St Kilda president Andrew Bassat has confirmed the club will review their decision to relocate home games to Cairns beyond 2022, as the Saints continue their climb up the ladder this season.

Desperate to avoid sacrificing a home ground advantage but acutely aware of the debt facing the club, Bassat revealed that the football department will be conducting the review, eager to establish if heading up north is a stain on the Saints' win-loss record.

"We need to reflect on this because at the end of the day, our first, second and third priority is to win games of football,” Bassat said on SEN's Whateley.

"At the time, Cairns wasn’t necessarily seen to be a football advantage because of the fact we have enjoyed our time in Queensland (recently).

"Now we have lost two games – both of which we expected to win – but I should stress it wasn’t just that venue that cost us that game.

"I need to review (the decision to play games in Cairns), at the end of the day we have talked about our priorities and we need to ask whether Cairns is consistent with that. We have no ongoing commitment beyond this year.

"It will be reviewed in the coming weeks. If our football department (says it’s a significant impediment to winning games), we won’t be back.”

St Kilda returned to Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns in Round 7 as part of their two-year deal with the Queensland government, having also taken a game there in 2021.

Both matches were played in humid and slippery conditions, which were arguably not suited to St Kilda's game style. The expedition has so far culminated in two narrow losses - a one-point loss to Port Adelaide in 2022 and six-point loss to Adelaide in 2021.

While the move north may have been the answer to ease the Saints' debt and helped to expand the sport into Queensland, it sparked criticism in terms of its footballing outcomes.

The Saints have now lost just three matches for the season heading into their Round 12 bye, with the loss at the hands of the 15th placed Crows in Cairns becoming particularly costly as the competition for spots in the top half of the eight heats up.

In a mid-season letter to Saints members and supporters, Bassat said the club would soon determine the best course of action in regards to the ongoing Cairns partnership.

"I share Brett Ratten’s view that the venue wasn’t the key factor in the result, and we also acknowledge the brilliant support we received from the Cairns and Queensland community," he said.

"But ultimately, we know that what our supporters care most about is winning games of football and ensuring our return to September action. As always, we review these decisions and determine what the best course of action is in order to drive that outcome, whilst balancing the other competing interests of the Club."