No magic, nothing exotic - St Kilda coach Ross Lyon is prescribing more hard work and tougher selection calls as his AFL team struggles for form.

Out-of-sorts players such as Jason Gram, Justin Koschitzke and Andrew McQualter could find themselves out of the side as Lyon tries to turn around his team's spluttering start to the season.

While the grand finalists of the past two years have only a win and a draw from seven games this season, Lyon notes there have also been several close losses.

But they are too inconsistent and Lyon spoke of how "exhausting" it is to remain a top AFL team.

"We've been hellbent on being in a position to try and nail that premiership, so obviously the win-loss is telling us that looks slightly different," Lyon said.

"There's greater opportunity because players aren't performing, so I need to keep integrity of selection.

"Maybe I've been a little bit hopeful a few might turn around, but it's really important the players understand there's strong integrity.

"If we don't deliver what's required, other players will get that opportunity."

Asked if that tougher selection starts ahead of Saturday's game against Melbourne, Lyon replied: "It's every week, but clearly I need to get stronger on it."

But Lyon strongly defended star utility Brendon Goddard, who has struggled to recapture his top form.

"He's probably been trying to help the team too much, he just needs to simplify it ... just do his role that's required," Lyon said.

"I have absolute faith in Brendon Goddard to lead and play his part."

While Lyon talked about his disappointment immediately after Sunday's loss to Hawthorn, on Tuesday he was busy selling hope.

He mentioned Saints members several times as he stressed that the team remained focused on winning.

Lyon said new players Arryn Siposs and Jamies Cripps had stood out as highlights in the Hawthorn loss.

"Out of the wreck of the weekend, to see Sipposs and Cripps brought a smile to my face," Lyon said.

"I know that's what our members want.

"This isn't armageddon just because (of) whatever we are - St Kilda is going to go on and we're building on a daily basis for the future."

Lyon also rejected the notion that the Saints needed to try something radically different in training to spark the team.

"We always vary our training, every session is slightly different," he said.

"But you can package up the basics of footy any way you like - as Allan Jeans used to say, sausages are sausages, no matter how you cook them.

"The basics need to be done and training needs to be done.

"It's not going to be some exotic training session or a magic potion that turns this around, it's going to be about hard work."

Lyon also reaffirmed his commitment to the Saints, where he is contracted until the end of next season.

"I'm fully committed to this playing group ... we've been through a lot together," he said.

"If my senior players come to me and ask me to change or to not be here, they will have spoken - but that's not the case."

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