St Kilda coach Ross Lyon makes honest admission on ‘ugly' win over Richmond

7NEWS

3 days ago

St Kilda have claimed their third tight win on the bounce, but coach Ross Lyon believes their brand of football is 'all over the shop' and wants more consistency.
The Saints trailed by eight points against Richmond at three-quarter time on Saturday before in-demand star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera helped turn the contest in their favour, helping deliver an 8.8 (56) to 7.10 (52) win.
Richmond coach Adem Yze lamented one that got away, while Lyon downplayed consecutive tight wins against Melbourne (six points), North Melbourne (nine) and Richmond (four).
The Saints had been keen to improve on poor first quarters and took an early 20-point lead, but then Richmond got into the game.
'Our focus was Q1 - we did that, but then we just lost our way,' Lyon said.
'We're just trying to get better. So good teams play well.
'Our brand's a little bit all over the shop at the minute, we've just got to get more consistent. Too big a wild swings - maybe that's a young group, I don't know.
'Is it our coaching? Is it our training? We just have to keep diving in.'
Saturday afternoon's game, held in perfect, sunny conditions, proved a dour, low-scoring affair in front of 41,395 fans.
'It was ugly. It was horrible skills - both teams,' Lyon said.
Wanganeen-Milera was quiet early but grew into the game off half-back, finishing with 33 disposals, 656 metres gained and a wonderful goal.
He pulled up awkwardly with a corked left calf early in the fourth, but waved away the trainers and shortly after teed up two goals.
The South Australian is in demand from both Port Adelaide and Adelaide, though St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena told 3AW radio he was 'optimistic' the Saints could keep hold of him.
Marcus Windhager had 24 disposals to halftime and finished with 32.
Jack Sinclair (30 disposals) impressed on-ball late while Callum Wilkie (29 disposals, 16 marks) was excellent.
Richmond's Nick Vlastuin was imperious behind the ball while the Tigers' midfield shared the load and Rhyan Mansell kicked two goals.
The Saints raced away to an early 20-point lead before Mansell steadied Richmond late in the first term.
St Kilda were celebrating captain Jack Steele's 200th game and former Tiger Jack Higgins' 100th AFL appearance as a Saint.
There was a quirky moment when St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall gave away a free kick for taking Kamdyn McIntosh's head band off him in the second quarter.
Wanganeen-Milera delivered a spark when he pounced on a loose ball, broke a tackle then snapped towards goal with the ball taking a wicked bounce to sneak through for a major.
The Saints led by four points at the main break, but Richmond star Tim Taranto kicked a marvellous long-range goal just before the three-quarter time siren to deliver an eight-point lead.
The final quarter proved an arm wrestle, but the Saints were more composed when it counted.
'I feel like we could have won the game, we probably should have won the game and obviously that's a bitter pill to swallow,' Yze said.
'... We live week to week, and right now we feel like we left one out there.'
Richmond didn't use substitute Steely Green, who is set to play VFL on Saturday night.
St Kilda (8-13) play Essendon at Marvel Stadium next Friday while Richmond (5-16) face fellow cellar dwellars North Melbourne in Hobart on Sunday.