Acting umpires boss Luke Ball has admitted St Kilda were on the wrong end of two bad decisions during the closing stages of the Saints' narrow loss to Hawthorn, amid a perception umpires are cracking down on the 15-metre kick rule.

The mistakes many believe cost the Saints the four points in Launceston were acknowledged by Ball, who has taken on umpiring department duties following the departure of Wayne Campbell.

Ball referred to marks not paid due to the ball not carrying the 15 metres in distance in consecutive kicks from St Kilda players Leigh Montagna to Sean Dempster and then from Dempster to Shane Savage.