Fight like Maddie. Three words emblazoned on the bright orange boots of Saints' skipper Nick Riewoldt, his tribute to his youngster sister. The tragedy surrounding the Riewoldt family has been well documented over the past month, and all eyes were on the skipper as he played his first game for the year after sitting out the NAB Challenge series. In classic Riewoldt fashion, the skipper worked tirelessly all day, notching up 17 disposals, including 10 marks and one goal. The day did not end well for the skipper though, with Riewoldt leaving the field half-way through the final quarter after being crashed into by Tom Bugg. Tempers flared after the incident but it was enough to break the momentum in the final term which had seen the Saints cut a 25 point deficit to eight points. 

 

It wasn't the best start to Ryan Griffen's career at the Giants. The former Bulldogs skipper had Saints youngster Maverick Weller breathing down his neck at every turn. Griffen was restricted to just two touches in the first term but slowly worked his way back into the game to finish with 15 disposals and four clearances but didn't have the impact he would have liked. It was a better day for the Giants’ other recruit Joel Patfull, who has slotted seamlessly into the side's defensive six. Patfull worked well alongside Phil Davis, Nick Haynes and Heath Shaw, registering 15 touches and providing the Giants with some run of half-back.

Small forward Ahmed Saad received a rousing reception from Saints fans when he came off the bench in the opening term for his first AFL game since round 19, 2013. But it wasn't a dream return for the 25-year-old after serving an 18-month ban for using a prohibited substance. Saad struggled to find his feet at AFL level in his first game back, restricted to just four disposals with Heath Shaw doing an excellent job at quelling his influence. But first-gamer Jack Lonie had a far better introduction to 2015, the Saints' pick No.41 in last year's draft showed composure under pressure throughout the game. With his second possession for the match he side-stepped Giant Curtly Hampton not once but three times, and then hit Adam Schneider squarely on the chest in the forward 50, who goaled to give the Saints their first goal of the second term. Jack Sinclair was handed the green vest in his first game. The Saints' rookie came on in the third term to replace Dylan Roberton and managed eight disposals.

With the final siren gone, and the GWS song sung, fans streamed onto the ground at Etihad Stadium for the first post-match kick-to-kick of 2015. In keeping with the AFL's theme of fan engagement this season, the venue operators are allowing fans onto the turf for a kick-to-kick session after Sunday matches in April and May. Fans young and old ducked and weaved through the maze of flying footballs as they embraced the much-loved tradition of enjoying a kick after the game.