The moment: A summer of intense speculation and intrigue reached fever pitch as Ben Cousins prepared to take the field for the first time as a Tiger, but his exit from the match took the frenzy to a new level.
The former Eagle had enjoyed a reasonable return to the top flight after his time in exile, but Richmond's decision to throw the recovering drug addict a lifeline was put immediately under the spotlight after he fell to the turf clutching a hamstring injury that looks set to sideline him for a month.
2 -- Geelong 15.21 (111) d Hawthorn 16.7 (103), at the MCG
The moment: The Cats have been telling anyone who'll listen that they've moved on from the grand final loss to Hawthorn, but blind Freddy could see that the opening round win meant a bit more than four premiership points.
The moment that perhaps summed up the cathartic nature of the match best was Cameron Mooney's set shot in the 10th minute of the third quarter. Having marked Paul Chapman's long ball, Mooney lined up in a similar position to the spot where he sprayed wide shortly before the half-time siren on grand final day.
He made no mistake this time and you can almost see a summer of angst lifting from his shoulders as he celebrates in front of the Hawthorn cheer squad.
3 -- Adelaide 13.12 (90) d Collingwood 13.8 (86), at the MCG
The moment: This one went right down to the wire and Dale Thomas nearly produced a piece of his customary brilliance to seal the deal for the Magpies. It was the dying minutes, and having recovered a sizeable first-quarter deficit, the Pies narrowly trailed. With players from both sides out on their feet after an intense battle in the Saturday afternoon sun, Thomas gathered the ball and headed goalwards.
Pressed tight against the boundary, Daisy flung the ball onto his right boot and watched as it curved through the big sticks. It was a game-changing goal - or would have been, had the umpire's whistle not signalled that Thomas had carried the ball ever-so-slightly out of bounds.
4 -- Brisbane Lions 14.11 (95) d West Coast 13.8 (86), at the Gabba
The moment: Daniel Rich and Rhan Hooper have been big stories for the Brisbane Lions for vastly differing reasons over summer, but they both had big games on Saturday night.
Rich's fierce tackle on Matt Rosa three minutes into the third quarter was duly rewarded and the precocious youngster pumped the ball deep inside 50. After Jonathan Brown brought the ball to ground Hooper appeared out of nowhere to produce a piece of left-footed brilliance that bobbled through for one of his four majors which should help him get back into Michael Voss' good books.
5 -- St Kilda 12.8 (80) d Sydney Swans 9.11 (65), at Docklands Stadium
The moment: Justin Koschitzke didn't touch the ball in the first quarter against the Swans, but he made up for it in the second when he was a key factor in the Saints' resurgence.
Having just had Darren Jolly take a big hanger over his head, Kosi returned the favour with an early contender for mark of the year in the 22nd minute. With the high ball coming in the big Saint elevated high over the top of Jolly to pull down a spectacular mark 35 m out from goal and capped it off by splitting the big sticks.
6 -- North Melbourne 15.11 (101) d Melbourne 10.7 (67), at the MCG
The moment: Fair to say Hamish McIntosh had a point to prove on Sunday after Dean Laidley openly courted offers for the big man during trade week last year. The ruckman gathered 21 possessions, had 21 hitouts and kicked three goals in a season opener to remember.
His third major was perhaps his most important. After contesting the boundary throw in out on the wing at the MCG, McIntosh ran hard forward to receive the ball and convert running inside 50 to remind us all – and the coach – of the ability that saw him touted as the next big thing in 2007.
7 -- Port Adelaide 15.17 (107) d Essendon 9.12 (66), at AAMI Stadium
The moment: Daniel Motlop, the Power's leading goalkicker from last season, has the ability to make the ridiculously hard look easy. The dynamic forward booted four goals to help his side to a first-up victory and while his opener didn't have his usual degree of difficulty, it was a pearler nonetheless that helped Port off to a winning start.
8 -- Western Bulldogs 25.7 (157) d Fremantle 13.16 (94), at Subiaco
The moment: Ryan Griffen and the Bulldogs have been there or thereabouts for a little while now, but both showed they are capable of big things this season if this slick passage of play was any guide.
Six Dogs combined by hand and foot from a point kick-in that ended in a goal just 27 seconds later. The superb piece of play ended after Griffen, having set-up a one-two with Daniel Cross, kicked low and hard from outside 50 for the first of three goals on the day.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
