HOW CAN we get outworked so consistently across four quarters?
That was the question St Kilda coach Alan Richardson asked his players after their dismal showing in a 52-point thumping at the hands of North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Good Friday.
Richardson, who declared: "I've not seen us kick the ball as poorly as that", has plenty of issues he wants sorted before the Saints take on Adelaide at Etihad in eight days' time.
"The biggest question that we spoke about as a group is, 'How can we get outworked so consistently across four quarters, given that that's a strength of ours?'" Richardson said.
"Why were we not prepared to roll our sleeves up and really dig in to either support our mates or get over and compete for the ball?"
Five talking points: North Melbourne v St Kilda
The Saints were smashed in contested possession (119-150) and allowed the Kangaroos to kick the last seven goals of the game as they failed to curb the momentum.
Despite trailing by just 11 points at three-quarter time, Richardson said his side was "smashed" all across the ground.
"If you had have stopped the screen at every contest, we lost them, even if we were one-on-one, but more often than not the Kangaroos outworked and beat us there," Richardson said.
"Their backs beat our forwards, their forwards beat our backs."
WATCH: Alan Richardson's full post-match media conference
There were plenty of players putting their hands up for selection at the lower level, with Maverick Weller (25 disposals and five goals), Luke Dunstan (36 touches), Jack Lonie and Josh Battle (three goals each) all impressing in a VFL practice match against Coburg earlier on Friday.
However, Richardson said he would wait and see before making any snap judgments about changing the personnel of the side and that includes the forward setup of Josh Bruce, Paddy McCartin and Tim Membrey, who kicked 0.3 between them.
"We'll wait and see. Clearly we had some blokes who weren't at their best today – we had a lot actually," Richardson said.
"It's an awkward game to assess from that perspective (the forward setup). Our use was so bad tonight. I've not seen us kick the ball as poorly as that."
Ruckman Billy Longer was limited for the majority of the contest after half-time after being kneed in the groin area.
"He's pretty sore now so we'll have to see how he pulls up," Richardson said.
WATCH: Longer's low blow
McCartin was also reported for rough conduct on North Melbourne's Trent Dumont.
"We'll just have to wait and see on that. There wasn't a 50m penalty paid. It looked like it was one of those awkward ones where he was going in to mark it and then all of a sudden it's not a mark and you brace," Richardson said.
"There didn't seem a lot of force, but we'll just have to wait and see on that."
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Richardson was joined by Cody, a young boy who had open heart surgery in January at the Royal Children's Hospital, at his press conference.
"Cody gave us a hand with the coaching this week, he spoke to the players … Josh Bruce is his favourite player so the game-plan from Cody was make sure we whack it in and kick the ball to 'Brucey'," Richardson said.
