1. Stringer delivers on return
In the battle of the rejigged forward setups, it was Bulldogs goalkicker Jake Stringer who had the biggest impact. In his first game since hurting his knee in round seven, the 23-year-old kicked five goals and had the Saints scrambling to find an appropriate match-up. Nathan Brown started on him and Jake Carlisle got the nod after Stringer's third major before Sam Gilbert and Jarryn Geary had a go after half-time, but it didn't matter – Stringer found multiple ways to torment them as he kicked goals from out the back, from set shots and on the run. He was easily the most influential forward on the ground, which the Dogs needed as they dropped Travis Cloke and Jack Redpath to give their attacking setup a smaller, more mobile look after they were beaten in the air last week against Geelong.
2. Promising Paddy
The Saints were also smaller than usual in attack with Nick Riewoldt missing with bone bruising in his knee and Josh Bruce still in the VFL. Their absence gave Paddy McCartin space to shine, and he moved with intent early with strong leading runs and ventures up the ground. He was picked up by Marcus Adams when deep, and despite a few nervous moments - notably when he dropped a sitter of a mark in the third quarter – he was involved in three scoring assists including a handpass that found Jade Gresham at the start of the second half and resulted in a goal. He kicked just one himself with nine minutes left in the game from 50m out, but it was an encouraging nine-mark performance from the 21-year-old who is still trying to find his place and seemingly settle his nerves at AFL level.
3. A new cult hero for Dogs fans
At 205cm, you'd be forgiven for expecting first-year beanpole Tim English to line up in the ruck, but the 19-year-old spent very little time opposite big Saint Billy Longer in the first half and instead spent most of it on the wing and playing through the midfield. He moved into the ruck after half-time with late inclusion Jordan Roughead shifting into attack, and only got his hand to three hit-outs but was still able to showcase his impressive skills by both hand and foot despite his lanky frame. He ended with seven disposals with a 100 per cent efficiency rating, but will also remember his first game for an accidental collision with umpire Simon Meredith in the second quarter that will likely result in a fine.
4. Welcome back, Roughy
Jordan Roughead was named as an emergency and called up before the game with Clay Smith going out of the side with a calf issue. After overcoming a serious pre-season hamstring tendon injury, the big man played two games in the VFL before his return to AFL level and was thrown straight into the action and took control of the rucking duties for the first half. It wasn't a dominant game from the 26-year-old with 17 hit-outs and 14 disposals, and he'll want to forget a missed set shot in the third quarter after he took a chest mark, but he got through unscathed and gave the Dogs an alternative to rotate through their refashioned forward line.
5. Saint Stevens' timely display
Former Dog Koby Stevens picked a good week to turn it on in just his fourth game as a Saint. Stevens was the leading possession-winner on the ground at quarter-time and ended with 28 and an equal game-high seven clearances in his best game since changing clubs at the end of last season. As one of two indigenous players on the field (the other being young Saint Jade Gresham), it was a timely performance from Stevens in the third game of Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round.
