Saint Ahmed Saad kicks a goal against Sydney. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
ST KILDA fielded a team with an average age of little more than 24 tonightt. It's a long time since Saints fans would have been able to reel off a stat like that.
The sum of the games played amongst its 24 players was only 1528 - an average of 63.7 games per player.
Without Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and co the score in the NAB Cup clash with Sydney was always going to be secondary.
But a 0.13.12 (84) to 1.8.10 (67) win was a welcome result against last year's premiers - admittedly missing 11 of the 22 that played in the Grand Final win.
Josh Kennedy handballs his way out of trouble. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source:
What was important was Tom Hickey's form in the ruck, Rhys Stanley and Arryn Siposs' development as defenders and kids such as Nathan Wright and Jackson Ferguson having a crack.
Particularly pleasing was Stanley's effort to restrict Swans key forward Sam Reid to just four disposals and no goals in the first half.
But equally disappointing was the sight of the oft-injured 22-year-old hobbling off after hyper-extending his left knee midway through the third term having landed awkwardly in the back pocket.
Leigh Montagna gets off a handball in front of Jude Bolton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
There were several divots across the Etihad Stadium surface last night and the ground appeared to give after Stanley planted his foot following his attempt to smother an opposition handball.
How much that contributed to the injury remains to be seen, but here's hoping it's not a long-term hindrance as a key defender's spot is seemingly his for the taking.
Sipposs (12 touches) looked good, although his booming right foot attracted most attention at the attacking end of the ground when he calmly slotted a set shot from outside the arc.
Mike Pike and Ben McEvoy do battle. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
Hickey is a find.
Myke Pyke isn't elite opposition, but his capabilities were there to see nonetheless.
Wright picked up 17 disposals and looked the pick of the youngsters, while, for a big man, Ferguson commanded a lot of the footy in the first half before he switched on to Reid after Stanley's substitution.
Lewis Jetta marks at Etihad Stadium. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
Sam Dunell also chipped in with a couple of first half goals.
One piece of play in the first quarter also provided a couple of insights in to what we might see from Scott Watters' men this year.
As Farren Ray marked in the middle of the ground his first instinct was to look wide to see what was open to him on the switch.
Swan Jude Bolton tackles Jack Newnes at Etihad Stadium today. Source: Getty Images
The man he found in acres of space was Leigh Montagna, who spent plenty of time running amok on the wings to great effect last night - he finished with 28 possessions.
With so many players missing it was also difficult to get a read on the Swans, but no doubt John Longmire would have been more satisfied last night than he was seven days earlier after triangular-round losses to Greater Western Sydney and Carlton.
Jude Bolton wasn't sure if he was going to play on this season, but in his first competitive hit-out he looked as if he could play on for another few years yet.
Jesse White in action. Source: Getty Images
He'd amassed 17 possessions in the first half alone in a clear best on ground performance.
The veteran was ably assisted by premiership heroes Josh Kennedy (23 touches) and Daniel Hannebery (30), but the Swans youngsters were not to be outdone by their older teammates.
They were greater in quantity, but possibly shaded their Saints counterparts.
Rookies Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd looked more than capable with ball in hand, while Harry Cunningham and Brandon Jack - brother of Kieren - showed trademark Sydney aggression on both ball and man.
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