While some of the younger Saints had impressive moments, as they did last week against Melbourne, it was captain Nick Riewoldt who gave the team an important boost in the third quarter. Pitted against Nick Haynes, Riewoldt didn't have it all his way in the first half but got going after the long break. Two goals, eight disposals, three inside 50s and four marks on the lead were significant in ensuring the Saints held a five-point lead at the final change. Riewoldt's starting to make third-term highlights packages a habit after putting in a similar performance in the win over the Dees last week.

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They didn't win but they didn't stop either. Before Saturday, the Giants had never led the Saints in either of their previous encounters. Had it not been for a late goal to Tom Hickey at the end of the first quarter, they would have led for pretty much the entire opening half. Perhaps their first-half dominance is the reason why a brief push-and-shove broke out at half-time. After a round one win over the Sydney Swans and a quality half against the Saints, the Giants are keen to show they aren't going to be pushed around any more.

 

In an interesting move by Melbourne radio station Triple M, Alan Richardson and Leon Cameron were interviewed side by side before the game. They were given the chance to ask each other a question, with Richardson asking his former Western Bulldogs coaching colleague who was going to tag for the Giants. After Cameron revealed Stephen Coniglio would take the role in the absence of Rhys Palmer, he fired back and wanted to know which Saint was going to tag and who they were going to follow. Richardson was happy to let him know it would be Tom Curren who would run with Adam Treloar. With Coniglio starting on Lenny Hayes and Curren spending plenty of time tailing Treloar, it was refreshing to hear an honest exchange between rival coaches.

 

Faced with the enormous task of facing Shane Mumford and Jonathan Giles with part-time ruckman Rhys Stanley as back-up, Tom Hickey could have been forgiven for feeling defeated before the game began. However, while he was often outmuscled at the stoppages and in one-on-one contests, he found a different way to make an impact with some impressive around-the-ground work. Hickey took eight marks, had 19 disposals and kicked a career-high three goals before his influence was reduced by a foot injury in the last quarter. For the Giants, 20-year-old forward Devon Smith seems to have put the hip injury that ended his 2013 season far behind him to emerge as his team's most damaging goalkicker with Jonathon Patton and Jeremy Cameron having quiet games.

 

The Saints might have had two significant inclusions this week in Leigh Montagna and Hayes but it was the youngsters who caught the eye. Eli Templeton responded after a quiet first half to provide a much-needed spark and ended with the goal that sealed the game while Josh Saunders tried hard, Luke Dunstan and Tom Curren tackled well and Jack Newnes was good in the midfield. But you can never underestimate the sly class of champions; without starring, Montagna had 25 disposals and four clearances while Hayes showed his class when he hit Riewoldt inside 50 twice in the third quarter after a quiet first half. He finished with 18 disposals – 10 of which were contested.  

 

Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan