Emerging key forward Paddy McCartin returned from a three-week hiatus from senior level with aplomb on Sunday, producing his strongest performance at the highest level in his short career.

Following an interrupted start to the season after a hamstring injury at the tail end of the pre-season, McCartin was given a week off to freshen up and o put some extra conditioning in the bank, before spending the last fortnight with Sandringham.

The decision now looks inspired on the back of the budding spearheads eye-catching performance against Essendon on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

In only his 11th game, the Geelong Falcons product hauled in a career-high 10 marks from 11 disposals and kicked 2.1, with the clinical execution of his set shots leaving supporters beaming with delight.

McCartin, 20, covered the ground a lot better than he did earlier in the year and admitted post-game that he felt positive after some time away to fine tune his craft at the lower level.

“I felt really good. I think I had a good couple of weeks with the VFL. I came back in and just tried to apply that again and just tried to run and launch and go for my marks and cover the deck,” McCartin told saints.com.au on Sunday night.

“And I think the way we worked together as a forward group, all three of us talls, helped out as well.”

Working alongside Tim Membrey and Josh Bruce inside 50, McCartin combined for 10.5 to help drive the Saints to a 46-point win over the Bombers.

But despite the impressive showing in their maiden appearance together, the 2014 No. 1 pick said the combination must become a consistent force. Although given it was just their first game together, he was buoyed by their scope for improvement.

“We’re pretty good mates all three of us, so to get on the end of a couple and help each other out was really good,” McCartin said.

“But I think it can’t just be a one week thing, all of us are going to gel together and hopefully we play a lot of footy together. We’ll keep taking it one week at a time, but it’s pretty exciting.

“There’s a lot (of room for improvement) I guess. It’s the first game we’ve played together. But as you saw today, we’ve worked on it all pre-season together. Now to be able to put that into games is pretty good. I loved every minute of it to be honest, I love them two so it’s great.”