Saints, Dees show off new styles

Luke Dunstan looked good on debut. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Corp Australia

IT was a night of new beginnings and fresh starts; a moment of change in the history of two foundation football clubs.

For that reason, you can almost forgive the mistakes and the fumbles.

And let's be brutally honest, there were plenty of both from a game that won't have fans of either side rushing out to purchase a copy of the DVD.

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To be fair to both sides, though, St Kilda and Melbourne each had more than their fair share of players out for various reasons.

The Saints' midfield was all but decimated, yet still had a heartbeat; the Demons' attack was barely worthy of that word for most of the night.

Bernie Vince in the face of Tom Curren. Source: News Corp Australia

But the match was more about who was out there; not those who weren't — except for the two coaches sitting in their respective boxes trying to impact on the game for their new sides.

Paul Roos coached his first official game — and 203rd overall — since the Swans bowed out to the Western Bulldogs in a 2010 semi-final.

We learnt that he is not the Messiah, but the Demons did play with more system, if a little too haphazard on too many occasions. They will be better for the experience.

Alan Richardson was coaching his second game after a lifetime of experience, but effectively the first as his own man.

Nathan Jones has never won a first-round match. Source: News Corp Australia

Richardson's one game in the Port Adelaide chair came when Ken Hinkley was ill last season, yet this one would have felt very, very different. This time he wasn't just warming the seat.

Melbourne had six new players; St Kilda had five; and the style differences from last year were on show.

The Demons possessed the ball at will, sometimes too often. The high handball-to-kick ratio was evident from the outset.

The Saints were more efficient with their use and had a familiar face in attack — Nick Riewoldt — who is still such a massive competitor. He willed his team as much as anyone else out there.

St Kilda would have been delighted with Luke Dunstan on debut, gathering possessions at will; Eli Templeton did more than just win the nomination of bizarre hairstyle of the week with a fine goal in the second term.

Dom Tyson tackled by Clinton Jones and Josh Saunders. Source: News Corp Australia

Jack Billings had to wait three and a bit quarters to get rid of the green vest. He looked set to join the first-kick-first-goal club before hitting the post. Well, perhaps now he is in the first-kick-first-poster club.

Melbourne got plenty of work out of former Crow Bernie Vince, and his big goal early in the final term kept the Demons in the hunt as the Saints held control.

Dom Tyson also got a goal in the final term, getting his hands on the ball when the Demons needed it most.

In all, the fresh faces will take time to find their feet with each club, and so will the coaches. But at least both sides are away — and the Saints have those vital first four premiership points.

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