At a glance:

• Saints leader Seb Ross says Hunter Clark is poised to have a "great year" as part of the Saints' on-ball brigade.
• Clark collected 24 disposals and eight clearances, lining up for 16 centre bounces.
• The No. 11 was brought down by a high bump in the opening seconds of the game, but played on unaffected to be one of the Saints' cleanest users on the night.

More minutes on-ball for Hunter Clark has him primed and ready for an impactful season, according to Saints leader Seb Ross.

The 21-year-old rounded out his evening against the Blues with 24 disposals and a game-high eight clearances, lining up for 16 centre bounces in the Saints’ high-rotation midfield group.

As usual, Clark’s silky evasion skills accompanied his clean disposal (88 per cent), both of which aided the side offensively and defensively.

“I think Hunts has really set himself up for a great year,” Ross told saints.com.au.

“He’s had a terrific pre-season and coaches have been really keen to expose him to more inside time.

“We love seeing it, the fans love seeing it – just the ability he’s got to step around blokes and use either side of his body.

“He does some things a lot of us boys can’t do, and I think Saints fans would have seen the highlight last week against North Melbourne – the around-the-back spin or whatever he did.

“He does one or two things like that a game where you nearly start clapping your hands and applauding him because it’s unbelievable.”

Clark’s night appeared to be over in the opening seconds after being floored by a high bump from Carlton recruit Zac Williams.

The No. 11 duly picked himself back up and carried on mere moments later, spending majority of the first term alongside Williams and Jack Martin at centre bounce.

“That’s always been a big part of his game,” Ross said.

“I remember playing down in Hobart and he just ran back with the flight and copped a massive hit from Jack Ziebell coming up the other way, and he just got back up on his feet and kept playing.

“He hasn’t got the biggest frame, but he’s got courage in spades.”

Clark was joined by several new faces at centre bounce as the Saints experimented a combination of midfield line-ups.

Ross, Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele and the returning Jade Gresham spent consistent minutes on-ball, while Brad Crouch, Jack Bytel and Jack Billings joined the group at various times throughout the night.

“Getting a different range of guys in through the centre bounce and exposing them to it, we think it can be a real strength of ours throughout the year and it’ll keep us dynamic,” Ross said.

“Tonight was just another great opportunity to get those guys through there and we’re learning more and more about the new guys week in, week out.

“It’s going to be tough for the coaches come Round 1, because I think everyone’s putting their best foot forward.”