St Kilda say they won’t formally request the four points from Saturday night’s abandoned AFL pre-season game in Wangaratta, despite Essendon admitting the Saints deserve them.

The Bombers failed to make it to the northeast Victorian city, with torrential rains that have hit the region making it impossible for their chartered planes to land on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints had travelled a day earlier by bus and Essendon coach James Hird conceded on Sunday that St Kilda deserved full points, given they were at the ground and the Bombers were not.

“I can understand why St Kilda want the four points,” Hird told reporters, according to the AFL website.

“They are probably theirs, they got to the ground and we didn’t.

“No one at Essendon would begrudge St Kilda getting the four points.”

Saints coach Scott Watters indicated on Saturday night that his club wanted the AFL to award them maximum points.

“We came here wanting four points and we’ll see what happens,” Watters said.

“Last time I was at a forfeit was under-12s, and the side that didn’t turn up didn’t get the points.”

The AFL initially released a statement saying the points would be shared, but late on Saturday night issued a revised statement, saying they would hear both clubs’ views before making a final decision.

However, the Saints said on Sunday morning they would not be putting forward a formal case.

“The St Kilda Football Club has this morning decided not to formally request the awarding of points,” the club said in a statement.

“The club felt it was inappropriate to assess the circumstances surrounding Essendon’s non-arrival from Melbourne.

“St Kilda Football Club has resolved that it will accept the final decision of the AFL.”

Essendon’s travel plans were endorsed by the AFL and Hird said while they had a bus on standby, they had been assured by their airline right up until flight time that flying would not be a problem.

Both myself and (Essendon player and development manager) Danny Corcoran as we got on the plane asked the pilot ‘Are you sure we are going to be OK to get there?’ and he said yes,” Hird said.

“You can only take the experts’ opinion.”

Several Bombers were ill as a result of the unpleasant flying conditions, with Hird saying youngster Dyson Heppell was particularly unwell.

“I have never seen him so sick … seeing Dyson Heppell’s face when he got off the plane and how relieved he was, was a bright moment.”