ST KILDA will seek clarity from the AFL on a controversial free kick paid against ruckman Tom Hickey for below the knees contact after being on the wrong end of a number of questionable decisions in Saturday night's loss to North Melbourne.

Hickey gave away a free kick early in the third quarter when he dived on the ball deep in defence but made contact to the leg of Kangaroos forward Jarrad Waite.

The contact appeared to be caused because Waite was unable to bend down and contest the ball because of a hip injury that was further aggravated when he converted the resulting set shot.

Full match coverage and stats

Richardson said the free kick went against the spirit in which the rule was introduced for the 2013 season, to prevent players sliding into contests and causing serious leg injuries.  

"I reckon we've shifted a bit as an industry with how that (is) adjudicated at the minute," Richardson said. 

"That was really designed to stop people getting their legs broken from someone who slid in from a fair way away, not someone who is desperately diving on the ball and happens to hit someone in the knee.

"I reckon that probably needs a bit of a look at and a readjustment given the way it was introduced. We'll seek some clarity on that."

Five talking points: North Melbourne v St Kilda 

Richardson said he was a fan of the rule, but the interpretation on Saturday night had proved costly to his team, with Waite's goal taking the margin to 17 points and starting a run for the Kangaroos.

The coach acknowledged his team had been comprehensively beaten in the midfield, but also touched on a decision not to award Josh Bruce a free kick when he caught Scott Thompson holding the ball in front of the Saints' goal.

"If you're talking about the fairly obvious free kick that should have been paid for dropping the ball, he just made a blue the umpire," Richardson said.   

"Thompson clearly dropped the ball, but umpires make blues, players and coaches make blues, so that's OK."

WATCH: Alan Richardson's full post-match press conference

Bruce – who finished with two late goals on a quiet night – was on the wrong end of two decisions in marking contests against Thompson, but Richardson said both could have been paid either way.

The coach said it was a frustrating night for his inaccurate team, which kicked just three goals up to the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter, but his players would learn.

Being involved in a game so late in the season that could have put them one game outside the top eight was a significant positive. 

"They're invaluable, those experiences," Richardson said.  

"If we're going to be any good as a footy team, and that's what we plan to be, then we want to be in these sorts of games where there's a bit more than four points on the line.

"It actually means something and there's a chance you can prolong your season and keep the opportunity open.

"Guys not only need to want to be in them but embrace the opportunity and the challenge."