Saints seek answers after fall from grace

The Saints reached an elimination final last year, with Lyon's much-heralded return to the helm raising hope and expectation among the club's long-suffering supporter base.

But a 38-point defeat to Melbourne on Sunday left the Saints' (3-8) top-eight hopes in tatters at the halfway point of Lyon's second season back in charge.

"I feel for our fans and our members, and I just said to our players we need to stick together," Lyon said after his side's 14.16 (100) to 9.8 (62) loss at the MCG.

"We've really fallen away a bit, so we've got to go away and assess, keep a cool head, take the heat that comes and stay true to working hard and keeping a safe environment for the players."

St Kilda have lost six of their last seven matches, with the only relief in that horror run coming against hapless North Melbourne.

Defeats to Hawthorn, Fremantle and Melbourne over the past three weeks have raised all sorts of issues.

"We just got annihilated in the midfield (by the Dockers after halftime), so you can prosecute your own case, but we understand it was about ground position and no supply," Lyon said.

"Hawthorn the week before was about chipping about, not over-using (the ball) and not going to the contest.

"(Against Melbourne) we were probably guilty of going to the contest too early."

Lyon noted poor ball use, decision-making and conversion of forward-50 possessions into scores were also among the crucial shortcomings against the Demons, who smashed the Saints with their outside run.

St Kilda conceded a league-best average of 71.6 points a game last season, but that figure has risen to 78.8 - ranked eighth - this year.

It comes with the Saints still ranked in the bottom five for points scored, at a rate of just 71.3 a game.

"(Team defence) is something we were really good at last year (but it has) really fallen away," Lyon said.

"We just had a chat about it with the coaches ... we'll focus on some things that we know we can do well quickly, and then continue to work on the ball use and try to build out of midfield."

Lyon forecast a possible return for Brad Crouch in the clash with West Coast in round 12, after the experienced midfielder racked up 30 disposals for Sandringham in the VFL on Sunday.

Crouch has not played at senior level since hurting a knee in March.

"He's no silver bullet, but it would help," Lyon said.

The Saints have concerns over versatile tall Zaine Cordy, who hurt a knee while playing in the VFL on Sunday.

Australian Associated Press