The Dogs led by 33 points late in the first quarter, but were held scoreless by a young Saints side in the second term.

Asked if the lapse disappointed him, McCartney replied: "Disappoints is too nice. Agitates me is probably a better word. It agitates, frustrates, but it’s sort of part of the parcel with a developing team.

"But we’ve got to get (the lapses) out of our game, because it’s OK against some clubs but the good clubs, they give you a whack in that 15 minutes, they can put the game away. 

"(We've got a) bit to work on and we’re going to have to get better in a few areas."

McCartney's men had their preparations interrupted by the torrential downpour that forced the game to be delayed by half an hour.

The rain not only inundated the Simonds Stadium playing surface, it also flooded the Dogs' rooms.

"I’ve never seen that ground like that," said McCartney, who spent a decade working at the stadium as an assistant coach with the Cats. "You had to be here to understand it.

"There was water in every room, it was crazy. But I said before the game that Geelong is the world champion of unpredictable weather. It’s a specialty down here.

"It just made it a bit different. Does the game go on, does it not go on? And obviously it was going to go on, but we needed a few things put in place. But, it’s footy."

While former skipper Matthew Boyd was his typically consistent self in the middle of the ground, McCartney was particularly impressed by the work of the club's younger players.

"They all did some really nice things early," he said. "Lachie Hunter, (Jake) Stringer – what they’ll be in time when they get some good supply.

"Jackson Macrae is a little bit unheralded. A lot of his work goes unnoticed, but he’s developing a strong body and he’s going to be just a really good creative playmaker.

"Lin Jong showed that he may have a future as a really tough, strong midfielder."

Ryan Griffen is among the Bulldogs stars who are likely to return for the clash with Fremantle at Etihad Stadium next Wednesday night.

Speaking after coaching the Saints in a game for the first time, Alan Richardson admitted he was very disappointed with his team's first quarter.

"They certainly weren't prepared to roll their sleeves up," he said. "It was always going to be a contested game given the conditions, and minus-20 contested possessions at quarter-time (wasn't good enough).

"To their credit they turned it around – really impressive second quarter."

St Kilda hit the front when Beau Maister kicked the first goal of the third quarter, but the Saints eventually fell 11 points short.

Still, the coach saw plenty to like in the performance, especially the two goals kicked by dreadlocked rookie Eli Templeton.

"His pressure around the ball was good," Richardson said. "Certainly made the most of his opportunities in front of goal. He's a clever kid, so we were pleased."

Richardson expects a number of experienced players, including Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes, to return for St Kilda's next NAB Challenge match against Greater Western Sydney at Wagga on Saturday, March 1.