Cross is one of the 'fabric of the club' sort of players, but the Western Bulldogs coach wanted to change something after the disappointing loss to Gold Coast seven days ago.
And it worked, with his side outlasting St Kilda by nine points for just the second win by the club in its last 20 outings.
"We wanted the team to look a bit different and add some things around the edges," he said. "He was unlucky to go out but he took it pretty well."
"What we do have to do is find the best mix and best options for the club going forward."
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That mix also included bringing in debutant midfielder Nathan Hrovat, who had 18 touches and looked most accomplished at the level.
The result brought the briefest of smiles to the poker-faced McCartney, but he was buoyed by a few factors, such as the former West Coast midfielder Koby Stevens who played his best game since crossing from West Coast, with 31 possessions and a goal.
"He wanted to come back to Victoria and really wanted to play at our club. He craved the opportunity," said McCartney.
Star on-baller Ryan Griffen was rattled early and gave away two indiscriminate free kicks, but worked his way through a hard tag from Clinton Jones to become the most influential player on the ground in the second half.
"He just continues to develop as a player and a person at our club and he continues to develop as a leader on and off the field," McCartney said of Griffen, who ended with 30 possessions.
"He is starting to demand standards from others, impact the game style and he's adding things to his game. He's much better around the contests when our young players get a bit puffed and he drives in and wins the ball."
It was an interesting week for McCartney, who arrived at the office on Monday to a diary crammed with corporate engagements and a football media whose glare was fixed firmly towards Melbourne's west in its weekly search for a club in crisis.
Dogs skipper Matthew Boyd with debutant Nathan Hrovat after the win against St Kilda. Picture: AFL Media
"Getting a whack isn't the worst thing for your club," he said. "It makes you reassess a few things and if you're made of the right stuff as a club, which we are, it should serve to reinforce your stability and what you stand for.
"There weren’t too many people hiding from responsibility this week," he added.
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Scott Watters is another whose even temperament suggests his club is in good hands.
The St Kilda coach said his midfield was on the back foot for most of the night, smashed 43 to 26 in clearances and with only Leigh Montagna coming close to putting in a four-quarter performance.
"The ability to play for four quarters is a challenge for us. We're not at a stage where we can sustain it for four quarters and put our feet on the throats of the opposition," he said.
The Saints aren't as upfront as the Bulldogs in terms of declaring they're in the midst of a rebuild, although this result might hasten that process.
But he did say that two six-day breaks on the trot and the pre-game loss of David Armitage did stretch his midfield to close to breaking point and helped explain why the Saints were twice able to get out to a lead of three goals but not be able to extend it or even hold it.
Ashley Browne is an AFL Media senior writer. @afl_hashbrowne
