1. Sydney is back
Starting the season with six straight losses wasn't what coach John Longmire would have envisaged but the Swans seem to be hitting some of their best form. Worryingly for the rest of the competition, the football they are playing is elite. Beating the Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne was a promising sign, but returning to Etihad Stadium off a six-day break to defeat a St Kilda outfit that had won three consecutive games was a more definitive indicator that Sydney is likely to be involved in September action. Sydney plays three of its next four games at the SCG, against Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Essendon, so would fancy its chances over the next few weeks.
2. Paddy McCartin struggles on return
It was an almost day from the first person drafted in 2014. On several occasions, he looked as if he would take a mark inside 50 but the ball didn't quite stick. A moment he would like back was in the second quarter, when the ball slipped through his hands while St Kilda was down by 18 points. However, he followed up well from that effort when he gathered a loose ball in the middle of the ground and showed quick hands to hit Blake Acres, whose kick found Tim Membrey, with the former Swan snapping a goal. The 21-year-old had another chance moments later when he could have kicked a tough one on his left but he wasn't quite able to finish. It's tough to expect to much from someone playing just his 20th game, but after coming into the senior side on the back of impressive VFL form, McCartin would have expected more from himself. Saints fans were frustrated too – they gave McCartin the bronx cheers when he took a mark in the dying minutes.
3. Unchained Rampe solidifies Sydney's defence
John Longmire must have been extremely frustrated to have been without Dane Rampe for so long. After playing in round one, the backman tripped over a chain while going for a run at training and watched on as the Swans dropped another five games. Sydney had already improved the last couple of weeks but Rampe's return made it look even better. Given a job on the dangerous Tim Membrey, Rampe restricted the Saint to two goals and should only show better form in the next few weeks.
4. Nathan Brown shows why he was recruited
Lance Franklin has put in some superb performances against St Kilda. Those memories would have been fresh in Alan Richardson's mind after he booted six goals in round 21 last year and broke the game open in the third quarter. Nathan Brown was superb against the triple Coleman medallist in the first half, keeping him goalless. On one occasion in the opening term, the Swans forward gave away a free kick against Dylan Roberton for a high tackle and then conceded a 50m penalty for pushing the Saint into the ground. Franklin looked good in the third term and took a couple of marks in one-on-one contests against the former Magpie, and cashed in during the last quarter to finish with four goals, but Brown was impressive against Franklin when the game was alive.
5. Courage from Gary Rohan
Gary Rohan scared the entire football world against Carlton when he landed on his head. There were worries his health could be in serious jeopardy but he missed just one week, and he returned through the NEAFL. Rohan was back in the team for the clash with the Saints and in the third term, he courageously went back with the flight to intercept a Jack Steven kick. The much-maligned speedster hit the turf awkwardly again but was straight back up and ready to take the set shot. From the 50m arc, close to the boundary, there were no issues for Rohan, and he extended the margin to 26 points.
