St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson believes his side was badly beaten around the ball by Adelaide in Friday night’s 57-point loss at Adelaide Oval.

Despite only marginally losing the clearances (-2), contested ball (-5) and the tackle count (-3), the Saints were comprehensively outplayed by a premiership contender who was far more damaging with the ball use going forward.  

Speaking in his post-match press conference on Friday night, Richardson said the numbers on paper were deceiving.  

“We just got beaten really badly around the ball. It didn’t matter where it was,” Richardson said in his post-match press conference at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

“And the numbers look reasonable, if you just look at numbers; clearances they just got on top if you just look at numbers; contest they just got on top if you just look at numbers.

“But how clean they were, how they were able to get positive play out of contest as opposed to our inability to be able to cope with their pressure. So that was frustrating.”

Richardson praised key forward Josh Bruce after the 24-year-old was recalled from the VFL, following a quiet start to the year, and responded emphatically in South Australia.

Bruce was one of the few positives to emerge from Friday night after he kicked four goals from 13 disposals and seven marks (five inside 50) to provide the Saints with a focal point in attack.

“Bruce came into the team and was really positive for us,” Richardson said.

“I thought he was exceptional really in front of the ball. It would have been a tough night and Adelaide’s defence was really strong.

“It makes ‘Brucey’s’ performance even more impressive because he was often outnumbered.”

With the season quickly slipping away, St Kilda now faces North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium next Friday night, searching to halt a three-game losing streak.