It was a ‘slick’ Western Bulldogs outfit who ran out 31-point winners over the Greater Western Sydney Giants in last Thursday’s opening NAB Challenge hitout, according to AFL.com.au's Adam Curley.

Koby Stevens’ star turn in his first game back from injury was a focus, Curley saying that Steven’s standout performance was a reminder of how important the 25-year old is to the Bulldog’s 2016 ambitions.

Curley noted that Matt Suckling ‘quality showing’ on the wing, the former Hawk wasting “little time showing off his deadly left foot in Bulldogs colours.”

But, it was the performance of live-wire forward Jake Stringer that caught the attention of the press box on Thursdaynight.

Curley identified Stringer as the best forward on the ground and Fox Sports’ Sarah Ollie said that he was making his case as the hardest match up in the AFL after his three goal 17 disposal performance as StarTrak Oval.

Ollie said that Stringer’s power makes it “hard to believe he’s only 21-years-old.”

Writing in The Age, David Polkinghorne said that Stringer, alongside Stevens and running defender Jason Johannisen ‘showed promising signs’.

Neil Cordy, writing in the News Limited papers on Friday said that the 2015 All-Australian looked ‘full of power and running’ and looks set to continue his ‘stunning’ form from last season.

AFL.com.au labelled 18-year old Kieran Collins ‘impressive’ on debut, branding he and fellow draftee Marcus Adam’s as ‘extremely exciting prospects’, who added considerably to the Bulldogs ‘great depth’ down back.