DAMIEN Hardwick has slammed a "disrespectful" Ross Lyon, telling the St Kilda coach to focus on his own backyard rather than taking pot shots at Gold Coast.

Speaking to Fox Footy prior to Sunday's match at Marvel Stadium, Lyon called the Suns the "AFL nepo baby".

SAINTS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

Asked what he thought of his upcoming opponent, Lyon's answer took a turn.

"Chock full of talent, aren't they? The AFL nepo baby," he said.

Given the chance to respond following his team's 19-point win, Hardwick did not mince words.

"It's a little bit disrespectful, I think," he said.

"I've been at Richmond and now I've come to the Gold Coast. We don't get a lot.

"What St Kilda should do is focus on their own backyard instead of trying to bring everyone else down.

"They had 13,000 people here today. We'll focus on Gold Coast, they should focus on themselves.

"First place you need to look is inward."

It’s not the first time the Saints have taken aim at the Suns, with president Andrew Bassat questioning the Academy concessions the competition's 17th club has received.

Gold Coast's comfortable victory keeps it in third place with a game in hand.

Hardwick was delighted with the performance, saying that aside from a third quarter fightback from the Saints, his team had control.

"We're now eight (wins) and two (losses), which is really good. We beat another challenger on their deck.

"I was really, really pumped with the guys and the way they fought it out. It was an ugly win, but it's always good to win ugly.

"The great sides win away, and we've started to make some inroads in that space."

Hardwick said defender Mac Andrew would be "touch and go" to face Fremantle on Saturday after he left the field in the dying moments of the match.