UNDER-FIRE St Kilda was too constrained by its structures in its 47-point loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, former Saints star Nick Dal Santo says.

Speaking on Melbourne radio station SEN, Dal Santo said St Kilda players were instructed to stand in positions where they knew they wouldn't be able to find the football.

"Let's say the ball is on the wing and they're set up in their structures. It's like a witch's hat is put out, and I'm the high half-forward, so I stand here; I’m the small forward, I stand here; and I'm the key forward, I stand here," Dal Santo said.

"It looked like to me those players knew they couldn't get the ball in that position if a St Kilda player was to win it, but they had to stand there.

"The Saints won the clearances against a really good midfield, but when they are kicking it forward there is literally no one there to kick it to except (Geelong defender) Tom Stewart.

"Stewart would've been licking his lips for two hours going, 'Really, they're still letting me stand here?'."

The Saints dominated the clearance numbers (43-30) but were smashed in the inside-50 count (44-62).

Stewart picked up 20 disposals and a team-high nine intercept possessions.

Saints key forward Rowan Marshall missed much of the second half after suffering concussion, which forced the coaching staff to swap Jake Carlisle to attack.