1. Oh, Joe!
Jeremy Howe, you have a challenger for mark of the year. Seven minutes into the first term of Friday night's clash between Essendon and St Kilda, Joe Daniher hauled in a brilliant grab over former teammate Jake Carlisle. With James Stewart's long kick heading deep into the Bombers' forward line, Daniher set himself for the screamer. Daniher must have been nearly four metres off the ground when he completed the grab, but the agile 23-year-old landed on his feet and quickly snapped the first goal of the night. He took another big mark over Carlisle in the third term to slot his fourth major of the night. It isn't the first time Carlisle has been 'poster-ised', having also been under the 'speccie' Carlton's Andrew Walker took in 2011. Before Friday night, Howe's Queen's Birthday mark for the Pies seemed set to be the mark of 2017, but Daniher's first grab against the Saints could have him pipped.

GAME BREAKER: Daniher delights the Dons army

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2. Carlisle comes up against the Dons
The former Bomber has been made to wait for his first game against his old side. Traded from Essendon to St Kilda at the end of 2015, Carlisle was one of the 34 past and present players hit with season-long suspensions last year. But his form has built this season as he's been stationed in the Saints' back half, returning to the marking and controlling form he showed for the Bombers in 2013. Carlisle, who was booed by Essendon fans whenever he touched the ball, spent most of the first three quarters matched up against Daniher before shifting forward to offer something in attack after Daniher's fourth major. Carlisle was good in attack, and finished with 19 disposals, 11 marks and a goal in his first game against his old club, but Daniher got the honours in their battle.

WATCH: Déjà vu for Jake: the speccie step ladder

Jake Carlisle chats with Tom Bellchambers after the game. Picture: AFL Photos

3. Bombers break the Friday night frights
The Bombers haven't had a fun time of it on Friday night for a long while. They entered the Saints clash having lost their past 10 Friday night games. Their run of defeats in the marquee time slot extends back more than three years, with their most recent Friday night win coming way back in the opening round of 2014 against North Melbourne. But that run ended against the Saints and the signs were there early. The Bombers restricted their opponents to their lowest first-quarter score (0.2) since the 2010 Grand Final replay, and kept them to just seven goals for the night in a 61-point battering. It was a vital win for the Bombers in their bid to make the finals, and a disappointing performance for the Saints after last week's obliteration of top-four hopefuls Richmond.

4. Hurley gets the honours over old hero
Michael Hurley grew up a St Kilda supporter who idolised Nick Riewoldt. But it was Riewoldt who (kind of) played on Hurley on Friday night, with the champion Saints forward keeping a close eye on the powerful Essendon defender early in the game. It's fair to say that didn't really work. Riewoldt had one of the worst games of his season, managing 16 disposals and having no say on the contest, while Hurley continued his brilliant year to finish with 27 disposals, nine marks and also kicked a goal in Essendon's barnstorming third term. Hurley is Essendon's most important player, he should figure highly in the club's best and fairest count and looks headed for his second All Australian jumper.

Michael Hurley doesn't seem to be showing his hero any respect here. Picture: AFL Photos

5. Schoolboy in Saints colours
It's rare for a player to debut when still finishing school, but that was the case for Saints forward Josh Battle, who ran out for the first time at AFL level on Friday night. The 18-year-old, who still spends a day a week at Haileybury College in Melbourne, was presented his jumper by former Saint Austin Jones before the game. Essendon champion goalkicker Matthew Lloyd, who is Battle's mentor at Haileybury, was also on hand in the Saints rooms for the moment. The leading forward started on the interchange before taking to the field early in the first term. It wasn't a great night to be playing in St Kilda's front half, but Battle got his first shot for goal in the third term. Renowned as a straight kick, Battle calmly went back from 40 metres out and slotted the shot in what was the highlight of his night. 

Koby Stevens helps Josh Battle celebrate his first goal in the AFL. Picture: AFL Photos