1. Making something out of nothing
The Riolis have a rare ability to impact matches without needing to rack up a high number of possessions. Daniel, like cousin Cyril, is an expert in one-on-one combat – or, on this occasion, beating two opponents. The second-year Tiger contested a high ball, won it on the ground near the boundary, saw off Brad Sheppard, then dished to Dion Prestia. The script was already written in Rioli's head by that stage and he gleefully accepted the ball back from Prestia before a superb checkside finish tied the scores in the third term. Another similarly brilliant Rioli contested ball win set up a Castagna goal late in the second term.

2. Who gets the dual Coleman medallist?
We've been hanging out for a proper superstar stoush since Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield amassed 78 disposals between them in a captivating duel two seasons ago. Saturday's West Coast-Richmond clash brought together Josh Kennedy, the two-time reigning Coleman medallist, and Alex Rance, the undisputed best defender in the game. Rance fisted the ball away from Kennedy in the first forward foray, but it was his unheralded partner-in-crime David Astbury who spent the day alongside the sharpshooting Eagle. Astbury did a solid job, too, restricting Kennedy to two majors from only three scoring shots.

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3. Butler puts on the afterburners
Dan Butler was already a key member of the Tigers' trio of tearaways, along with Daniel Rioli and Jason Castagna, but he provided a none-too-subtle reminder. The 20-year-old from Ballarat gathered the ball on the wing as the first quarter entered time-on, saw an opening and did not hesitate to take it. Butler, playing his third game, charged past a series of Eagles, with Jeremy McGovern – the one tasked with chasing him down – left for dead. Butler's scintillating run pierced an empty attacking 50 and he bounced all the way to the square, thanks in part to a Rioli shepherd, before pumping through his fourth career goal. The Richmond faithful predictably roared in delight. Butler added a mid-air, karate kick goal later in the game.

4. Mighty Martin on world record pace
Dustin Martin clearly doesn't read his own press or feel the pressure of being the most coveted uncontracted star in the game. The fend-off maestro butchered the ball early, but willed himself on the contest through sheer weight of numbers: 20 first-half touches and 11 clearances. West Coast had 12 of the latter in the same period. Statisticians hurriedly checked the record books and found Martin was halfway to Essendon and Hawthorn great Paul Salmon's competition-best 22 from 19 years ago. Martin surpassed his previous best of 14 before three-quarter time and finished with 15, to go with 40 possessions. Name your price, Dusty!

5. Rule brush up required
It seems the new – and much debated – 'third man up' rule went unnoticed by Tiger tall Todd Elton, who played his first game of the year on Saturday and fifth overall since making his debut in 2012. Elton had a difficult day playing in place of concussed clubmate Ben Griffiths, but it was his decision to enter a second-quarter ruck contest that cost Richmond most. Alex Rance and Eagle Jack Darling had nominated as the respective ruckmen, only for Elton to come in from the front and give away a free kick and simple goal.