It was a moment in which one Saint was universally admired by the football world.

Sprinting back with the flight with no regard for his own safety, defender Jimmy Webster crashed headlong into Melbourne's Sam Weideman to effect a spoil.

Match-day experience is the most constructive teacher in the eyes of an AFL player, but valuable lessons can still be learned from afar.

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Brandon White was in the grandstand of Marvel Stadium when St Kilda went up against Melbourne in Round 7 of last season; a match which ultimately resulted in the Saints succumbing to their fifth demoralising loss of the year.

But amid the misery of another defeat, White took inspiration from his fellow defender's stirring act of bravery.

The seasoned backman was among the best for the Saints that afternoon, finishing with 24 disposals and seven marks in a game otherwise lacking in highlights for the red, white and black.

It was a single, selfless act which has since served as a motivator for White, with the 22-year-old’s hardness at the contest unquestionable across his six matches for St Kilda last season.

Despite White only playing a further two senior games following Webster’s heroism, his hunger for the footy and willingness to put the team’s interests before his own remained the same while playing for VFL side Sandringham.

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It’s something that he’s ensured is now a part of his game, and he continues to enhance it through the actions exhibited by Webster.

“I like the way Jimmy goes about it; he’s very courageous and he inspires teammates when he does stuff like that,” White said in reflection of his teammate’s heroics.

Jimmy putting his body on the line; it’s what we have to do a bit more as a team.”

The acknowledgement and celebration of such efforts have served as a catalyst for the Saints’ shift in culture for Season 2019, much of which has been reinforced by the work of Billy Slater.

“We’ve got to play for each other and I think we’ll see that this year with the changes we’ve made and the different culture we’ve created here,” White said.

“These little things add up – a chase where it leads into a turnover, where you get a tackle for it and then a possession for it – and then the big things will take care of themselves.”

“It doesn’t stop now. We’ve got to keep improving, and we can’t put the cue in the rack.”