St Kilda were given an insight into the future in Sunday's 46-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium and coach Alan Richardson liked what he saw.
The Bombers, fresh from their remarkable second-half surge against North Melbourne, were competitive throughout the opening half and threatened to cause an upset.
But young forwards Josh Bruce, Paddy McCartin and Tim Membrey seized control of the contest, kicking a combined total of seven goals in the third quarter.
The Saints piled on six consecutive goals to triumph 16.13 (109) to 9.9 (63).
"Membrey, Bruce and McCartin are going to be a really exciting group of players," Richardson said.
"Those guys very rarely get beaten in contests. They're great effort players.
"I know this team's going to be a really good footy team and we're impatient. We want that to be tomorrow.
"The reality is it's going to take a while ... there's going to be times when it doesn't quite work."
Bruce kicked five goals and laid six tackles to rival midfielders Jack Steven and Seb Ross for best-on-ground honours.
"Brucey in many ways probably typified the whole team. He worked his backside off (in the first half) and at times looked a bit awkward," Richardson said.
"Five goals is just reward for someone who works as hard as he does."
Nick Riewoldt spent much of the game roaming the whole field but Richardson suggested the skipper could play in the same forward line as the three young guns.
"But that's not necessarily what will happen," he added.
Leigh Montagna is set to be scrutinised by the match review panel, having prompted a scuffle in the second term when he lashed out at Mark Baguley after being tackled without the ball.
A total of nine behinds were kicked in the first quarter, a sloppy start to an error-riddled half.
The Saints conceded the opening goal, when Joe Daniher converted after clutching a contested mark.
St Kilda regained the lead in the 14th minute of the first term and never relinquished it, although their buffer was in single figures for most of the opening half.
"I was certainly concerned at halftime. We'd defended pretty well but we were under the pump," Bombers coach John Worsfold said.
"Our backs were under siege and really held up for a fair while but couldn't maintain that."
James Kelly and Adam Cooney both worked tirelessly and impressed for the undermanned Bombers, while Mitch Brown kicked four goals for the losers.
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