Coach Scott Watters appealed to St Kilda supporters to keep the faith after the Saints’ downward spiral continued with a 40-point away loss to Adelaide on Sunday.
Watters says the Saints won’t make knee-jerk reactions after the Crows’ resounding 12.15 (87) to 6.11 (47) victory at AAMI Stadium.
“I don’t want our supporters to be patient and we don’t want to be patient as a club,” Watters said.
“We will continue to support our young players as they come through – you don’t really have anywhere else to turn.
“Whilst these are the hard lessons, they’re really important ones.”
Watters had no doubt the Saints were “on track” with their rebuilding program despite their sixth loss in eight games this season.
“We understand that a large portion of our list needs to be developed and grow. But we’re excited by that,” Watters said.
“You’re not going to see knee-jerk reactions.”
Watters said his young players were unable to sustain their efforts against the Crows, who squared their season at four wins and four losses.
The Saints kept pace in a dour, defensive opening half but their winning chances were cruelled by spraying a series of set shots at goal and basic skill blunders.
“Our efficiency when we had opportunities early in the game wasn’t where it needed to be,” Watters said.
Adelaide led by nine points at halftime but then blew St Kilda away with a dominant third term, kicking five goals to two for a defining 29-point break.
Adelaide’s midfield of Rory Sloane (25 disposals), Scott Thompson (25 possessions), Richard Douglas (26 touches) and David Mackay (23 disposals) basked in the control of ruckman Sam Jacobs.
The Crows attack was threatening with Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch each kicking two goals, while their defence was miserly.
Key backman Daniel Talia held Saints star Nick Riewoldt to one goal and kicked one himself – just the third in his 40-game career.
Crows coach Brenton Sanderson praised his side’s consistent, four quarter pressure which delivered a triumph that lifted Adelaide to ninth spot, just a win outside the top eight.
But with a season-defining month looming – against North Melbourne (away), Fremantle (home), Sydney (home) and Richmond (away) – Sanderson said his Crows were “still not out of the woods”.
