ST KILDA coach Ross Lyon has lauded the Saints' ability to withstand Richmond's emotional farewell for premiership heroes Nathan Broad and Dion Prestia, saying his side stayed focused on the task at hand in Saturday's 49-point win at the MCG.

With Richmond buoyed by the occasion, Lyon said the Saints expected plenty of emotion from the Tigers but he was pleased with how they responded to keep their faint wildcard hopes alive.

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"It's always good to come and get four points," Lyon said post-match.

"We thought they'd be full of emotion. Really want to tip our lid to Prestia and Broad, they're great premiership players, really admire what they've achieved and everything they've stood for.

"We knew they'd have emotion wrapped around that, but that only lasts so long.

"I was really pleased with things we focused on, back half ball movement was a lot better.

"(I) thought our intensity was really good. We haven't been at the 'G for a long time, so it's always good to get here and Brad Hill loves the 'G."

St Kilda has a short turnaround before playing Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium in a must-win game in the final round of the season, with Lyon saying his side was preparing for the the Suns' best.

The Saints need to win that game and also need Carlton, which sits above them on the ladder, to lose both of their final matches against the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle to make their way into the top 10 and feature in this year's finals.

"Obviously from here, there's stuff out of our control. You'd think Carton would go in heavy favourites and probably get it done, but footy throws up all sorts of things," Lyon said.

For Richmond, coach Adem Yze was disappointed with his side's efforts considering the emotional importance of the game.

"A few of the boys will be feeling really disappointed with the way we performed and didn't get to send off the lads in the right way," Yze said.

"It's their (Broad and Prestia's) send-off game ... with that there's the emotion and we've got to be able to temper that.

"I feel like we were a bit frantic, we were coughing balls up, we were fumbly. They were a lot cleaner than us."

Yze spoke highly of both Broad and Prestia's contribution in the yellow and black, but wouldn't comment on whether the duo would continue their careers at another club next season.

"Right now they're finishing up at our footy club as great men, leaving a great legacy for the players that are going to replace them next year and what they decide to do post this season is up to them," Yze said.

"I can't fault what they've done for me as a coach in the last three years. The way they've tried to guide our younger players and work with them off the field. And even today, both of them, they left no stone unturned today. They left it all out there.

"But whatever they choose won't change what they've done for our footy club. We're really proud of the men that they've become and what they've obviously been able to produce on the field. But they're great men off the field as well.

"That's kind of the reason why I feel really disappointed right now. I feel like we've let them down and that's on me."