A QUARTER-TIME pep talk from veteran Adam Schneider inspired another St Kilda comeback on Sunday with the players drawing inspiration from their big victory over the Western Bulldogs three weeks ago.
Schneider, who could be forced back onto the rookie list in the coming weeks, addressed the players after they fell 29 points behind the Brisbane Lions on Sunday at the Gabba in the first quarter.
They kicked nine of the next 11 goals to set up an eventual 22-point win.
Midfielder Jack Newnes said the Saints' round six win over the Dogs, in which they overturned a 55-point deficit to win by seven, had helped the players believe anything was possible.
"That was huge. It was a pretty big comeback and the boys learnt a lot from that," Newnes said on Monday.
"At quarter-time Adam Schneider had a chat to the guys and said that we've been here before and we can come back from the this.
"We've got a heap of belief. I think the comebacks we've had in a couple of games this year have been good for our group to build and we know now that if a team gets a run on and a couple of goals, or four or five goals, we're still in the game and we can come back from those deficits."
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It's that type of confidence that has the Saints believing they can upset Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon – if they manage to do what they haven't so far this season and put in a four-quarter performance.
"It will be great to challenge ourselves against those guys," Newnes said.
"The last two times we've played them probably haven't been too pretty but we're really excited to try and turn that around this week.
"We go into every game with belief that we're going to win, I think every team does.
"We have belief this week and we're just going to try and play the way we play our football and see what happens."
A decision will have to be made soon on rookie pair Schneider and forward Jack Sinclair, who are temporarily on the senior list in place of Arryn Siposs and Daniel Markworth.
Siposs and Markworth are set to return from shoulder injuries in a matter of weeks.
The Saints have no other long-term injuries but will be able to keep one player upgraded as the mid-season nominated rookie after round 11.
Captain Nick Riewoldt made a strong return on Sunday after missing two weeks with a heavy concussion that saw retired game great Jonathan Brown suggest he consider his immediate playing future.
Despite talk swirling over the past fortnight about whether Riewoldt would hang up the boots despite being contracted until the end of 2016, the players knew the truth.
"I knew it wasn't true. It kind of didn't really faze us," Newnes said.
"He's a great player and hopefully he's got a few years left in him because he makes a huge difference to our side and the way he goes about his football is unbelievable."
Newnes, Jarryn Geary, Luke Delaney, Jack Billings and Josh Bruce were part of a small group that braved a nine-degree Melbourne morning on Monday that signalled the true start of winter.
They plunged into the icy water at Brighton Beach, with rehydration set to be a big part of their recovery this week after they played in 27 degrees on Sunday.
