It is hard to think of a player in the competition who uses his hands quicker, smarter or slicker than Jobe Watson. They are the Brownlow medallist's best assets and they were on show against the Tigers in Watson's best afield showing. Watson had 28 disposals and kicked three goals, but set up many others with his creativity and class. After appearing to labor through last week's loss to the Brisbane Lions, there was nothing lethargic about Watson's showing against Richmond. Watson won the Yiooken Award for his game, presented to the best player in the Dreamtime at the 'G contest. 

Michael Hurley has every right to curse his luck after injury caused him to be subbed out of a game for the third time this season. Against the Tigers it was a rolled left ankle in the second term that was the ailment. After landing awkwardly in a marking contest, the 22-year-old thumped the ground several times in frustration before limping from the field. He returned shortly before half-time but came out from the main break wearing the dreaded red vest. Hurley suffered an ankle injury in round four against St Kilda which saw him subbed, and had his day ended by concussion last week after a sling tackle from Brisbane Lion Daniel Merrett. He's due for a good run. 

It is always a strange for a player to play against his old side, but even more so when it's his first game for his new side. Sam Lonergan had to get a grip on all that on Saturday night, when the former Bomber took on the Dons in his new yellow and black, No.22 jumper. The 26-year-old started at half-forward in a defensive role on Michael Hibberd, and although Lonergan didn't have a massive influence on the game with 13 disposals, he gave his all – a trait he demonstrated in his 79 games for the Bombers. 

Jake Carlisle recently said it was his NAB Cup performance in shutting down Jack Riewoldt that gave him the confidence to do be a giant killer early this season. Carlisle kept Riewoldt quiet that afternoon in Wangaratta, but it took the Richmond spearhead only three minutes to equal that tally on Saturday night after a lace-out pass. His next goal came with three minutes left in the third term, which would be his last of the night. It was not just Riewoldt's fault – the quality of delivery into Richmond's forward line was scrappy for most of the evening. 

Alex Rance was on track for a career-high possession tally early in the game, with the Richmond defender collecting 11 disposals in the first term. He was not only stopping his direct opponent – Stewart Crameri – but also mopping up the other Bomber forward forays and creating rebound. The Bombers realised he needed to be curtailed. Rance picked up only one disposal in the second term and finished with 19, well short of his best-ever haul of 34 and well short of the influence he had early in proceedings. And Crameri finished with three goals, winning the battle.