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AAP
AAP
Shayne Hope

Dal Santo keeps a lid on Saints' hot AFLW start

Nick Dal Santo is maintaining perspective at St Kilda. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

St Kilda have emerged as serious AFLW finals contenders this season after toppling two of last year's top-eight sides in an unbeaten start to the new campaign.

The Saints are one of just three teams left with a perfect record after two rounds following their 6.6 (42) to 4.2 (26) home win over Sydney on Sunday.

But coach Nick Dal Santo isn't anywhere near ready to contemplate the prospect of a first finals appearance for a side now in its sixth season.

"We're under no illusion about where we've been and where we currently sit," Dal Santo said.

"We have no right to ever be complacent with what we've done historically and where we sit right now.

"We're really pleased that we've won two games of football.

"But I didn't love everything about today's game from a flow of play, team defence and contest (aspect), so we've got a lot of work to do."

St Kilda handled difficult conditions well against Sydney at RSEA Park and overcame some poor early kicking at goal, having led 0.6 to 0.0 at quarter-time.

They finished with six individual goal-kickers, including Tyanna Smith (19 touches) and Molly McDonald (17), while Jaimee Lambert shone with 21 disposals and five clearances.

Dal Santo was full of praise for his players' application to the task and ability to move the ball well for periods.

But he insisted there was plenty of room for improvement and said the focus would quickly shift to the clash with a Maddy Prespakis-led Essendon at Windy Hill in round three.

"I feel like every single moment post the game we start again," Dal Santo said.

"We've got to start from scratch and build this thing up until we get ready to play next week.

"So no, we don't speak about 'we've arrived' or any of those terms. We speak about doing your job every single day."

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