Wangaratta has produced one of its worst performances since returning as a powerhouse two years ago.
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The Pies were missing six of their best players, including Doug Strang medallist Michael Newton and Morris Medal contender Joe Richards, but that couldn't excuse an error-riddled display in falling to Myrtleford by 29 points.
"Very, very, very disappointing performance again, but credit to Myrtleford," frustrated coach Luke Morgan said.
"We won the inside 50 stat, we won the clearance stats, it's a willingness to get down and really work and want to defend."
The Pies couldn't match the intensity of the Saints, who were shown up in their two previous games against heavyweights Albury and Lavington.
"We're just not in really good form, we're in very poor form," Morgan said.
"We're getting a lot of the ball, we got enough to be a lot closer in the game, but we're not using the ball well.
"We're not as hard as the opposition and we're playing safe football, we're playing slow football and the most disappointing thing is we're playing reactive football."
We're playing safe football, we're playing slow football ... we're playing reactive football.
- Luke Morgan
Experienced players made poor decisions and even when Myrtleford's Hugh Wales was charged with striking Mark Anderson and sent off for 15 minutes early in the second quarter, the Pies could manage only 1.6 to the Saints' 1.1.
At the halfway mark, the Pies are fourth with a six-three record. Some experts didn't think they'd lose three this season and they've now lost three straight.
Morgan was asked if he would make changes and while he didn't commit, it's hard to believe the Pies will field the same team.