FOR SAINTS skipper Nick Riewoldt, the bottom line was that the Saints had won.

Yes, it was scrappy. Yes, it was against a bottom-of-the-ladder team.

But after the tumultuous week that the Saints have endured, playing out all four quarters and grabbing the four points to keep themselves in the hunt for September was all that mattered.

"Absolutely – I couldn't care what it looked like," the Saints star said after the match. "To put in that effort – we spoke about it all week, and the young guys really bought in, so that was the most encouraging thing to come out of the game for us.

"For the more senior players, it really rejuvenated us and gave us a great feeling to see the young guys do so well."

The axing of Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne during the week increased the external pressures on the squad, but the skipper said it was clearly the right decision.

"Well, I think the proof is in the pudding – it might have stung a few guys into action. Nick and Milney are both really proud guys, and really valuable members of our team.

"But it's more about the system and the environment that we want to create, and when you come in and you play for the side, there are certain values and behaviours that you have to live, and we did that well tonight.

"There's probably a number of us who have been down in certain areas, but what I think it does show is that no-one's immune, and everyone's accountable to what we want to stand for."

And that extravagant fist-pump when he kicked the only Saints goal of the final term to seal the win?

"Oh, I didn't know we were going to win at that stage, there was still a bit off time to go.