COACH Paul Roos has hinted at a ‘horses for courses’ approach when selecting teams to play at certain grounds, such as Etihad Stadium.

Speaking post-match after Melbourne’s 39-point loss to St Kilda at Docklands on Saturday, Roos acknowledged his side needed to address ground differences more often when selecting sides at match committee.

“We need to make sure that these things (grounds) are discussed going into games – that might be Subiaco or it might be the SCG, because it’s a small deck,” he said.

“Overall, we’re trying to play a game style that doesn’t matter where you play, but this is a different venue and we need to educate ourselves as coaches.

“It’s a very difficult thing to do. Who knows who’s going to play well and who’s not going to play well [at Etihad Stadium]?”

But Roos said the fact that Melbourne doesn’t play at Docklands often – and has a poor recent record at the ground (it has won 23 of its past 24 matches there) – was not the reason for the loss to the Saints.

He praised St Kilda and said it was quite simply harder around the footy, inside and outside, and outworked Melbourne.

“You learn from every loss and you learn from every experience,” he said.

“It’s certainly a venue that’s different from the MCG. You want to set up a game style that doesn’t make any difference where you play.

“We just weren’t able to get any defensive pressure on at all today and they (St Kilda) kicked far too many goals.”