THERE was a sense that Carlton was always going to make a charge at some point following St Kilda's dominant the opening quarter on Saturday.

That the Saints didn’t stop working - even when the result was a foregone conclusion - is a positive according to Jack Billings. But on the flipside, the left-footer said the fact the Blues were about to mount a charge and ultimately build a lead at all was largely due to the Saints’ sloppy foot skills.

St Kilda tracked at 61 per cent disposal efficiency, while Carlton’s 69 per cent was bang on the AFL average for round four.

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Westpac Stadium’s small arena played its role in this, with space hard to find and typically windy Wellington conditions causing turnovers for both teams throughout the contest.

“The effort was definitely there all game from the boys, but when they got that run on, we found it hard to stop them,” Billings told SAINTS.com.au post-match.

“The guys tried all game but a few skill errors cost us as well. At times our ball use is good but then we sometimes just kick it straight back to them. It was an issue a little bit last year as well. That will be a big focus next week and for the rest of the year.

“We need to work on it and be better for it.”

VIDEO: Round four recap

Tim Membrey was the only Saint to finish the Anzac Day game with a disposal efficiency of 80 per cent or above, while Carlton had four players at 80 per cent or more, including Tom Bell who hit a target with each of his 16 disposals.

Comparatively, St Kilda had nine players with a disposal efficiency of 80 per cent or more in its round two win against Gold Coast. Admittedly the conditions were different and the Suns pressure not as fierce as Carlton’s, but what these numbers highlight is how critical ball use is in today’s game.

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Tim Membrey had a disposal efficiency of 87 per cent on Saturday.

Billings himself was one of the Saints better players on Saturday, collecting 22 possessions and laying five tackles. However his disposal efficiency of 68 per cent, although above the team average, was below his usual silky standards.

VIDEO: Billings is all class

Two other young Jacks impressed on the weekend in just their fourth games. Speaking like the semi-experienced player he has become in St Kilda’s youthful team, Billings was full of praise for new recruits Jack Lonie and Jack Sinclair.

Both first-year players booted two goals, while Lonie also notched up 17 disposals and five tackles. 

“They have been awesome,” he said.

“We haven’t asked them to set the world on fire or do anything amazing. We have just asked them to come in and play their role and they’ve done that. “

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Eight players from St Kilda’s team had played fewer than 20 senior games heading into Saturday’s clash, not that ‘being young’ is an excuse according to Billings, who was one of those eight.

“It’s pretty simple and age shouldn’t really be a reason [for a loss],” he said.

“It comes back to what Richo said all summer, it doesn’t matter how old you are… If you’re good enough you will play.”