The signs were there that it wasn't quite going to be St Kilda's night in the NAB Cup opener against Brisbane Lions at Gold Coast Stadium.

In a freak accident, young Saints midfielder Robert Eddy came off the field in the first quarter with a torn right medial ligament after colliding with an umpire on Saturday night.

Eddy defied his rookie status to become an integral part of the Saints' climb towards the top four in the second half of the 2008 AFL season.

It was an ominous sign before the defending champions were bundled out of the pre-season competition.

But Saints coach Ross Lyon hinted that there were portents much earlier in their Gold Coast stay.

He said the Saints had become "stir crazy" and "home sick" in the lead-up to the match after becoming holed up in their luxury Gold Coast hotel due to constant rain.

It seems Queensland's "beautiful one day, perfect the next" motto didn't ring true for St Kilda.

The Saints arrived last Wednesday to hold clinics and school visits as part of their community camp on the Gold Coast.

"The community camp has been a real positive experience and we enjoy it, but they were a bit stir crazy over the last 36 hours with the rain, they couldn't get out of the hotel," Lyon said.

"We have experienced it once before in Perth, when you are away from home for four days and they miss their families and are a bit stir crazy."

Lyon had also baulked at playing on the slippery Gold Coast surface.

"We were concerned and came out and looked at the ground because yesterday it was underwater," he said.

"We got here at 2pm (Saturday) and were pleased with how it had drained (but) it certainly wasn't perfect.

"We don't play in the rain a lot so we took the opportunity. And it was the same for Brisbane."

Lyon's mood didn't improve much after hearing Eddy had been taken off early in their NAB Cup opener and would miss a month.

"Apparently it was an umpire collision, I was trying to get a replay in the (coach's) box," Lyon said.

"It was a little bit deflating because he is a hard worker and was having a real presence."

Lyon's nerves were then tested.

After kicking the first goal in the slippery conditions, the Saints conceded the next eight as the Lion stormed to a 46-point lead early in the third quarter.

But Brendon Goddard (two goals, 25 disposals) stood tall and goal sneak Stephen Milne chimed in as the Saints marched to within a super goal in the dying minutes.

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