ST KILDA'S playing group was left devastated following Saturday’s three-point loss to Hawthorn in Launceston according to senior coach Alan Richardson.
Having seen what loomed as a famous victory slip through their fingers during a tense final term, the Saints were ‘flat’ after wayward disposal and questionable decision making saw them let an 11-point lead slip late in the match.
“The group was probably as flat as I’ve seen them after a performance for some time,” Richardson said.
“When you give yourself such a strong opportunity with the way they played to end up not getting a result and in many ways to shoot ourselves in the foot with the way we were using the footy, I think they scored eight goals from us not just kicking the ball straight back to them, but almost, with some of our use. That’s disappointing.”
When 19-year-old key forward Paddy McCartin leapt over a huge pack to take a stunning mark 40m from goal with just minutes to play, the Saints appeared a genuine chance to upset the Hawks at their Launceston fortress.
But as his set-shot sailed just past the right-hand goal post to register a behind, the Saints were forced to settle for a brave defeat and reflect on it as a valuable learning experience.
“That’s the journey we’re on. Guys are going to get lessons. Paddy, that’s as good a mark as you can want from a key forward and a person playing his 10th game of footy,” Richardson said.
“I don’t really care too much, I certainly wanted it to go through… I just like the fact the young fella had the courage late to continue to launch. I thought he had a pretty positive game.”
Other positives Richardson was able to pull from the contest included the efforts of Jack Billings and Sebastian Ross while Josh Bruce joining McCartin and in-form Nick Riewoldt, who split his time between wing and full-forward, with two goals each was another.
“He was positive, Nick, wasn’t he,” Richardson said. “Whether it was wing or forward, he’s in pretty good form. His first half prior to going off last week was positive. His game in his 300th was pretty positive. That’s really working for him and for us.
“We want to give (Josh Bruce) and Paddy the opportunity to grow and develop there and be the men, if you like, and that’s going to be hard if Rooey (Riewoldt) is there, he draws the ball that often.”
Asked about the impact of a controversial umpiring decision that cost his side a goal in the final term when Leigh Montagna’s kick-in was ruled not to have travelled the required 15m and the Hawks forced a turnover, Richardson said the call had been questionable but refused to use it as an excuse for the loss.
“There was a costly one for us late when the game was decided by three points,” he said.
“It’s hard to know, the umpire is closer, it certainly wasn’t an issue that cost us the game.
“Our play was strong enough to give us the opportunity (to win)… it wasn’t umpiring decisions although that one, it was close, I just presumed it was a mark but then it got called play on.”
