St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has torn into his underachieving AFL side after a 23-point loss to premier Port Adelaide sent the Saints spiralling to the edge of the top eight.

Rated premiership favourite at the start of the year, St Kilda clings to eighth place on percentage at the halfway point of the season after a 16.8 (104) to 11.15 (81) defeat in Launceston.

Port shrugged off its worst AFL loss ever last weekend to resurrect its season against a pedestrian Saints outfit.

Memories of the 117-point hammering by West Coast were erased inside the opening 20 minutes as the defending premier played itself back into form and finals contention with a first-quarter blitz.

Thomas was livid after the match, especially considering the Saints had the chance to avenge their 2004 preliminary final loss against out-of-form Port.

"It was as average an effort in the first half as I've seen and the timing of it was inexplicable," Thomas said.

"I don't know how you can be flat being 5-5 and having the opportunities that are happening all around us and coming up against a side that's come off a 117-point loss and bowled us out of a preliminary final last year.

"I'm buggered if I know how you can be flat and if you are, get another job.

"We wanted to send a message today and we sent a message to the football public today that we're not ready.

"We're not ready to take on the responsibilities that come with adversity, opportunities, situations, and that's very disappointing.

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