ST KILDA is developing a formidable forward line, coach Alan Richardson believes.
Saints trio Josh Bruce (five goals), Tim Membrey (three) and Paddy McCartin (two) proved too hot for Essendon in the second half of their 46-point win at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
After St Kilda led by just 10 points at half-time, the Saints threesome kicked six successive goals – two goals apiece – to open up a match-winning break.
It was a welcome return for the Saints as they plan for the eventual retirement of skipper Nick Riewoldt, who played mostly on the wing and went goalless.
"Membrey, Bruce and McCartin are going to be a really exciting group of players," Richardson said post-match.
"They're going to be very good in contest, and when we get clean ball … they're going to have the opportunity to potentially get off their man.
"But if the opposition put enormous pressure on and we just whack it in there, those guys very rarely get beaten in contest. They're great effort players.
"And 'Brucey' in many ways probably typified the whole team. He worked his backside off and at times looked a little bit awkward either marking or kicking early, but ends up with a really positive second half; ends up with five goals. And that's just reward for someone who works as hard as he does."
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McCartin's influence in the third term didn't escape his coach's attention.
"Paddy's going to be an outstanding mark of the footy," he said.
"He's got a really good footy brain … he's a real thinker. He launches at the ball – he gets the ball at a very high position. He's got very soft hands.
"We all know he's on a journey, Paddy. He's only a young player. The tall forwards take a long time but we're really pleased with the way Paddy's going.
"We think he's going to be a ripper for us."
Bruce shared his pride in the trio's performance as a team within a team, and deflected praise to his forward partners.
"It's really the first time Paddy, Tim and I have played together as the three forwards and it's super-exciting," Bruce told AFL.com.au.
"Paddy and Tim had it on an absolute string – they took about 20 marks between them.
"It's great to see Paddy take his opportunity because he's worked exceptionally hard for it.
"And Tim's plied his trade in the twos, he's been in and out of the team, came back from a shoulder reconstruction.
"We just want to keep building that cohesion."
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Richardson was pleased to bounce back after copping a 103-point hammering from West Coast in Perth, when the Saints managed just three goals.
The Saints coach regarded that performance as an aberration, but admitted there was "a sense of relief" to overcome the spirited Bombers.
Watch Alan Richardson's full post-match press conference
"You only get relief because you rate yourselves," Richardson said.
"I know this team's going to be a really good footy team. We're impatient – we want that to be tomorrow. The reality is it's going to take a while.
"But this group of players is starting to grow and the more footy they play together, that'll expedite that process."
Richardson said his team needed to focus on its "connection" and team defence.
