The power and presence of Lance Franklin was immediately noticeable during Friday night’s JLT Series win over the Giants.
Franklin booted two first quarter goals in his first match of the pre-season after recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.
Teammates Dane Rampe said there was no doubt having the star forward in the line up lifts the rest of the side.
“It was good to have him back out there because he has been training really well for a couple of weeks now,” Rampe said on Saturday.
“He is just a big presence out there.
“It is stating the obvious but we look a lot more powerful and influential on the field when he is doing his thing.”
Also among the best players in the 12-point win over the cross-town rivals was Callum Mills who is continuing the strong form he showed during his debut season.
Rampe said he only expected Mills to get better as he enters his second season of AFL.
“It is a gradual improvement and he just has a really steady head on his shoulders.”
“He is the ultimate professional so it is not going to be a big jump he is just going to keep ticking along and getting better over time.
“The first thing we noticed when he walked into the place is that he is real mature for his age.
“That shows in the way he goes about it on the field but also off field he is exactly the same.”