ST KILDA needs to improve if Alan Richardson is to stay on as coach beyond this year, football manager Simon Lethlean says.

The Saints had been largely competitive this season, despite a brutal injury toll, but Saturday's embarrassing loss to Brisbane came two games after they were thumped by Port Adelaide. 

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Richardson has a finals-related trigger in his contract to be guaranteed his job for 2020, and with his side precariously placed in 11th spot, he's unlikely to fulfil that clause. 

Speaking to Melbourne radio station 3AW on Sunday, Lethlean said St Kilda needed to beat higher-ranked opposition sides, such as Richmond, which it faces at Marvel Stadium in round 15.

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"After 13 rounds, we're 6-7, which is better than last year, but we've got to start beating some teams above us, rather than just those below us, and we need to perform a lot better than last night to prove to all of us that we're heading the right way," Lethlean said. 

"If it is that we keep improving, Alan's our coach and if we keep improving, Alan will still be our coach." 

Lethlean was later asked the follow-up, that being if improvement didn't occur, would that result in Richardson being sacked.

"I think that's a fair assessment for anyone involved in a football club. If their areas aren't improving, no one's role in any club's guaranteed," Lethlean said. 

"That's probably fair, and I reckon Alan understands too, if we don't keep improving, we're all under the pump. 

"That's a fair summary." 

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After the Tigers, St Kilda face North Melbourne (Blundstone Arena), Geelong (GMHBA Stadium) and the Western Bulldogs (Marvel Stadium).

The Saints' victories this year have come against Gold Coast (twice), Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne and Carlton. 

None of those will end round 14 in the top half of the ladder.