Triple premiership-winning skipper Michael Voss believes St Kilda's shock loss to Essendon will help the Saints attack September.

Brisbane coach Voss felt the surprise end to a 19-match winning streak would "release the pressure valve" on the high-flying Saints.

"I would be guessing but I wouldn't have thought (coach) Ross Lyon would be completely shattered that they lost," he said on Monday.

"Leading into the finals it's almost as though the pressure valve has been released a little bit and they get permission to play again.

"It just shows how tough the competition is at the moment."

Lyon himself admitted after the thrilling two-point defeat at Etihad Stadium he was pleased there would be no more "noise" about their unbeaten streak.

He also saw the upset - following skipper Nick Riewoldt's post-siren behind - as a good prod for his team a fortnight before the finals to help address problem areas.

Voss said St Kilda remained nicely positioned on top of the table and well primed for a crack at their first premiership in 43 years.

His 2001 Lions team won 16 straight to upset an otherwise dominant Essendon for the merged club's first of three successive flags under Leigh Matthews.

"They're looking to get momentum like everyone else coming into the finals," Voss said.

"That's what his main thing would be, he has all his main players back on deck and they're playing footy again."

If he could choose a player to kick for a last-gasp win, Voss said he would opt for Lions full forward Daniel Bradshaw or former teammate Jason Akermanis.

Ironically, Bradshaw missed two close-range set shots early on Saturday night while Akermanis snapped the sealer with an amazing left-footer on the boundary line.

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