Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was left disappointed with his side's performance around the contest in Saturday night's 67-point loss to St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
The result – which perhaps flattered the Tigers given they trailed by 95 points late in the third term – has left them under threat from Port Adelaide, who will replace them in fourth place if it beats West Coast at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
The Tigers coach said the Saints "absolutely obliterated" his team in contested ball in the first half and had applied "elite" pressure.
"Our contest method today was incredibly disappointing and that's something we'll be working on this week to make sure we rectify the result in that part of the game," he said.
"It's been pretty good throughout the year, but tonight and even a little bit last week (against Port Adelaide) it wasn't to the level we'd like.
"We've got eight days (before a home clash with the Brisbane Lions) so that's the one positive that we get out of it."
Hardwick was also concerned by his team's kicking.
"We couldn't hit the side of a barn in the first half. Out foot skills were as poor as they've been," he said.
"Sometimes it's good to get a wake-up call."
Hardwick said it had been a rare off day for the Tigers, but he wasn't dismissing it as an aberration.
"Our side has been really consistent. There's been (only) two games – this and the Adelaide game (in round six) that we haven't been in," he said.
"We've got some work to do but we sit 9-6, so we're in the mix."
Hardwick refused to comment on skipper Trent Cotchin's report for striking Jack Lonie with a stomach punch in the first term, other than saying he was "more concerned" about his team conceding two 50-metre penalties that resulted in early goals.
Hardwick said he hadn't yet seen a medical report on defender Dylan Grimes, who sat out the second half with suspected concussion after a heavy hit in an aerial contest with Tim Membrey.
Hardwick also hit back at former teammate Kane Cornes for accusing the Tigers of complacency during their shock 67-point loss to St Kilda.
Midway through the second quarter of the big clash at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, with Richmond already 10 goals down, Cornes tweeted: "If a top 4 side concedes 32 in. 50's in 45mins of play it means you've got ahead of yourself. No other explanation."
Alerted to the tweet at his post-match media conference, Hardwick was in no mood to humour the observations of Cornes, a premiership teammate at Port Adelaide in 2004.
"Seriously, I'd love to see Kane. I'd really love to see Kane," Hardwick told reporters.
"Don't get me wrong, that's his job – he's there to write shit comments."
Asked whether Cornes' views deserved any credibility, a clearly irritated Hardwick said: "Please."
