ST KILDA coach Alan Richardson admits the Saints' heavy defeats in the past two weeks have shown his side it needs to be at its best more consistently if it is to return to the finals this year.
After being smashed last week by Sydney, the Saints were again well beaten at Etihad Stadium on Saturday by the Western Bulldogs. They managed periods of dominance in the first half but were blown away after the main break and lost by 40 points.
It leaves them back among the pack of sides fighting for a top-eight position with five wins after 10 rounds as they enter their bye next week. The Saints beat premiership favourites Greater Western Sydney as recently as round seven but the successive defeats have pushed the club back down the ladder, and Richardson admitted the poor fortnight was damaging.
"It shows that we're not at the level of the better teams," he said.
"Right now, if you were just to look at us in the last two weeks, then we are nowhere near where we need to be. Going into today's game we'd won three out of four, with GWS in that block with the Hawks and Carlton.
"The competition is so even and you have to play really good footy, maximise your opportunities and defend strongly. You have to be really physical and at your best.
"We're not where we want to be. We're right in amongst a group of a lot of teams that will challenge and have aspirations to play finals. That's where we are."
WATCH Alan Richardson's full post-match press conference
Richardson's side had more disposals, tackles and inside-50 entries at half time but trailed by 16 points at the main break, and the Saints were never able to bridge that gap.
He was somewhat pleased with the team's approach but again felt let down by its inability to convert opportunities into meaningful chances.
"It was disappointing. We went in at half time having given ourselves an opportunity, and whilst we were down on the scoreboard I thought our method was pretty good," Richardson said.
"It's frustrating, it's been our lot for a while now – to be able to maximise what we do with the footy.
"Whilst we still had a reasonably good attitude in terms of getting after the opposition, they were able to get through us so we need to be better than that. They were able to stand up in tackles and get really attacking scoring chains going in the second half. That was disappointing."
Without star forward Nick Riewoldt through injury, the Saints thrust more responsibility the way of No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin. McCartin finished with 15 disposals, nine marks and a goal, and could have had an even more promising day if not for fumbling a couple of marking attempts.
Overall Richardson said the 21-year-old had shown some positive signs in the 21st game of his career – and fourth in the senior side this season.
"I thought Paddy did some good work. He certainly got some good opportunities," Richardson said.
"One of Paddy's real strengths is his marking and if you didn't know Paddy's history you'd probably walk away from the game today and say 'The kid's not a great mark', well that's not true. He's going to be a really good mark and a really good player in front of the ball.
"I thought some of the work he did to get off his man and give us something to kick to was pretty positive."
Richardson said he was "hopeful" rather than confident of having Riewoldt back for the Saints' clash with Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in two weeks' time after missing the Bulldogs clash with bone bruising to his knee.
