ST KILDA'S players were tasked with leading Monday's review into the round 14 debacle against Brisbane, to forensically examine what happened in the disastrous third term.
It all fell to pieces in that quarter, which may prove defining for Alan Richardson, who looks unlikely to fulfil a finals-based trigger in his contract to continue next year.
His football manager Simon Lethlean publicly declared on Sunday the Saints needed to improve for the coach to stay in his role for 2020.
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St Kilda has defied a torrid injury toll and public expectations to sit 6-7, but the nature of defeats against the Lions and Port Adelaide in recent weeks has put it under the microscope.
The effort was there but the execution and the overall physicality and the want to work and get to the next contest wasn't where it should be - Seb Ross
The players analysed the third quarter that saw them concede nine goals, while being comprehensively thumped in contested possessions (losing by 26), clearances (six) and contested marks (five).
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Stand-in captain Seb Ross explained what happened.
"The coaches knew how they wanted to structure the review but it was really handed over to the players to really delve deep into what each player was thinking, particularly in that third quarter, because there were a lot of things we usually get done that we didn't get done during those periods," Ross told reporters.
"We just had those conversations about trying to fix those things and why we didn't get it done and what was going through players' heads, just to get some real clarity around it."
He pointed to physicality as being the issue.
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"If you look at the GPS, we still ran a lot in the third quarter, but it was just the real physical side of the game, so checking blokes, sticking tackles and all that sort of stuff," Ross said.
"The effort was there but the execution and the overall physicality and the want to work and get to the next contest wasn't where it should be."
A concerned Alan Richardson during the St Kilda's clash with Brisbane. Picture: AFL Photos
Ross understands the scrutiny Richardson is going to come under but insisted his teammates wouldn't be affected by it.
"We're all men. It's the nature of the business. It's part and parcel with the game," Ross said.
"A few weeks ago, it was (sacked Carlton coach) Brendon Bolton getting written about, and then this week, it might be Richo, and then next week, it could be another coach. You've sort of just got to roll with the punches."
Ahead of a Sunday afternoon clash with Richmond at Marvel Stadium, Ross pointed to his side's record as the situation not being too bad.
"We're one game out of the eight. You can make a story out of it, being that it's all doom and gloom but from where we sit, we've still got a really good opportunity," Ross said.
