into practice and the guys did a good job.
“It was one of those games where just for the players to be able to get the satisfaction to be able to come in and sing the song after working so hard is really pleasing and they thoroughly deserved it.”
With so much on the line for both sides at Etihad Stadium, the Saints kept their slim finals aspirations alive, drawing level with eighth placed Essendon at 10-9 with just three games left in the home and away season.
Richardson said St Kilda won’t look further ahead than next weekend where they face another mini final against Melbourne, who were well beaten by Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Saturday.
“At 10-9 it’s good to be positive, it’s an opportunity to keep heading forward but every week is a real challenge,” he said.
“We’ve got Melbourne next week so we now need to rest up, get our body’s right and our minds right and whack away again.”
