Josh Kennedy kicked seven, Jobe Watson made a triumphant return, Melbourne looked the goods, North didn't draw much of a crowd and everyone's tips are already stuffed ... footy is certainly back and so are the ESPN AFL Power Rankings for 2017.
It's Adelaide which has the honour of topping out our list after round one. A strong victory over premiership fancies Greater Western Sydney has the Crows placed ahead of a Geelong side which made light of its long trip west, West Coast and reigning premiers, the Western Bulldogs.
The Demons feature highly after they sent a strong message to the competition, while the Tigers, despite winning their season-opener, do not manage a guernsey in the Power Rankings' top eight.
Both Sydney sides find themselves well behind the pack after poor showings however, much like the actual ladder, it may take a few rounds for the form ladder to take shape.
1. Adelaide:
Round 1: defeated GWS by 56 points
Is it time for everyone to take Adelaide a little more seriously? Not only did the Crows defeat the preseason's premiership favourites, they did it to the tune of 56 points - all, apparently, without an A-grade midfield. Much has been made about the Crows' lack of depth in the centre, but with up-and-coming midfielders such as Rory Atkins stepping up, rebounding defenders as good as Rory Laird racking up 40 touches, and a forward line that honesty seems to be without peer, this team could be hard to stop. This outfit should win every one of its home games and a good number on the road, too. Oh, and they should get Tex Walker back next week.
Next: Hawthorn (MCG, Saturday, 1:45pm)
2. Geelong:
Round 1: defeated Fremantle by 42 points
There was talk that a fit Nat Fyfe, a rejuvenated Cam McCarthy and a healthy Aaron Sandilands would send the Fremantle Dockers, who languished in 2016, straight back into the top eight - a la the West Coast Eagles in 2011 - but Geelong quickly put paid to that idea on Sunday. In the process, the Cats showed why they could be contenders come the pointy end of the season. They had a number of important contributors in addition to the much-heralded 'Dangerwood' combination. Stevie Motlop showed what he is capable of doing, while offseason recruit Zach Tuohy filled the Corey Enright role in defence perfectly. It's hard to argue with a 42-point win on the road against a side many picked to be 'thereabouts', and if the Cats can notch up a few wins before they return to Kardinia Park (due to construction they play all seven of their matches in Geelong after Round 9), they could be a top-four contender.
Next: North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium, Sunday 1:10pm)
3. West Coast Eagles:
Round 1: defeated North Melbourne by 43 points
Ah, the West Coast Eagles. On paper, one might see a 43-point win and think it's the same old storyline: Josh Kennedy kicking seven, Sam Mitchell (now in the blue and gold) racking up 40-odd touches, and the same old flat track bully mentality ... except this time they did it in Melbourne. One of the main gripes against Adam Simpson's men in recent years (especially after their insipid 2015 Grand Final loss) was that West Coast cannot win convincingly away from Perth and therefore can't realistically challenge for the flag. While North Melbourne isn't the sort of side currently challenging for a top-four spot, the Eagles will head back west with plenty of confidence from a seven-goal Round 1 win at Etihad Stadium. They play the Saints at home this coming Saturday - a side, funnily enough, notorious for being just as bad when travelling interstate.
Next: St Kilda (Domain Stadium, Saturday 4:40pm local)
4. Western Bulldogs:
Round 1: defeated Collingwood by 14 points
The Western Bulldogs' premiership defence started with a hard-fought but classy win on Friday night. Not only did they run out victors, they also broke Collingwood fans' hearts when Pie-turned-Dog Travis Cloke slammed a goal home from outside the 50. Encouragingly for the Dogs, a number of their young players were among the best: Lachie Hunter had a night out with three goals, Lin Jong - who missed out on a premiership medallion - had 14 tackles, while Liberatore, Dahlhaus and Bontempelli were all influential. One concern for the Bulldogs was the loss of veteran defender Dale Morris, who broke his leg in the last few minutes of the match, but if there's one thing we know about the Bulldogs, it's that injuries won't slow them down.
Next: Sydney (Etihad Stadium, Friday 7:50pm)
5. Melbourne:
Round 1: defeated St Kilda by 30 points
Banished the Etihad Stadium hoodoo? Check. Ended a decade-long losing streak to the Saints? Check. Beat a team supposedly vying for a similar spot in the top eight? Check. The Dees' list of achievements in notching their convincing win over St Kilda on Saturday was impressive. Featuring a bullocking midfield, a young forward line stacked with talent both tall and small, and a solid defence which held the versatile Saints' forwards to just 90 points on a fast track, the Dees look on track to be a September contender. Unlike in the past when they've relied too heavily on experienced campaigners, it was an exciting mix of youth which led the way for Melbourne. Clayton Oliver, Jesse Hogan and Christian Petracca were all excellent, while old heads such as Jordan Lewis and Bernie Vince showed how they can play a crucial role guiding the youth as the season rolls on.
Next: Carlton (MCG, Sunday, 3:20pm)
6. Essendon:
Round 1: defeated Hawthorn by 25 points
The Essendon faithful turned up in droves to the MCG and produced a finals-like atmosphere to welcome back their heroes from a year in purgatory - and the players certainly responded. Halfway through the third quarter, it looked like the Bombers might lack the match fitness to finish the match but, riding a wave of emotion, they were able to overrun the Hawks in style. Worryingly for other sides, Zach Merrett (37 disposals) will only continue to improve now that he'll get a chop out from the likes of Heppell, Watson and Stanton, while further development from the likes of Orazio Fantasia and Joe Daniher will have opposition backlines worried. Maybe talk of the Bombers flying back up the ladder into the eight in 2017 isn't far off the mark...
Next: Brisbane (GABBA, 6:25pm local)
7. Port Adelaide:
Round 1: defeated Sydney by 28 points
By far the biggest upset of the week was Port Adelaide's stirring road victory over the highly fancied Sydney Swans. Pegged as underachievers in recent years, Port was carried on Saturday by the usual suspects: Travis Boak, Ollie Wines and Chad Wingard while the debut of the Power's first-round draft pick, Sam Powell-Pepper was one to remember. The Port youngster claimed the Round 1 Rising Star nod on the back of 19 touches and two crucial goals. If Port can keep this form line going, after enduring a horrid couple of seasons, there may be another contender vying for a finals berth.
Next: Fremantle (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4:10pm local)
8. Greater Western Sydney:
Round 1: lost to Adelaide by 56 points
Just sneaking into the top eight of the Power Rankings this week is GWS. Even though the Giants find themselves on the bottom of the ladder, we're willing to cut them a little slack, considering the quality of opposition, the road travel factor and the fact they are still better than almost every team in the AFL. Did they get cocky or were they outclassed by a much better Adelaide outfit? Perhaps it was a combination of both, but the Giants were comprehensively beaten in all areas of the ground - and their chasing and tackling pressure was, at times, lamentable. More output is needed from the likes of Jonathan Patton and All-Australian Toby Greene who combined for just the two goals on the day. If they make this losing thing a habit, they could find themselves sliding down the rankings...
Next: Gold Coast (Spotless Stadium, Saturday 4:35pm)
9. Sydney:
Round 1: lost to Port Adelaide by 28 points
With the news that star defender Dane Rampe will miss a considerable chunk of the season due to a broken arm, it's fair to say Sydney's start to 2017 has been just as bad off the field as it was on. The Swans were shocked by the Power at home on Saturday, going down by 28 points in less-than-favourable positions. As with the Giants, we're willing to cut the Swans some slack knowing their pedigree, but with some big names injured and set to miss the early part of the season (including Rampe, Aliir Aliir, Isaac Heeney, Gary Rohan and Jarrad McVeigh), the Swannies could find themselves needing a big second half of the season to defend their minor premiership.
Next: Western Bulldogs (Etihad Stadium, Friday 7:50pm)
10. Richmond:
Round 1: defeated Carlton by 43 points
Yes, Richmond fans, prepare to cry foul because your side sits 10th in the Power Rankings this week. Yes, the win was impressive, and yes, Dusty has dominated the early Brownlow Medal talk but, all things considered, Carlton isn't much chop. The Blues went in far too tall in defence, gifting Richmond smalls Jason Castagna and Dan Butler dream starts to 2017. Having said that, new recruit Dion Prestia was impressive, as was the spread of goal kickers, while Josh Caddy was solid on his debut without being influential. If the Tiges can pull a similar result against the Pies this week, they'll find themselves in the Power Rankings' top eight in no time.
Next: Collingwood (MCG, Thursday 7:20pm)
11. Hawthorn:
Round 1: lost to Essendon by 25 points
It was always going to be tough to overrun an emotional Essendon outfit in front of 78,294 screaming fans, so perhaps its harsh to judge Hawthorn too much on this loss. While Alastair Clarkson's plan to move on the old heads, such as Mitchell and Lewis, will no doubt benefit the Hawks in the long term, it may yet take some time for this champion side to gel and once again string together some dominant performances. While it might be tough to watch Sam Mitchell rack up 40-odd touches for West Coast and see Jordan Lewis' leadership on display at Melbourne, getting games into Jaeger O'Meara and returning skipper Jarryd Roughead - and having Tom Mitchell settle in to the side - will pay dividends soon enough.
Next: Adelaide (MCG, Saturday 1:45pm)
12. Brisbane:
Round 1: defeated Gold Coast by 2 points
It may seem harsh to have a winning team so low in the rankings and behind losing teams, but the Brisbane Lions are coming off a low base. Many predicted a bottom-two finish for the Lion cubs, but a win is a win - and debutant coach Chris Fagan will take them all at this stage of his career. The signs are there for the Lions: developing key back Harris Andrews was solid against the highly-rated Tom Lynch while, in the absence of Josh Schache, wiry key forward Eric Hipwood was also impressive in the air. Skipper Dayne Beams led from the front and it seemed that ex-captain Tom Rockliff relished playing without the burden of leadership. Fagan will be concerned by the second half fade-out, but a win away from the Gabba is a great result for this young Lions' side, and just the tonic they needed to start 2017.
Next: Essendon (Gabba, Saturday 6:25pm local)
13. Collingwood:
Round 1: lost to Western Bulldogs by 14 points
Though not disgraced in their efforts against the Bulldogs on Friday night, the Pies find themselves debuting at 13th on the Power Rankings - around where many experts have them finishing come the end of the season. The Pies' impressive midfield cohort was solid, but they desperately need some help from their tall forwards; just two of their 14 goals on Friday night came from 'key position' players (one each to White and Goldsack), while Darcy Moore was held goalless. Look away now, Pies fans, but an experienced key forward - such as, I don't know, a Travis Cloke - would help the side immensely, while a fit Jamie Elliott also wouldn't go astray considering he plays far taller than his 178cms.
Next: Richmond (MCG, Thursday 7:20pm)
14. St Kilda:
Round 1: lost to Melbourne by 30 points
St Kilda had a fantastic opportunity to signal their intentions to the rest of the competition on Saturday, but came up well short in their loss to Melbourne. The Dees had been rubbish at Etihad Stadium for more than a decade, and a convincing Saints win would have forced the rest of the league to sit up and take notice, but poor performances from their key forwards and an inability to negate Melbourne's small and medium forwards proved costly. Add to that a knee injury to their spiritual leader Nick Riewoldt and it's fair to say the Saints have started 2017 with more of a whimper than a bang. Next up? The Eagles in Perth where they've been flogged by 103 and 95 points the last two seasons.
Next: West Coast Eagles (Domain Stadium, Saturday, 4:40pm local)
15. Gold Coast:
Round 1: Lost to Brisbane by 2 points
A valiant comeback was seemingly cut short only by the clock, but the Suns can only blame themselves for their defeat, having fallen so far behind early in their match against Brisbane. There were good signs for Gold Coast despite the result: new recruit Ben Ainsworth didn't look out of place at AFL level, while more experienced heads Touk Miller, Gary Ablett and Aaron Hall were all among the best. This is a building year for the Suns so patience will be required, but they would have expected to knock off the wooden-spoon favourites in week one. Expect the likes of Jack Bowes and Will Brodie to make more significant contributions throughout the year.
Next: GWS (Spotless Stadium, Saturday 4:35pm)
16. North Melbourne:
Round 1: lost to West Cost by 43 points
The Kangaroos blooded four debutants amongst six new faces for their Round 1 loss to the West Coast Eagles, so it's clear that 2017 is a year of rebuild for the boys at Arden Street. North wasn't disgraced on Sunday - some inaccurate kicking (including 1.7 from Jarrad Waite) didn't help - but filling the gaps left by the likes of Petrie, Firrito, Dal Santo and Harvey will take time. Waite's shoulder injury could leave the forward line a little bare in the coming weeks, but it also offers an opportunity for Brad Scott to prepare for life after the 34-year-old.
Next: Geelong (Etihad Stadium, Saturday 1:10pm)
17. Fremantle:
Round 1: lost to Geelong by 42 points
After a disappointing 2016 season on the back of some cruel injuries, 2017 was supposed to be a rebound year for Ross Lyon's Dockers. Unfortunately, in their first hitout for the year, they were easily accounted for at home by an impressive Geelong outfit. To be fair, the Cats have the hallmarks of a top-six side, but with some expecting the Dockers to jump back into the eight after a down year, the opening result could be something of a reality check. The Dockers didn't have one multiple goalkicker on Sunday evening; they clearly miss Matthew Pavlich's presence and the injured Hayden Ballantyne around goal, while prized recruit Cam McCarthy barely fired a shot in his debut. They'll need to put in a strong showing against the Power in Adelaide next week to jump up the rankings.
Next: Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4:10pm local)
18. Carlton:
Round 1: lost to Richmond by 43 points
For a team which featured three debutants among five teenagers, the Blues showed some promising signs. There were a few nervous Tiger fans at the MCG at three-quarter time on Thursday night, and had the Blues kicked the first goal of the last term, the margin would have been just three goals. At this stage of the Blues' rebuild, however, it's just important to expose the youth to the rigours of AFL footy. Sam Petrevski-Seton was solid on debut, while Harrison Macreadie and Jarrod Pickett also got a taste for the big stage. The Blues also might have found a reliable forward in Jacob Weitering - who was excellent against Alex Rance - considering their backline is already rife with young talent. It's a long year ahead, but stick with 'em, Carlton fans.
Next: Melbourne (MCG, Sunday 3:20pm)