1. Mighty O’Meara
They might as well stop taking bets and give the Rising Star award to Jaeger O’Meara. His tour de force came in the third quarter of this game when, felled by Ryan Griffen just outside the goalsquare, the 19-year-old West Australian had the presence of mind to stretch out his left boot and squeeze the ball through the big posts. The umpires went to a replay, presumably because they couldn’t believe their eyes. The ball even seems to talk back to O'Meara. Later in the third term, after a bone-crunching charge from Brett Goodes, the ball bounced back to him in full stride, enabling him to enter the forward 50 and set up a goal for Aaron Hall.
 



Jesse Lonergan attempts to avoid Matthew Boyd during the Suns' win over the Bulldogs. Picture: AFL Media

2. Brown proving his worth
It was far from certain that Campbell Brown would join the 200-game club after a six-game ban delayed the start of his 2013 campaign. Now it looks nailed on. Guy McKenna was equivocal on whether he would return to the side once eligible, but injuries to Charlie Dixon and Karmichael Hunt ensured he made his 2013 debut against the Demons at the MCG. He matched his three-goal return of last week against the Bulldogs and was involved in at least two more. As the Suns chase unchartered territory and an outside chance of finals footy, he will be a key component.

3. Doggies on a downer
As well as the Suns played and however the scoreline flattered the hosts, to lose by five goals to the third-year side is a poor reflection of where the Western Bulldogs list is at. Brendan McCartney will now come under intense pressure and most likely needs a victory over St Kilda or Port Adelaide before the bye to stop speculation about his future reaching Mark Neeld-like intensity. The Bulldogs’ effort is light years ahead of the Demons but the facts are they are level on one win apiece.

4. Running on empty
In this battle between two sides who attack the ball well but struggle to use it effectively, it was the Suns who were able to keep the effort going through all four quarters. The Bulldogs were better in the first and last quarters without getting enough reward on the scoreboard but looked totally shot in the third stanza when the Suns ran away scoring seven goals to one. A number of the Dogs are short of games and it showed.

5. Tall options
Losing Zac Smith from the ruck due to a knee injury at half-time (the extent of which will be learned on Monday), could have been a pivotal moment in the Bulldogs’ favour. Instead, with some assistance from Jared Brennan and Sam Day, Tom Lynch moved to the ruck and held his own with Will Minson, his coach heaping praise on him after the match: “Tommy Lynch really holds us up forward, and his ability to go on-ball and run around like a seasoned ruckman does … he just continues to amaze me.”