RODNEY Eade was his calm, measured self at his post-match press conference but the Western Bulldogs coach didn’t need much probing to express his feelings about a “pivotal” umpiring decision in Friday night’s heartbreaking preliminary final loss.

The Bulldogs fell seven points short of making the grand final after Nick Riewoldt’s four goals – all of which came in the second half – propelled St Kilda to a thrilling win, 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53).

Eade was proud of the way his players had fought out the match, especially after the Saints booted the first three goals of the third quarter to grab the lead and go 11 points clear.

That run was started before the ball was bounced to resume the second half.

Riewoldt booted the first goal after the break – and his first for the game – after receiving a free kick following a Brian Lake elbow as players jostled at the start of the quarter.

While the star Saint fell to the turf near the top of the goalsquare, replays showed contact wasn’t overly forceful. Players – and defenders in particular – have been warned of the practice in recent weeks.

Few have been pinged but Lake’s blow was seen by umpire Shane McInerney.

Riewoldt slammed through the goal from straight in front, sparking his team’s three-goal burst.

“It was very pivotal, wasn’t it?” Eade said when questioned about the free kick.

“To actually bump a bloke in the elbow, I just found it very strange to [be] a free kick, but anyway …

“Perhaps we’ll have to ask Rowan Sawers and Jeff Gieschen and they’ll say that it was there.”

Eade said with the match now run and won, there was nothing he could do.
 
“We can’t change it, we move on,” he said.