When the first goal of the final quarter went the way of the Swans and blew the margin to 29 points, the low-scoring contest looked all but over. The twist was yet to come, with Jarryn Geary goaling and then Jack Steven and Leigh Montagna kicking two of those 'impossible angle' numbers from the pocket that got the fans out of their seats – and the Saints within 10 points. The Swans then managed to steady, with a free kick awarded to Shane Mumford from a ruck infringement by Ben McEvoy at the 26-minute mark putting the task beyond the 'home' team. Still, the Steven and Montagna goals were moments the game needed – the slipperiness of the surface caused by morning rain had left the contest bereft of eye-catching skills, and they showcased just what AFL players can do with such a funny-shaped ball at times.
2. Blocking queries
St Kilda coach Scott Watters, while proud of his players, refused to say the Swans were getting away with illegal blocking but raised what he called an "interesting" tactic used by players off the ball. "Their defenders are very good defenders. I think they block off the ball better than any defensive group in the League," Watters said. "We need to have a good look at the way they block 10 or 15 metres off the ball and don't get infringed against. I would like some more of that in our game. They block and keep players away from the contest, and it was interesting." When pressed further about whether he thought the Swans were getting away with such a technique, he backed off and said, "No, no, you said that. I didn't say that." But again, he emphasised the word "interesting" to describe what he believed the Swans were doing and said the Saints would learn from it.
3. What's going on? Who cares?
The locals might not have known what was going on but they seemed to really enjoy the night anyway. One attendee, working at the ground, posted a photo of the game on Instagram with the caption "Working at the AFL. "whatisgoingon #afl #stkildasaints #sydneyswans. While the intricacies of the rules might not have been clear, the fans seemed to know when to cheer (when Nick Riewoldt went near the ball), when to boo (when the first quarter goal review went the way of the Swans) and when to get really excited (when Ben McGlynn and Leigh Montagna started shoving each other in the second term). They were also encouraged to get involved with the big screens asking for fans to "Show us your best goal umpire signal after each goal". In the stand on the broadcast side of the ground, there was even the introduction of a beach ball in third quarter that attracted a bit of attention. It didn't matter what it was, they seemed to embrace it all.
4. Running man Riewoldt
Riewoldt was one of the most recognizable players on the field, courtesy of not only his superstar status but also because he was on pretty much every poster advertising the game. He lived up to any hype generated by his promotion with a vintage performance that dragged Swans' defender Ted Richards all over the ground. By half time, Riewoldt was the highest possession winner with 19 and had taken eight marks. Richards, to his credit, stuck with him and even turned the tables when he followed him into the Saints' defence and ended up kicking a goal. Heath Grundy was given the unenviable task of manning up Riewoldt after half time with Richards moved to Justin Koschitzke but the Saints' captain still ended up with the impressive stats of 27 disposals, 13 marks, three inside 50s and five rebounds at the other end.
5. Goal review goes global
Fittingly, the game had a goal review, which local supporters would have understood given the use of the technology in rugby. But, it wasn't met with a favourable reaction when the result was questionable in the first quarter. Jarryn Geary kicked the ball towards goal and landed it right in the heart of the big sticks, with Richards taking a chest mark painstakingly close to the line. The replay, while admittedly from a challenging angle, showed the defender's feet were over the line and it appeared extremely close to being a goal. It was dubbed inconclusive by the review with Riewoldt blocking the goal umpire's initial view, the fans booed and Geary was probably dealt with harshly to not be paid the major.
