The second is Ben Jacobs, the forgotten tagger, who put his name back in lights with a stopping job on St Kilda's reigning best and fairest winner Seb Ross. Their coach Brad Scott understands their value better than most and he is happy to sing their praises. He agrees that Brown, who kicked 63 goals in 2017 and finished third in the Coleman Medal, after kicking 41 the season before, is underrated. "You look at the players his age who are emerging in the competition and they’re regarded as potential superstars," Scott said. "But Browny is pretty close to being one of the dominant key forwards in the competition already, even at his age." Having Jarrad Waite alongside Brown helped on Friday with the veteran taking 13 marks and distracting the Saints' intercept markers.

The decision to extend the 35-year-old's contract another season after he played just 10 games in 2017 surprised some but the Kangaroos knew why it was a logical call. "Last year we were concerned about him getting double-teamed and copping the opposition’s best defender every week. That happened last year and it’s going to happen again, but he keeps rising to the occasion," Scott said. Loading Brown said post-game that Waite has been an important mentor for him and makes his life as a forward much easier when he is in the team. "It absolutely does make a noticeable difference having him there," Brown said.

"A few times in the air he out-marked guys who I didn’t think he had any right to out-mark." Meanwhile Jacobs' presence is a bonus for Scott who, until round one, had been without the 26-year-old since round seven last season. The reasons why the coach sent Jacobs to Ross rather than Jack Steven, as most expected, were not revealed but Scott said a lot of thought had gone into the decision. Ben Jacobs prepares to let fly off his left boot. Credit:AAP He said the return of Jacobs, who restricted Ross to 23 disposals and caught St Kilda's midfield off-guard, had a flow-on effect that strengthened the Kangaroos' midfield.