1. “Hey Dad…Kieran Collins goes alright."

There’s been an ongoing debate around who will take the centre bounce in round 1, but after last night, perhaps the debate shifts to the key defensive posts.  

Dubbed “Dad” by his teammates, Kieran Collins showed in his first AFL outing that he has the tools to be very handy at league level, and soon.  

Taking a few minutes to settle, a bone-crunching tackle on Giants big man Jon Patton, who he kept goalless, seemed to spawn confidence in the 18-year-old man-mountain.

With Fletcher Roberts, Joel Hamling, Zaine Cordy and fellow draftee  Marcus Adams all in the mix, it’s an area of the ground worth keeping an eye on.

Collins was named an Under 18 All-Australian in 2015, and was recruited with the Bulldogs’ second pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, at 26 overall.

 

 

2. What can The Package deliver in 2016?

Former Geelong premiership player Cameron Mooney possibly summed up what the whole footy world was thinking last night.

“If this game’s anything to go on, good luck defending Jakey Stringer this year,” Mooney tweeted. 

The 2015 All-Australian was a constant threat inside 50m last night, booting three goals that could just as easily have been seven,news that is sure to give opposition coaches nightmares. Stringer also spent bursts around the ball, and his transition into a part-time midfielder looks to be on track. 

News out of the Kennel over the summer was that the 21-year-old has had his best preseason yet, and on the back of last night, the Stringer show looks to be one we’ll all want front row seats to in 2016.

 

 3. Johannisen looks to be shifting gears

He’s come along way, Jason Johannisen. From the rookie list to being the unsung hero of a near All Australian half-back line, it looks like  the running defender has another gear if last night is anything to go on.

Busy all night, Johannisen racked-up 24 touches off half back at 91.7 % efficiency, which is Robert Murphy territory.  

Johannisen was causing that much havoc across half-back that Giants coach Leon Cameron switched Rhys Palmer on him to try and curtail his influence. 

Champion Data rated the 23-year-old as ‘above average’ last season and he is every chance to push up into the ‘elite’ category if he continues to improve.   

 

4. Suckling settling in nicely

It’s only early, but free-agent signing Matthew Suckling looks to have slipped seamlessly into the Bulldogs set-up. 

Playing mostly on the wing on Thursday night, the slick-skilled two-time Hawthorn premiership player showed why coach Luke Beveridge was so keen to pluck the 27-year-old out of Waverley Park. 


VIDEO: Watch Matthew Suckling's first goal as a Bulldog in Thursday night's win.

Suckling had 17 touches, six marks in 100% of game time, and his deadly left boot hit every target laces out. 

You can never have too much class in your side, and Suckling has it in spades. 

He could quickly become one of the most influential off-season acquisitions across the league this season.