Strong-bodied midfielder Tim Kelly emerged as the best player afield with a quality four-quarter performance.

Kelly set an early standard with both his attack on the ball and also his opponents, clamping on two bone-jarring tackles in the opening five minutes that were rewarded with free kicks.

He was strong in the contest throughout, picking up 25 possessions which seems to be the new threshold in these abbreviated matches. He had 15 kicks, 10 handballs and five marks and in conjunction with Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed and Jack Redden, they established the midfield edge to set up victory.

The star recruit was also involved in eight clearances, two of them from centre bounces, and 10 his 25 disposals were contested. It resulted in the team gaining 451 metres with the ball in his hands as he continues to build an understanding with his new teammates.