ST KILDA coach Scott Watters conceded his team was outrun by West Coast and was "desperately in need of match conditioning" after losing to the Eagles in hot conditions at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.
The Eagles opened up a 43-point lead late in the third quarter, eventually winning by 33 points, and Watters said the Saints had plenty to work on after their previous NAB Cup game against Essendon was cancelled.
For full match replays 12 hours after the game, go to AFL VIDEOS under the screen
The Saints have one more competitive match scheduled before their round one clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, but Watters was confident the players would be prepared.
"We put a lot of faith in our sports science department to make sure that [we're ready]," he said.
"Can we replace a hit-out against opposition last week? We can't, but we're not going to dwell on that.
"We've got really another three weeks to prepare for a game and we'll be ready to go."
Key St Kilda ball-winners Brendon Goddard, Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna all played long minutes on Saturday night in what Watters said was a deliberate move to ramp up their preparations.
"They're players that we probably did leave out there longer tonight," the coach said.
"If you don't have midfield run then you're going to be under pressure and we want to make sure that some of our key midfielders got some really good work into them tonight.
"That'll prepare them well for round one.
"We'll have 25 to 26 that play next week that really have another chance to push for round one section."
With an eye on selection for the team's round one clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, Jamie Cripps (14 disposals) and Tom Ledger, who kicked an impressive right-foot snap late in the second quarter, were solid.
But it was West Coast who proved too good, winning by 33 points after a strong third quarter burst the game open.
The Eagles will travel to Adelaide to play the Crows in the NAB Cup Grand Final at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.
West Coast entered the match without eight first-choice players won 1.10.16 (85) to 0.7.10 (52), with the AFL invoking its full heat policy in the stifling Perth heat.
Coach John Worsfold's team set up the impressive win with five unanswered goals in the third quarter, including a brilliant supergoal from young forward Jack Darling that left his team 42 points clear at the last break.
St Kilda mounted a minor fight-back in the final term, with impressive young forward Arryn Siposs and Leigh Montagna kicking quick-fire goals, but the Eagles steadied to continue their unbeaten run this pre-season.
Star ruckman Dean Cox was in ominous form for the home side, spending more time in the forward line to take four contested marks and kick two goals.
He combined with Nic Naitanui, who was playing his first match of the pre-season after pectoral surgery, to give the Eagles a significant advantage in hit-outs (30-20) and clearances (29-21) before being substituted out of the match early in the fourth quarter.
After having its NAB Cup fixture against Essendon cancelled last week, St Kilda selected a full-strength team that was only missing injured defender James Gwilt (knee).
WEST COAST 0.2.3 0.4.8 1.8.12 1.10.16 (85)
ST KILDA 0.1.1 0.3.5 0.3.9 0.7.10 (52)
BEST
West Coast: Cox, Masten, Kerr, Scott Selwood, Schofield, Waters
St Kilda: Montagna, Milne, Hayes, Schneider, Cripps
GOALS
West Coast: Hill 2, Cox 2, McGinnity 2, Darling (supergoal), Rosa, Kerr, S. Selwood, Stevens,
St Kilda: Schneider 2, Siposs, Stanley, Ledger, Milne, Montagna,
INJURIES
West Coast: McKenzie (head knock)
St Kilda: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Farmer, Jennings, Law
Official crowd: 9,411 at Patersons Stadium
