St Kilda have never won as many AFL games as the 22 they did in 2009, not even in their lone premiership year of 1966.

So the thought of having to do it all again just to get back to a grand final stage where there is no guarantee of success - as was so painfully proven against Geelong on Saturday - is difficult for the players to swallow.

Speaking at the St Kilda family function the day after their narrow loss to the Cats, midfielder Leigh Montagna winced at the thought of replicating the supreme efforts of this year.

"At the moment from the playing group it's hard to think about all that effort we're going to have to put in again next year," Montagna said.

"But we will, we'll butter up again, we'll keep improving, we'll get fitter, stronger and better and have another crack."

Saints captain Nick Riewoldt has already spent plenty of time running Saturday's match through his head, and on reflection said he could not think of anything else the team should have done differently.

Riewoldt was adamant that the Saints would still be around the mark next year.

"I woke up this morning and thought about what we could've done differently and to be perfectly honest there's not much we could have done," he said.

"What we've been able to achieve this year proves we're not going to go away quickly, we're at the same level (as Geelong)."

The profile of St Kilda's list suggests they will remain at the upper end of the league for the next couple of seasons, meaning the chance for a first premiership since '66 still looms large.

But the imperative to make the most of those chances is underlined by the fact that the Saints squad will quickly decline after that given the number of mature-aged players that currently populate their squad.

And the players will need to respond to the ultimatum of coach Ross Lyon, who passionately recounted his demands at the club's post-match function on Saturday night.

"I need to know who's going to come back as committed, who's going to work as hard," Lyon said.

"If you can't do it, come and see me and I'll move you on.

"That goes for every player on the list.

"If you can't give the commitment shown this year, and you don't want to improve, you can go, because we've got unfinished business.

"We need to improve, we're not a great club yet, we're a good to very good club, but the greatness is on the horizon if we all work hard enough."

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