ST KILDA young gun Jack Lonie is set for an extended stint on the sidelines after suffering a serious right knee injury in the first quarter of its 29-point loss to Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

However, a dreaded knee reconstruction has been ruled out.

Lonie jumped for a mark on the wing and was pushed while in the air by opponent Rory Laird.

SAINTS CRASH BACK TO EARTH Full match coverage and stats

The 22-year-old landed with a straight leg, hyperextending his knee, and left the ground in the arms of trainers before going straight down the race.

Lonie, who signed a two-year contract extension at the end of last year, is in his fifth season and has played 56 games.

Jack Lonie has been helped from the field after landing awkwardly in this contest. #AFLSaintsCrows pic.twitter.com/4iBAoyLVld — AFL (@AFL) April 27, 2019

Scans on Sunday will be revealing but coach Alan Richardson was thrilled the news wasn't as bad as it could have been.

"It looks like he's escaped ACL injury, which is brilliant," Richardson said.

"He still will miss a bit of footy."

Spoke to Jack after the game tonight and apologized. Obviously wasn’t my intention for him to have that incident, I was trying to bump into him so he would spill the ball.. hoping for him that it’s not the worst result and that he’ll be back out there as soon as possible. https://t.co/kV4BYTaiC8 — Rory Laird (@rorylaird) April 27, 2019

Richardson lamented his side's terrible ball use after a start that promised so much.

"We were plus-10 in (contested possessions) in the first quarter, nine shots to three and then got completely outworked thereafter," Richardson said.

"We were still in the game at three-quarter time, not only on the scoreboard, I felt in the play.

"I don't think we've kicked the ball as bad as that.

"It was disappointing, the last quarter. We got outworked and then we started to fumble. They looked much safer in the contest, and the numbers reflected that."

WATCH Alan Richardson's full post-match press conference

The Saints forward targets had minimal impact as Alex Keath led a Crows backline that dominated in the air.

Josh Bruce didn't train during the week as he battled injury. Jonathon Marsh was on standby but the incumbent passed a pre-match fitness test, although he struggled to have an influence and collected just seven disposals and two marks.

He's no guarantee to face Greater Western Sydney next Saturday afternoon at Manuka Oval.

"He'll have to be much better than that to play next week. We think he will be but we'll have to wait and see," Richardson said.

Ruckman Rowan Marshall is expected to overcome his illness to be declared available, while hard nut Ben Long was cleared of left shoulder damage that forced him into the rooms.

It's not hard to figure out what St Kilda will focus on at training in the upcoming week.

"We're going to have to look at our ball use. That was as poorly as I reckon we've used the ball. We just banged the ball on (forward-50) entry way too often," Richardson said.