St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson was pleased with his side’s response in Sunday’s 46-point win over Essendon, following last weekend’s poor performance against West Coast and an inefficient first-half at Etihad Stadium.

Despite dominating proceedings in the opening half, the Saints failed to convert opportunities into scoreboard pressure.

At the main break, St Kilda led a handful of key indicators convincingly: clearances (+14), inside 50s (+20) and contested ball (+25). Although that dominance wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard, with the Saints leading by only 10 points at half-time.

But after kicking 11 goals to four in the second half, including seven goals in the third term to carve out the win, Richardson was relieved with his side’s ability to find a way to transform their dominance into four premiership points.

“I said to the boys afterwards there was a sense of relief after the way we played so dominantly in the first half but frustratingly couldn’t create a gap. There was a sense of relief after the game and you only get relief because you rate yourselves,” Richardson told the media in his post-match press conference on Sunday night.

“I know this team’s going to be a really good footy team and we’re impatient and we want that to be tomorrow. The reality is it’s going to take a while. But this group of players is starting to grow and the more footy they play together that will speed up that process.

“To be so dominant at half-time, I think it was 38 entries to 17 and all the numbers were through the roof – time in front half was something like 70 to 30 – you worry about where they are at. How can we not capitalise on our dominance?

“So that was so pleasing for the guys to get a bit of reward and play some really positive footy after half-time because we all know how good they were last week in their second half against the Kangaroos.”

Richardson conceded the performance against the Eagles had the capacity to deflate the confidence St Kilda had built up in the first part of the season, which made the response against the Bombers, particularly in the second-half, even more satisfying.

“When you have a performance like that it has the potential to undermine a bit of belief,” Richardson said.

“The guys had come off the Melbourne and the Kangaroos performances, pretty strong performances, to then have one that hits you between the eyes in terms of wow where did that come from.

“For the guys to be able to respond, that’s a challenge, that’s reality. That was so pleasing the boys were able to be so positive in the third.”