AFL finals 2020 LIVE updates: Saints out to upset Tigers back-to-back bid - The Age

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Thanks for following along, well done to the Tigers and commiserations to the Saints.

Question: How far off do you think you are from genuinely being a Premiership contender as opposed to bottom of the eight?

Ratten said: "That's interesting. You don't know really and the development of King, Coffield, Clark, Paton, our younger players are probably going to be the ones that really take us to the next level.

"They have shown they've got talent. They are talented players but probably in that game of footy tonight our consistency across the board for four quarters probably wasn't there versus Richmond.

"They were a bit stronger in the contest. A little bit more explosive at times and a bit cleaner at times as well so that's our challenge as a club but how quickly can we get there? We will probably add another few players from outside our footy club on to our list."

He then spoke about the sacrifice of the 2020 season for those involved:

"When you reflect on the season and speaking to the people and the staff about what they've done this year, we are pretty much about to - by the time we leave in three days we'll be close to 100 days here at the hub.

"And for people to put their lives on hold and not see family and I had pretty much all my family come up, my son who is a plumber, I haven't seen him for 100 days and a lot of people have sacrificed a lot this year but it is just a credit to the AFL to keep the game rolling and produce what they have.

"It's been a year that you'll maybe never see again and the way it is but the sacrifice of people in the game have done, hats off to them."

"That was probably the disappointing part that we didn't really put them under scoreboard pressure," Ratten said. "I think we put them under pressure. I think we put them under pressure. I think we had periods where we kept the ball in our half.

"I think we won time in board half for the whole game anyway but that was the part I thought if we could get close enough could we get some momentum and really stretch them? I think that's the bit we didn't do."

Ratten went onto say the loss of Paddy Ryder hurt them quite a lot, given how well Richmond scored from stoppage.

"I think Rowan Marshall worked hard. It is not about Ro, he hit the ball well."

Question: Lynch is under so much scrutiny this year, does it worry you he might have to rein in the way he plays?

Hardwick answers: "At the end of the day, there's always times where I don't want to give away free kicks and I want him playing within the rules but there's times he is an aggressive type of player. The way he jumps into packs is incredible. I think we probably tend to focus on the 20 cent not the 80 per cent."

Question: Is Lynch in trouble?

Hardwick responds: "I wouldn't have thought so, I think the 50, was it there? Not too sure. Umpire pays it. I'm not sure. I saw the guy take a mark next thing you know it's 50 down the field.

"It is a big boys' game. Things happen and players will always play hard and tough and there is a reason. We're into our third or fourth prelim in a row. We play a hard, tough brand of footy. No way I discourage it from our players because if you take that away from them they're not the competitive beasts we know hay are. Our guys know the rules, understand the rules, push the envelope, no doubt. Our boys play the game pretty tough."

"I thought we were pretty solid. In fairness I thought St Kilda were outstanding in patches as well. Had a couple of really significant periods of dominance.

"Think back to the end of the second quarter and third I thought they were all over us, just didn't take their opportunities on the scoreboard. Rats has got them playing an incredible brand of footy.

"They're really hard to beat. I thought overall our performance was pretty solid. Woo can certainly play a bit better. I thought offensively we were a bit scratchy tonight. Gave the ball back a little bit too much in certain situations so we'll look at that and try and improve next week against a very good Port Adelaide."

He's talking to Channel Seven:

"Very fortunate [to be in another prelim]," Houli said. "The Saints have been outstanding all season and no doubt will be bigger and stronger next year. The way they fought gave us a great challenge. Very proud of the boys.

"That's the belief and probably the journey we have been on for multiple years. When we get beaten we know how to bounce back. In saying that, St Kilda were outstanding today. We just had to be pro active the way we played our football. Better than last week and the defensive intent was there which helped a lot."

It's a fourth consecutive preliminary final for the Tigers. A mighty effort.

They win RICHMOND 12.8.20 to ST KILDA 6.13.49

Lynch celebrates a goal. Credit:Getty Images

Lynch with a shocking attempt at goal. He has 2.5 for the night.

He's been very good otherwise, save for the knee on Howard.

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2020-10-09 10:34:00Z
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