Football is about moments. We take a look at the moments that mattered in the Saints’ 11-point victory over Essendon.

1. Bruce hit the roof!

Josh Bruce has turned heads for all the right reasons so far in Season 2019.

A three-goal haul against Gold Coast in Round 1 followed by a brace against the Dons was the perfect start, but his screamer on Saturday night announced his return to senior footy like nothing else.

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The big No. 27 hung in the air for an eternity on the back of a helpless Michael Hurley, twisting mid-ride to bring down a spectacular grab at full stretch.

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2. Lonie v Goliath

Jack Lonie was among the Saints’ best on Saturday night, not in small part due to his ferocity at both ball and opposition.

The dynamic livewire stared down the barrel of a David v Goliath moment as he hunted a loose ball on the wing against a far bigger opponent in Hurley, but he didn’t back down.

The little man ploughed through the Bomber with a monstrous tackle, before collecting the football and setting up a crucial Dean Kent goal.

3. Saints swarm, Skunk finishes

In a passage of play emblematic of the entire contest, the Bombers had no way out of their last line of defence due to the Saints’ superior pressure and desire.

Consecutive forward-50m tackles from Josh Bruce, Matty Parker and Jack Sinclair caused the turnover, before emerging leader Tim Membrey pounced on the chance at goal.

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The immediate reaction of best-on-ground Jade Gresham was telling, who ran straight to the three tacklers.

4. Parker poleaxes Don

As Essendon came out firing in the last, so too did tough nut Matty Parker.

The Bombers were looking to rebound quickly from a Parker entry inside 50m, but a hospital handpass from Zach Merrett left youngster Andy McGrath exposed.

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Parker charged straight through the Bomber in a bone-crunching collision which left McGrath in a crumpled heap and shook the home side, who didn’t kick another goal until the dying stages of the match.

5. A captain’s mark

The Bombers sensed an opportunity mid-way through the third quarter to reel in the Saints’ 20-point lead, but the skipper stood tall when he needed to.

In typical fashion, Jarryn Geary’s game was built on selflessness, executing a shut-down job with aplomb, and the captain ranked in his side’s most influential players.

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But an intercept mark over opposition skipper Dyson Heppell when he was undersized, out-positioned and going back with the flight summed up his day best.