St Kilda’s 49-point win over North Melbourne might have kept their slim finals chances alive, but Alan Richardson is still disappointed the Saints relinquished control of their own destiny last weekend and appear unlikely to play finals this year.

The Saints face an uphill battle to finish inside the top eight following their disappointing performance against Melbourne last Sunday.

If they are to sneak into the finals, St Kilda requires a percentage boosting win over premiership contenders Richmond next Sunday at the MCG, plus a handful of results to fall in their favour.

“We know where we sit. We’re disappointed after last week’s game that we don’t have control of our own destiny,” Richardson said after St Kilda’s 49-point win on Sunday.

“It’s more likely that we’re not going to make it, so that’s something that will burn in our guts and we would hope that will drive the group.

“In our journey together we haven’t been in a position where we have been able to control and we had that last week and we lost it. We need some performances that are unlikely to occur for us to get in.

“What is important is we’ve got to make sure we live up to our end of the bargain and nail what we can control and that was our performance against the Kangaroos, so that if the unlikely happens, we’ve done our bit. We’ve ticked one off, we’ve got one to go.”

Richardson indicated that a contract extension for stalwart defender Sam Gilbert is imminent, endorsing the 31-year-old to play on in 2018.

“We need ‘Gilbo’ to go around again. My understanding is the two parties are close to coming to terms. Certainly my want is for ‘Gilbo’ to go again,” Richardson said.

Despite injuring his abdominals late in the third quarter on Sunday, Gilbert helped carry retiring champion Nick Riewoldt off the ground, in the final home game of his decorated career.

“He was strong enough to be able to hold ‘Rooey’ up. I reckon he could have had a broken leg and he would have done that,” he said.

“He played a lot of footy with ‘Rooey’ so he was probably hurting when he was doing it but he wouldn’t have felt it.

“He’s less likely than likely (to play next week). He didn’t take part at all in the last quarter. He’s got a strain in his abs so it’s unlikely that he’ll play.”