NICK Riewoldt's five-goal performance against North Melbourne was a shining example of his leadership after adversity, according to coach Ross Lyon.

Riewoldt had been in poor form in recent weeks, drawing plenty of criticism, but he hit back on Saturday night, finishing with five goals.

"He was good considering he's been under the spotlight. I thought his team gave him good supply and I thought he had magnificent leadership tonight in a big game. And that's why we love Nick," Lyon said.

Riewoldt has spent much of his career leading up the ground and taking his opponent up the wings and flanks but spent Saturday night generally closer to goal.

It was all part of a carte blanche approach from Lyon that saw Riewoldt also set himself up in North Melbourne's attacking half at one stage in the second quarter.

"I just let him do what he wants. I said if you want to play deep, play deep. If we need you up high, come and play high. It's not unlike [Lance] Franklin or [Matthew] Pavlich. They get to run their race - Nick painted his own canvass tonight," Lyon said.

"Nick makes the decision where to go. It was good leadership, really fantastic leadership and was the right thing to do at the right time. We feel we have some great leadership here and I thought all our leaders stood up tonight, in particular Nick."

The win granted St Kilda an equal club-record fourth consecutive finals campaign while extinguishing North Melbourne's hopes.

Lyon said his team responded well to a game with such high stakes.

"There was no hiding tonight. I said it post-game, bring it on. They are a formidable opponent in good form and they wanted our scalp. There was nowhere to hide and I thought we stood up to a man," he said.

"Out of that we get some confidence but there are bigger challenges out there clearly. The Carlton football club [next week] are clearly one and you take your hat off to Sydney today. I think it highlights what you need to do. You don't limp into finals, no one sends you a voucher through the mail. You've got to get it done."

The Saints are likely to finish in sixth or seventh position on the ladder, with the Sydney Swans their probable opponent in week one of the finals.

But next week's round of games will decide which team has the home town advantage.

To even play finals is a formidable achievement for St Kilda, which had been written off after a poor start to the season.

"What we are is what we are. We were 1-8 and written off. That's fair enough. It's been a lot of hard work and it's like when you're six goals behind. There's no margin for error so we slipped up last week and we knew we had to deliver tonight," he said.

"Certainly we all feel the weather getting a bit warmer and you can feel the change. September's coming and when you've been there, the nostrils are flaring a little bit and the question is have you got the desire and hunger to do what's required to get there because it's a brutal competition.

"I thought just because we did it tonight, don't assume we're going to do it next week."

Luke Holmesby covers St Kilda news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_LHolmesby