THE BRISBANE Lions got their NAB AFL Women's season off to the best start possible, avenging their 2017 Grand Final defeat at the hands of Adelaide on Saturday night.

The Crows, already without All Australian defender Courtney Cramey (hamstring), were understrength after competition best and fairest Erin Phillips was a late withdrawal with a quad strain suffered at training the night before.

But the Lions had a point to prove and were much more disciplined in attack. 

Their first goal, via debutant Sophie Conway, came about because Sabrina Frederick-Traub and then Ally Anderson found a teammate closer to goal, rather than having the shot themselves.

Match report: Lions turn tables on Crows

It was a common theme across the first round, with play noticeably more structured and controlled than last season. 

The Western Bulldogs' ability to look for a shorter option against Fremantle, as well as hard running from their forwards and midfielders, led to them having 14 shots on goal for a return of 7.7 (49).

They cut through the hapless Dockers with ease in the first half and didn't allow them to even register a score until the third term.

It was a fairly dour start to the season, with the clash between Carlton and Collingwood featuring strong defensive set-ups from both sides. 

The Blues especially impressed, with new skipper Brianna Davey the general in a backline featuring Danielle Hardiman, Gab Pound, Kate Gillespie-Jones and Alison Downie (rotating between defence and ruck).

Carlton had a well-structured zone defence in play, often forcing Collingwood towards the boundary line; with the last-touch rule in effect, it was a place the Magpies were desperate to avoid.

Match report: Blues open season with a win

The last-touch rule made its regular-season debut to mixed feedback.

Play was often switched into the middle of the ground to avoid the boundary, the Melbourne-Greater Western Sydney clash especially notable for quick movement through the corridor.

Brought in to attempt to boost scoring, it actually had the opposite effect when teams were kicking into their forward 50s.

Miskicks – whether they were shots on goal, long kicks to gain ground or passes to teammates – resulted in direct turnovers, rather than a stoppage and the chance at a snap goal. 

Teams may start to direct their play to the top of the square as a consequence, but the last-touch rule has inadvertently removed a path to goal.

Adelaide's horror second half

The reigning premiers unveiled their premiership flag before their match against the Brisbane Lions, but it was all downhill from there for the Crows. 

Co-captain Chelsea Randall starred, but Adelaide failed to score in the second half of its 12-point defeat. 

Only poor kicking from the Lions (four goals and seven behinds) prevented it from being a bigger loss.

It's a concern for the Crows, who were the competition's leading scorer last season, averaging 42 points a match. They managed just 19 points on Saturday night.

Before the season started, Champion Data released statistics showing Adelaide had six players ranked either elite or above average and 11 ranked either below average or poor. 

Of those six players, three (Phillips, Cramey and Abbey Holmes) didn't play due to injury, while Sarah Perkins was well beaten by Leah Kaslar. Ten of the players rated below average or poor took the field against the Lions. 

While most AFLW teams will struggle if three of their best are not playing, Adelaide may be in trouble if the trio continues to battle injury this season.

Leah Kaslar blanketed Sarah Perkins in Saturday night's Grand Final rematch. Picture: AFL Photos

Guess who's back?

All eyes were one player when the game between Western Bulldogs and Fremantle started at Whitten Oval on Sunday.

Dogs captain Katie Brennan managed just two games last year due to ankle and quad injuries, but finally got the chance to show just how good she is on the national stage.

The 25-year-old instantly straightened up the Bulldogs forward line, providing a real focal point and kicking three goals in the first half. 

Match report: Brennan, Dogs back with a bang

She wasn't the only player to return from a long-term injury. Melbourne defender Meg Downie impressed in her first AFLW game since suffering the double blow of a torn hamstring and concussion in the space of a few seconds in round two last year.

Downie's presence in defence has allowed Melissa Hickey to move up the ground, adding yet another weapon to the Demons' elite midfield. 

Carlton had two returnees, defender Nat Plane (ankle) and midfielder Jess Hosking (knee and shoulder). Hosking didn't manage a game last year but impressed in her debut game. 

Renee Forth was another to play her first game after sitting out the year injured, the Giants midfielder looking right at home at the top level. 

Katie Brennan kicks for goal at the VU Whitten Oval on Sunday afternoon. Picture: AFL Photos

Beware of the Giants

Greater Western Sydney raised eyebrows when it knocked off the Brisbane Lions in a practice match to the tune of 50 points, but there was still an asterisk as to whether it could back it up in a regular-season match.

But the Giants very nearly defeated premiership favourite Melbourne, going down by just a solitary goal kicked by Richelle Cranston with two minutes remaining.

Match report: Dees down gallant Giants

Under new coach Alan McConnell, the Giants are much improved from last year. The additions of midfielder Courtney Gum (17 disposals), recruit Alicia Eva (14 and 13 tackles), Irishwoman Cora Staunton (one goal) and defender Tanya Hetherington have made a big difference. 

Regular forward Louise Stephenson has made the move down back, while young ruck Erin McKinnon has put on size over summer.

The presence of Staunton in particular seemed to benefit fellow key forward Phoebe McWilliams, who kicked three goals and was more dynamic around the ground than last year. 

Irish recruit Cora Staunton was impressive in the Giants' narrow loss. Picture: AFL Photos

New faces

Being just the second season of the AFLW competition, there were plenty of debutants over the weekend.

Collingwood's Chloe Molloy (19 disposals) – who played in defence despite finishing 2017 as the VFLW's equal leading-goalkicker – was extremely impressive, as was 18-year-old teammate Iilish Ross.

Ross kept last year's AFLW leading goalkicker Darcy Vescio scoreless and looked very comfortable, while Carlton forward Georgia Gee was very lively.

Melbourne's Kate Hore (10 disposals, one goal and two behinds) was eye-catching in the forward line, as was teammate Erin Hoare in the ruck. Hoare, who at 194cm is the tallest player in the competition, had the most hit-outs for the round (22).

Elusive Adelaide forward Ruth Wallace (14 touches and a goal) looks set to cause defenders headaches for years to come, while fellow Crow Jess Allan did not look out of place in the ruck.

Forward Sophie Conway and defender Arianna Clarke, both 18, were the picks of the Brisbane Lions' debutants. 

Aisling Utri is more at home on a hockey pitch, but her steadiness in defence for the Bulldogs did not go unnoticed, while Isabel Huntington and Monique Conti showed why they were drafted first and fourth respectively last year.

No.4 draft pick Chloe Molloy was among Collingwood's best in her AFLW debut. Picture: AFL Photos

A most unusual celebration

Despite suffering only one loss last year – albeit in the Grand Final – the Lions had few fans coming into this season.

When surveyed anonymously before the start of round one, not one AFLW captain tipped the Lions to reach the Grand Final (Emma Zielke wasn't able to nominate her own team) and few in the media gave them a chance. 

Brisbane had spent 10 months rueing their Grand Final defeat to Adelaide and was eager to make a point after knocking off the Crows in the rematch.

The team got together after singing the song on the field and posed for a photo with their fingers to their lips, wanting to silence their critics.