EMBATTLED St Kilda coach Alan Richardson admits that he and his coaching staff will be under serious pressure to keep their jobs if the Saints don't turn things around before the end of the year.

St Kilda is languishing in 16th position on the table, with just one win (in round one) and a draw from its 12 games after Saturday night's 71-point hiding by the Swans.

Asked on 3AW radio on Sunday if he's confident his contract, which expires at the end of the 2020 season, will be honoured, Richardson said: "I've been in footy long enough to know that if we can turn this around and show promise, and play much more consistent footy, then that'll be fine.

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"If that doesn't happen, then I reckon we're all on notice."

Despite their woeful 2018 campaign, Richardson said his players and coaches remain united.

"We're on the same page; we know we've got a lot of work to do," he said.

"We're really disappointed with what’s happened so far this year; we're not hiding from that. But what is important is that we're all working together to make sure we do what's right going forward."

The Saints trailed by a whopping 48 points at the first break on Saturday night after Sydney piled on nine goals to one in blistering opening-quarter onslaught.

"It was an incredibly disappointing start to the game. The game was fundamentally over really at quarter-time," Richardson explained.

"Sydney was just too physical, too aggressive. They embarrassed us really at the start of the game.

"At the moment we're a pretty young side, but that doesn't excuse that lack of hunger and desperation at the start of the game."

The Saints travel to Metricon Stadium to face fellow battlers Gold Coast on Saturday, before their bye in round 14.