ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon believes his side will start as underdogs next Saturday night when the Saints take on Collingwood at the MCG in the first semi-final.

Speaking in his post-match media conference after St Kilda's 58-point loss to Geelong at the MCG on Sunday, Lyon said Collingwood had earned the right to be favourites, after its fine win against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

"We've earned the right to get a second week and we look forward to that. We went over and watched Collingwood yesterday and they were really impressive and they'll come in, in really good nick," Lyon said.

"We'll go in as the underdog this time against Collingwood – they went in last time [as the underdog]. There is no doubt, after the way they performed interstate – they'll be really buoyant.

"We'll go in as the underdog and we'll have to work hard to earn some respect back."

Lyon said it was "pretty hard to measure" how much better his side could be against the Pies, after St Kilda's tough day at the office against premiership favourites Geelong.

"We'll go away and assess and we'll want to review it pretty quick and move on," Lyon said.

"We knew we were coming in and playing the benchmark team and we thought we had come in with really good form – not only against an undermanned Essendon. But we had played some pretty good teams over the last 10 weeks and come out on top eight times and won interstate twice.

"We thought what we had been doing would stand up under pressure and fundamentally they won the contested ball and they used it really well. We struggled to slow them in their ball movement, which we know is a feature.

"We thought their midfield got on top and we couldn't get our hands on the footy, so they're the three basic areas we had been good in. If you're good in them, you'll stand up and if you're not, you'll get steamrolled, like we did."

Asked for his assessment on Geelong, Lyon's thoughts echoed the majority of the footy fraternity.

"They're the benchmark team – we all know that. We're all striving to produce our best against them and you can only play as well as the opposition will let you," Lyon said.

"They go forward and they get the week off and we go forward trying to win and create another opportunity for ourselves."

Meanwhile, Lyon also spoke about the performance of superstar captain Nick Riewoldt, who was overshadowed by first-year Geelong defender Harry Taylor. Riewoldt had just nine touches and kicked one goal, as Taylor collected 23 disposals.

"It wasn't an ideal day for Nick, with the delivery against a great defence, so it was a combination of factors," Lyon said.

"I think Nick will be the first to put his hand up and say: 'I didn't deliver what I would've liked to have today as captain'. But I thought he never stopped trying."