What a cracker … Western Bulldogs v Adelaide
Can you write a script better? Bulldog skipper Brad Johnson certainly doesn’t think so. The Dogs stalwart celebrated his 300th AFL match in stunning fashion, booting five goals, including three in the dying stages of the final term. Adelaide’s Nathan Bock had the chance to ruin Johnson’s big day when he had a set shot for goal with seconds remaining, but the footy gods smiled on the ever-grinning Johnson, as Bock’s kick drifted through for a point and ensured a victory for the red, white and blue.

Player of the round … Matthew Richardson
Richardson was dominant in the season-opener against Carlton, finishing with five goals, 11 marks, 15 disposals and a couple of misses that were true ‘Richo’. His ability to rise to the occasion - yet again - when his side needed to make a statement was the difference in the match. Richardson’s haul saw him move into equal 12th on the all-time goalkicking list with 748 majors, joining Sav Rocca.

Coach of the round … Terry Wallace
Let’s face it, the fall-out for Wallace had the Tigers lost to the Blues would have been extreme. The Richmond coach entered the season as the man thought by many as the first coach likely to be sacked in 2008, but Wallace and his troops stuck to their guns, fighting back after Carlton had the ascendancy during the first half to record a stirring victory. Cue chorus after chorus of ‘Tigerland’ in the nearby Richmond pubs until the early hours of Good Friday.

One for the vault … Brad Johnson’s match-winning goal
Johnson, who encapsulates everything we love about the game, stood tall when his side needed him most, crumbing a marking contest in front of goal before finishing with the sealer. His celebratory fall to the ground - backwards with fists pumping – has already provided us with one of the images of the season.

How’s stat … The Hawks give 308 per cent
We all thought Geelong’s ability to finish with a home-and-away percentage of 152.76 was impressive last season, but how about Hawthorn’s effort after round one - a whopping 308.00 per cent? On the other side of the coin, Melbourne’s miserable percentage of 32.46 will take a lot of rebuilding.

He’s a keeper … Cyril Rioli
The nephew of Maurice Rioli and Michael Long made his AFL debut in round one - and unsurprisingly, he didn’t disappoint. Rioli has been long been considered an AFL player in waiting after a stellar junior career, and his performance against Melbourne was breathtaking. His work with fellow first-gamer and Northern Territorian Cameron Stokes gives the Hawks another dimension.

There’s always next round … for Melbourne
It was a shattering start for Dean Bailey and Melbourne, which started its 150th year celebrations in the worst possible way after losing by 104 points to Hawthorn. The red and blue must produce a super-competitive showing against the Western Bulldogs next Saturday at the MCG - otherwise they could be featuring in this category on a regular basis.

Picking up where he left off … Jonathan Brown
It was a different year but the same old story at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night, when 2007 Coleman medalist Jonathan Brown ran riot against West Coast. Brown kicked Brisbane’s first four goals, keeping the Lions in it when the Eagles threatened to blow the game open, and had 6.0 overall. The man he beat? All-Australian full-back Darren Glass, who isn’t exactly chopped liver. When the big bloke is on song, there’s not much anyone – Glass included – can do about it.

Resisting the youth movement … Anthony Rocca
Fremantle hung tough against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, with the Pies clinging to a six-point lead at the final change. In a game where Collingwood had 10 players under the age of 21 (to Fremantle’s none), it was an old head, Anthony Rocca, who provided the spark, with three of his six goals coming in a 15-minute burst in the final stanza. A Rocca return of 6.1 shows that experience still counts for plenty.

Mr 100 per cent … Matthew Knights
Of the two first-game coaches calling the shots this weekend, Matthew Knights certainly had the better weekend. His Bombers were slow out of the gate against the Roos at Telstra Dome on Easter Monday, but they flew up, up thereafter, kicking 17 of the last 19 goals to run out 55-point winners. Back home on the couch, you could hardly blame new Melbourne mentor Dean Bailey for changing channels in the second half.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.