Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has grilled St Kilda after their 12-point loss to the second-placed Lions, warning them that their game is not up to standard ahead of the finals.
St Kilda, who locked in their finals berth by beating Geelong in round 23, couldn't withstand the Lions' experience at the Gabba, with Cornes fearful it could cost them again come September.
"If they serve this fumbling rubbish up in the first final, I actually fear for what's going to happen to them," Cornes said on Nine's Sunday AFL Footy Show.
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Cornes unpacked the "fumbly" midfield effort from the Saints, which saw them lose clearances 43 to 27.
"You judge everything on 'is it going to work in finals?' This isn't going to work from the captain in finals. Fumble once, fumble twice, (Jack) Steele has to find a way to be more influential," Cornes said.
"How many times did the Saints have their hands on the ball and cough it up?
"I thought they were incredibly fumbly around the stoppage yesterday."
The Saints will finish six or seventh on the ladder, but despite their chance of locking in a home final, Cornes is still hesitant that they will be unable to stem the flow of "good teams" they will face.
"I fear with how the Saints are going to go. Brisbane were able to push them back, force the turnover. Once you've forced that turnover, the good teams in the competition go back and score."
"There's a few warning signs for the Saints."
St Kilda will face Sydney or GWS in an elimination final.
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