ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon is pleased with his team's improvement over the second half of the season, but has a simple message: the Saints won't accept "gallant efforts".

In round 11, Lyon's men, at that stage languishing on the lower rungs of the AFL ladder, lost to Collingwood by 57 points.

They've since turned their season around, winning six straight matches heading into Friday night's rematch with the Magpies at Etihad Stadium.

That they cut that losing margin to 19 points this time confirmed that the Saints have progressed.

But Lyon knows that mere progression isn't good enough for a team desperate to make an impact in September.

"The bottom line is, we fell short and we're not happy with that," Lyon said post-match.

"Clearly we've improved on where we were, but we've still got a fair bit of work in front of us.

"We know we still need to win to make the finals.

"It's not about gallant efforts and losses.

"Once you start accepting those as a club, I'm not sure where it takes you."

Lyon commended his team's endeavour and ability to generate a high number of forward 50 entries, but was less impressed with their ball use, particularly moving out of defence and into attack.

"We really dared to try and win, took the game on, really up-tempo game, lots of pressure," he said.

"In the end, what separated it? I thought skill level.

"The most glaring thing was the ability on entry [to the forward line] to make the right decision and execute.

"To me, that was the most frustrating thing.

"There was a bit of skill separating the teams. But for endeavour and persistence and taking the game on, I thought we were pretty good."

The Saints should hold onto sixth place - from which they would earn a home elimination final - at the end of round 21 by virtue of their superior percentage to nearest rivals the Sydney Swans and Essendon.

But they face the Swans next week in a classic 'eight-point game'.

Then follow two more tough clashes against North Melbourne and Carlton.

"We know our systems and structures stand up, we know we've got enough talent, if we want to work together, to challenge whoever we come up against," Lyon said.

"It's a big challenge [playing Sydney in Sydney], but one we're looking forward to.

"We've got some tough games, but we've got everything in our armoury to be able to come at the teams that lay in front of us."