Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has questioned whether St Kilda's tactics will hold up in bigger games in the wake of his side’s 14-point loss on Sunday.
After a high-scoring first quarter which produced nine goals, just one goal was scored in the second term as both sides adjusted at the quarter time break.
It was that second term which drew the ire of Clarkson, who said St Kilda’s keepings off game plan may not be as successful against higher-credentialed opponents.
“They were playing a game where it was keepings off really,” Clarkson told reporters post-match.
“Especially in the second quarter where they took 42 marks and kicked one goal, they may be able to get away with it against us but I don’t think the method itself is going to lend itself to kicking a lot of goals.
"Where most of their damage was caused was when they were able to get out the back … that was some of St Kilda's good pressure, but some of our handballing errors. When we were out, we either dropped the ball or with that fourth or fifth handball we couldn't hit the target.
"On a couple of occasions, they were able to get out the back far too easily. That's the St Kilda way, they've got speed in their front-end and they want to run into a paddock. That's the way they score. They were able to do that a little bit easier than the way we got our goals."
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten, who used to work alongside Clarkson at Hawthorn, responded to the comments, saying he was fully focused on the task ahead for his side who are now on the cusp of playing finals for the first time since 2011.
“We’ll focus on what we can do and we will too," he said.
The Saints conceded the first three goals of the game but steadied to eventually grind out a vital win, which sees them move up to sixth spot on the ladder.
St Kilda face West Coast on Thursday night in Round 17 before finishing the home and away season with a clash against GWS Giants.
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