St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary says the Saints must get mentally tougher in 2018

THERE is no more room for excuses at St Kilda, according to skipper Jarryn Geary, who says it’s time for the players to find a new level of mental toughness in the 2018 season. But does that mean finals?

JARRYN Geary has conceded St Kilda must become mentally tougher this season as it chases its first finals series in seven years, saying it has been a significant focus of the pre-season.

As the Saints prepare for their final JLT game against Melbourne on Thursday, following a lacklustre first-up performance against Carlton last week, the skipper has insisted a greater level of consistency and effort between the team’s best and worst performances was required.

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“Everyone wants to play finals,” Geary said.

“I think any year is a wasted year without finals.

“We have just got to be better for longer and we have to be more consistent. That is what we have spent a lot of time on over the pre-season, working on the mental side of the game.

“We were really good against Richmond (defeating the eventual premier by 67 points in Round 16), and the next week against Essendon (a 61-point loss), we were as poor as we had even been.”

Jarryn Geary talks to St Kilda head coach Alan Richardson. Picture: Getty Images

The Saints won 11 matches last year, finishing 11th — one game and percentage outside the eight. They lost five of their last seven games after the win over the Tigers to fall out of contention.

Geary said the Saints didn’t just plan on making the finals this season, he stressed the aim was to make an impact in September.

The recent examples of Richmond and Western Bulldogs winning the premiership had given him hope that a quick turnaround to success was possible.

“It shows you can come from anywhere,” he said. “It’s such an even competition now, you make a real impact if you get on a good run.

“Everyone was talking about Richmond last year as underdogs, but in hindsight, they were the best team of the season. If you are consistent for a whole year, you give yourself a chance.

“We think our best footy is good enough. We don’t just want to get into the finals, we want to do something when we get there.”

Geary urged fans not to focus too heavily on last week’s 22-point JLT loss to Carlton, saying the Saints will have things right before their Round 1 game against Brisbane on March 24.

“We’ve got a group that is starting to play more footy together week in and week out now,” he said.

“A lot of guys have now played 50 to 100 games, so now is the time for that consistency to start taking shape. Everyone has to improve, and I have to improve. We know what we have to do.”

Geary has been named for Thursday night’s game at Casey Fields, despite copping a high knock against the Blues, which brought a premature end to his night. But he said it was only a precaution and he was ready to take on the Demons.