St Kilda's 3-0 AFL start is uplifting, unexpected and much-lauded, but to coach Ross Lyon it means nothing.
The Saints are half a game clear at the top of the ladder heading into Saturday night's clash with Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.
For all his team's improvement and ability to cover a rugged injury toll so far, Lyon is paying little heed to the plaudits.
He notes Geelong were 5-4 a year ago before going on the 16-game run that took them to the premiership.
"My take is there's a lot of noise and that's positive - so that's nice," Lyon said.
"We're writing our own story. It's positive because of the significant injuries we've had ... that's been the difference.
"That's why it's been recognised, otherwise it's just three wins.
"Me - how I think about it? - it really means nothing. It's three."
Lyon also is impressed by the Suns, who pushed Essendon before last weekend's big upset win over the Cats.
"(Matt) Rowell is up and going, Touk Miller has been one of their champions for a long time and their captain (Jarrod) Witts leads them really well.
"Lachie Weller had a BOG ... (Jack) Lukosius, he's a precocious talent, isn't he. (Ben) King's back - so lots of threats.
"Our best, we'll be in the game. It's going to be an exciting Saturday night game - if anyone had said start of the year, St Kilda-Gold Coast?
"They're high, high-end talent. If you let them roll, they'll get a hold of you. It's not just tokenism. They're up and about."
The question for the Saints is how long they can keep enduring their brutal run with injuries before their players start returning, or it cracks them.
Jimmy Webster is the latest victim with a fractured cheekbone, while in-form utility Mason Wood was named despite the shoulder injury he suffered in the win over Essendon.
Typical of Lyon's coaching, they will meet the Suns' talent with honest, get-your-hands-dirty toil.
"I don't think we're going out there to blow 'em away. We're going out to work hard and compete," he said.
"A new system, new coaches, we have some good traction early, but I'm still discovering a lot about the group, they're still growing.
"We've had challenges, we've made the most of what's been put in front of us, but gee whiz - I'm certainly not ahead of myself."
HOW THE PREMIERS HAVE STARTED
2018: West Coast - lost round one, won the next 10
2019: Richmond - 1-2
2020: Richmond - 1-1-1
2021: Melbourne - 9-0
2022: Geelong: 2-1
