THE AFLW is back in a big way, with plenty of shock results and heart-stopping action.

From Friday night's last-minute West Coast win that cemented Daisy Pearce's new status as a coach to watch out for, to North Melbourne's shock smashing of reigning premier Brisbane.

See how it all unfolded below.

Sydney v Collingwood: Slick Swans too good for Magpies in fiery season-opener

SYDNEY has taken its first step towards meeting greater expectations as Chloe Molloy returned to haunt her former side in a 15-point triumph over Collingwood at North Sydney Oval.

The Swans have a tougher draw after surging into the finals in their second season but got their campaign off to a flying start with an 8.2 (50) to 4.11 (35) victory in a fiery clash with the Magpies on Friday night.

SWANS v MAGPIES Full match coverage and stats

SYDNEY                       2.0     3.0     7.1      8.2 (50)
COLLINGWOOD          1.2     2.6     2.7     4.11 (35)

West Coast v Richmond: Eagles edge Tigers in thriller to give Daisy winning start

DAISY Pearce's West Coast era has started with triumph albeit by the narrowest of margins, getting home by one point over Richmond after the Tigers stormed back from a 22-point half-time deficit.

Kellie Gibson goaled with 43 seconds remaining to restore the Eagles' lead, after Richmond had appeared to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after kicking three final-term goals to hit the lead.

EAGLES v TIGERS Full match coverage and stats

WEST COAST          2.1     5.1     5.3     6.4 (40)
RICHMOND             0.2     1.3     2.5     5.9 (39)

Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs: Giants pile on pain with 63-point rout of young Dogs

THE WESTERN Bulldogs' AFLW rebuild has hit its first speed bump with an emphatic 63-point defeat to Greater Western Sydney.

Tam Hyett's tenure as Bulldogs coach started with a loss after the Giants slammed through nine unanswered goals to triumph 10.12 (72) to 1.3 (9) in windy conditions at Manuka Oval on Saturday.

GIANTS v BULLDOGS Full match coverage and stats

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY     1.3      2.4       7.10      10.12 (72)
WESTERN BULLDOGS                  0.1      1.2       1.2       1.3 (9)

Essendon v Fremantle: Dockers add insult to injuries in Bombers belting

FREMANTLE has started its 2024 season with a surprising 43-point win away from home against an injury-depleted Essendon.

Essendon was left with three on the bench following a collision between Bombers' co-captain Bonnie Toogood and Amber Clarke in the second quarter, with neither player returning to the ground following the friendly fire.

BOMBERS v DOCKERS Full match coverage and stats

ESSENDON      1.2   2.2   3.3   3.3 (21)
FREMANTLE     0.0   4.2   5.3   10.4 (64)

Gold Coast v St Kilda: Wardlaw stars as Saints smash Suns to kick off season in style

JESSE Wardlaw has put on a forward line masterclass to lead St Kilda to an emphatic 54-point demolition of Gold Coast at People First Stadium on Saturday.

Wardlaw imposed herself on the contest from the opening moments, kicking two of her team's four first-quarter goals to lay the platform for the 11.8 (74) to 2.8 (20) triumph.

SUNS v SAINTS Full match coverage and stats

GOLD COAST     0.1     1.2     1.6      2.8 (20)
ST KILDA          4.1      6.4     7.5      11.8 (74)

Geelong v Melbourne: New-look Dees fight off late Cats challenge to snatch victory

MELBOURNE has overrun Geelong and then hung on by two points in a wet and wild game at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.

The Cats had sent the Dees packing in straight sets in last year's finals series, and it took the visitors a half to find their groove, but they settled to score a gritty 6.6 (42) to 6.4 (40) win.

CATS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

GEELONG           2.2     3.2     5.2     6.4 (40)
MELBOURNE      2.0     2.2     5.4     6.6 (42)

Port Adelaide v Adelaide: Crows survive scare from gritty Power to clinch Showdown

ADELAIDE superstar Ebony Marinoff was at her brilliant best as the Crows held off a strong challenge from Port Adelaide in their season-opener.

In front of a sell-out crowd at Alberton Oval, Marinoff dominated with 29 disposals and nine tackles to lead the Crows to a 14-point win, 7.7 (49) to 5.5 (35).

POWER v CROWS Full match coverage and stats

PORT ADELAIDE           1.1     3.2     4.3     5.5 (35)
ADELAIDE                      3.1     4.4     5.7     7.7 (49)

Hawthorn v Carlton: Irish pair, recruits lead charge as hot Hawks blow Blues away

THE DANIEL Webster era has begun in style, with Hawthorn dispatching of Carlton by 38 points on Sunday afternoon.

The Hawks piled on their highest ever score to claim the biggest win in their history, defeating the Blues 9.12 (66) to 4.4 (28) as seagulls and a strong win swirled at Kinetic Stadium.

HAWKS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

HAWTHORN    2.1    5.4    6.7   9.12 (66)
CARLTON        2.2    2.2    3.3   4.4 (28)

Brisbane v North Melbourne: Lions suffer biggest ever defeat as Roos fire warning shot

NORTH Melbourne took nine months of frustration out on Brisbane at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday, destroying the premiers by 44 points in a one-sided Grand Final re-match.

Leading by 12 points at half-time, the Kangaroos unleashed one of the best quarters in AFLW history to put the game away in the third, kicking six unanswered goals to shellshock the Lions.

LIONS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

BRISBANE                         0.2       2.3       2.3       5.4 (34)
NORTH MELBOURNE        2.2       4.3       10.4     12.6 (78)