Is this a future Coleman medallist? Three goals in the first half and one after the main break saw Jake Stringer put in his fourth multi-goal performance since round 15. The 20-year-old was too strong and mobile for Sam Fisher and wowed the crowd with his antics in front of goal. In the first quarter, he shirked both Fisher and Shane Savage as they tried to tackle him before he shook off James Gwilt and charged through a gap in the Saints' defensive set up to run into goal. Then, he showed off his sublime foot skills up the other end in the second quarter when he kicked an inside-out banana on his right foot from a difficult angle.

 

The Saints went all out in celebrating retiring club great Lenny Hayes in what was their final home game for the season. Gate 7 at Etihad Stadium became the "Lenny Hayes Gate" where supporters who had bought a "Lenny Pass" could pick up their commemorative No.7 cap, as well as buy more merchandise, and have their picture taken with a digital image of the club champion in a photo booth. There was also an "Appreciation March", led by the Moorabbin City Pipe Band, pre-match video tributes, signs and "I Love Lenny" clothing throughout the St Kilda-strong crowd. It was obvious how much Hayes means to the club's supporters with the way he was received, and also, how inspiring he is to his teammates when his goal at the end of the third quarter brought the Saints briefly to life. It wasn't Hayes' most prolific game – he had 17 disposals and three clearances against Matthew Boyd – but every touch, characteristic sidestep and involvement was celebrated by the club and a handful of his former teammates including Max Hudghton and Justin Koschitzke, and the Bulldogs formed a guard of honour as he left the ground.

 

The Bulldogs' first quarter took the wind out of the sails of the Lenny celebration as they devastated the Saints with speedy end-to-end ball movement. The Saints' midfielders struggled to cope as the Dogs exploded off half-back and ran the ball into attack, where Stringer, Stewart Crameri and Adam Cooney were proving too much for their opponents. The result was a 27-point lead at quarter-time, which was curbed somewhat with an increase in the Saints' midfield and forward pressure before half-time. In the third, their centre corridor dominance was back with Shaun Higgins, Robert Murphy and Sam Darley giving them great drive from half back. There's no doubting the Dogs are an exciting team to watch when they're up and running through the middle of the ground.     

 

Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney had a dirty day in Launceston last week when he was subbed out in the third quarter against Hawthorn after seven touches – and none in the first quarter. He used Sunday's game to make a definite statement with an influential performance that started with 11 touches in the opening stanza. He dropped off in the second and had just four disposals but ended with 25 and three goals in a return to form for the classy veteran.

 

The Saints' line-up carried more experience than it has for much of the season and was bolstered by the return of Sam Gilbert, who came in for his first game since round three. The flare up of a pre-season stress fracture in his left foot back in April meant the 27-year-old has had to be patient with his return to football, with full rest the recommended treatment for the injury to his fifth metatarsal bone. He wasted no time getting back into the swing of things on Sunday, racking up 10 disposals in the first quarter, and while he dropped off after that, still managed 17 for the day with four rebounds in an encouraging first game back.