A 29-point loss to Sydney cost St Kilda their place in the AFL’s top eight, but coach Scott Watters is upbeat his side will rebound and reach the finals.
Watters’ charges paid the price for inaccurate goalkicking and haphazard use of their 60 inside-50s against the Swans, with North Melbourne leapfrogging them into eighth spot on the ladder.
Watters, whose team next clash with Western Bulldogs in a game they can’t afford to lose, didn’t want to spend any time cursing missed opportunities at the SCG on Sunday.
“They (Sydney) are the best side in the competition for a reason. We felt that we let an opportunity slip today,” Watters said.
“We’ll have to lick our wounds and look forward pretty quickly. We’ve got six opportunities to get six results.
“We feel we’re capable of beating any side in the comp. It’s a disappointing loss for us, but you’ve got to rebound quickly.”
Watters’ sources of frustration were varied.
The Saints’ poor use of the ball was his main gripe, but Justin Koschitzke being denied a goal by the video review system in the third quarter can’t have helped.
The goal umpire signalled a ‘touched goal’ despite replays proving inconclusive, but Watters refused to be drawn on it.
“It’s part of the game. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.
Nick Riewoldt continued to play despite a nasty collision with teammate Koschitzke in the second term.
Watters said the Saints captain was restricted but not injured.
“I guess all players cop different bumps and physical pressure throughout a game. Very few of them are 100 per cent.”