IN THE context of the season, the result didn't mean a great deal.
But when coach Alan Richardson looked ahead to 2019, St Kilda's 64-point win over Carlton on Friday night meant plenty.
It was the Saints' fourth win for the season and third since round 13, which won't make ripples when it comes to the ladder but has delivered an injection of hope and enthusiasm to a young group needing a boost.
SAINTS MARCH ON Full match details and stats
"It's good for them to get some reward for their effort and that was a strong effort tonight for them to get real clarity in terms of what it means to play for the team and what's expected when you come into the team," Richardson said.
"We've got a system in place that's been inconsistent this year, but we think it's heading the right way.
"We want to make sure we finish the year off strongly."
Running hard to the season's end won't include gifting games to undeserving players, with Richardson keen to hold the line when it comes to selection.
He said he was pleased with the players' recent drive when it came to maintaining effort and making each other accountable.
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"This won't be a period where we just give games to young blokes," he said.
"If we give a game to a young bloke the reality is, it will be a young bloke going out because we're pretty young, but you'll have the play the right way to get in and you'll have to play the right way to stay in.
"We want to make sure we drive really strongly for the remaining games, that we treat them as opportunities."
He singled out the performances of Jack Lonie and Ed Phillips, as well as that of Bailey Rice, who found out late on Friday he would be replacing the ill Seb Ross in the team.
He also said Rowan Marshall, in just his seventh game, had delivered a "really positive performance" in their young forward line.
WATCH Alan Richardson's full post-match media conference
"I thought he was terrific and it wasn't just the way he was able to win the ball or score, but his contest," he said.
"I thought it was as good as Rowan has played for us in contest.
"A lot of our scoring came from forward 50 stoppages or them pressuring their kick out of the stoppage, and those stoppages often because [Tim] Membrey and Rowan were able to bring the ball to ground, and that's the role of the big forward."
He also said Jack Steele "lowered his colours" against Patrick Cripps, who was arguably best on ground with 35 disposals and 10 clearances, but was pleased he "battled manfully" to win 33 disposals of his own in the head-to-head battle.
While Jimmy Webster will have his sore groin assessed this week, he said Jake Carlisle appeared to be fine despite being briefly treated for sore ribs in the fourth quarter after missing last week with a punctured lung.
"He's been a little bit sore," he said.
"He had a big front-on hit where he was able to still maintain the ball and come out the other side.
"That period he was off the ground for a while, he got winded and probably wanted to come off and get checked, but that's all it was."
