St Kilda currently sits sixth on the ladder and a game clear inside the top eight, but could they be the team that slides in the second half of the season?
They lost Dan McKenzie, Michito Owens and Zak Jones to injuries in their loss to Brisbane on Saturday night and are still without captain Jack Steele.
The Saints also have a tough run home, playing Sydney, Carlton and Fremantle in the next month, as well as the Bulldogs, Geelong, Brisbane and the Swans again.
Kane Cornes believes they could be “vulnerable”.
“Could St Kilda miss the top eight? Injuries are mounting. Dan McKenzie out, Zak Jones has got an issue, Jack Steele is still out, Mitch Owens was subbed out,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“They’ve got a six-day break, they play Essendon, you’d think they’d win that one.
“Then they play Sydney, Carlton, Fremantle and the Bulldogs and they’re only one game inside of the eight. They’re going to need five wins to guarantee (finals).
“Could they miss? I think they could. Vulnerable, I reckon.”
Subscribe to the SEN YouTube channel for the latest videos!
St Kilda ran out of steam in the second half and were smashed in the inside 50 count by the Lions, who also had 19 scoring shots – kicking 7.12.
Adam Cooney feels the Saints went into their shells after leading by two goals at half-time.
“The way they played against Brisbane who weren’t at their best either, I thought they were slightly too safe with the footy,” the 2008 Brownlow Medallist said.
“Brisbane, every time they wanted to cut back through the middle of the ground and St Kilda worked their way forward by going around.
“It worked in the first half, they got smashed in the third quarter. It really dropped away there so the ball movement was a bit safe.
“And when they got their opportunities in there I thought Rowan Marshall and Max King were too stationary. They got no separation from their opponents.
“He’s got to lead a bit more, Max King, and Rowan Marshall.”