1. What is red, black and grey all over?
"Cherishing our heritage, embracing the future," read the Essendon banner before the game, in a tribute to the players' heritage clash strip that drew polarising opinions this week. The red-sashed grey jumper, which featured the names of the club's premiership players in tiny font, was teamed with grey shorts and red-and-black hooped socks. The problem? For spectators, it took time to get used to, and despite the dominance of grey, there still seemed to be a lot of red and black spread between both teams. The Bombers also missed plenty of targets. Coincidence?
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2. Lucky you've got a day job
The week was all about Stephen Milne's rise from unwanted Essendon reserves player to 250-game St Kilda champion. Club president Greg Westaway spoke of his contribution to Milne's career at the pre-match function, remembering the goal-sneak's work experience at his business, Gregorys Transport, when he first became a Saint and players were expected to seek outside employment.
"I would often go outside and see 'Milney' with all the warehouse staff kicking a makeshift footy from rolled up newspaper. The only problem was it wasn't lunchtime or tea break. It was obvious Stephen wasn't cut out for a logistics career but he was pretty good at kicking the ball between the pellets," Westaway said.
3. Space invaders
Given the hefty fines handed down to pitch invaders, it's an expensive way to get your mug on television. But the recent full moon must have stirred something up in fans at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night with not one but two people taking on the security guards and leaping the fence. First, a woman brandishing a cross wandered onto the boundary in the second quarter before being escorted down the middle race, chatting to St Kilda officials and Channel Seven commentator Cameron Ling on her way out. Then, a young man bolted into the centre square with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth before losing a shoe and being dragged from the arena.
4. Kruising Kosi
Last week against North Melbourne, St Kilda big man Justin Koschitzke managed just three handballs and one tackle after being dramatically affected by illness. On Saturday night, it took him 11-and-a-half minutes to execute his first kick since the Saints played Adelaide in round 12, and he nailed two goals in the first quarter. In the second term, he sent a scare into the Saints' camp when he appeared to hurt his hip in a collision with Ben McEvoy - who gave more reason for concern with initial signs of concussion - but both recovered to remain on the field.
5. Blake's unlucky break
It was an unlucky week for the Saints - Jason Blake had ankle surgery, Rhys Stanley hurt his hamstring and Brendon Goddard got a two-week suspension. Blake told 3AW pre-game that "as far as operations go, it was a good result" and he planned to return in four to five weeks. He also conceded he could still end up as the answer to a Trivial Pursuit question as the player to run out for the most games without polling a Brownlow Medal vote. Blake is on 212 games, and although his pre-injury form might see him secure that precious Brownlow vote, he said "I won't be holding my breath" on Brownlow night.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
