Reigning premier Western Bulldogs had to fight off a strong challenge from Collingwood to start their flag defence with a 14-point win at the MCG, despite a best-afield display from Magpies' skipper Scott Pendlebury.
Our Inside Football experts take a look at the individual performances of each player...
COLLINGWOOD – 12.14 (86)
Taylor ADAMS – 8
Knocked up winning the ball (33 times) and stuck 12 tackles. Great goer – if only his kicking was a weapon too.
Jarryd BLAIR – 1
Kicked five goals one day in 2011 against Carlton. Not a lot since.
Mason COX – 4
Ruckwork has improved, and looked more use there (against Boyd at least) than up forward.
Jack CRISP – 4
Just a game from the second-string mid: often under pressure with the ball.
Alex FASOLO – 5
Pies' new set-shot momentum drainer taking over from departed Cloke. Fluffed three sitters, although atoned with three in play.
Tyson GOLDSACK – 3
Used in defence, where his kicking is an asset. One nice goal from a hand-off, but simply doesn't get involved enough.
Brodie GRUNDY – 7
Dominance grew as the game wore on. Looks fit and threatening to have a monster season.
Had his moments, including a nice late goal; 22 touches off a wing a satisfactory debut in black and white.
Jeremy HOWE – 8
Fine aerialist's game at half back with 11 marks, some of them superb. Becoming a real asset.
Brayden MAYNARD – 3
Still battling against better opposition. Another the coach can reasonably start to expect more from.
Chris MAYNE – 5
After late call-up got involved, kicked a goal and showed a bit – to the relief of many in the camp.
Darcy MOORE – 4
Still at least a year off becoming a dominant force. Have they shown him the gym yet?
Scott PENDLEBURY – 8
Usual volume of clean, high-quality disposals, including two late goals that gave Pies a sniff.
Tom PHILLIPS – 5
Very good early and earned 26 touches in a high-disposal game. Making a spot his own.
Jackson RAMSAY – 5
Easy to see why the Pies like the look of him. Return game from ACL showed no ill effects.
Ben REID – 4
Took Cloke at outset to try to stop him getting his tail up early. Seven marks but no great influence.
Henry SCHADE – 4
Went to Stringer and Cloke at times and contested every issue. Looks an upgrade on the departed Brown.
The Round 1 specialist was everywhere in the first term. Two goals to go with game-high 35 touches.
Josh SMITH – 3
Got a bit of the footy at half back but no impact on the game. Not as good as some of his late 2016 games.
Adam TRELOAR – 7
Such a weapon zooming through the centre square and eyeing off the goals. Three quarters off the top shelf.
Travis VARCOE – 3
OK at half forward but another Woodsman who does not do enough. Reported for high bump.
Jesse WHITE – 6
Ran hard, marked well when in the van and generally earned his pay cheque.
WESTERN BULLDOGS – 15.10 (100)
Shane BIGGS – 6
The man who never missed a game in '16 opened with another solid performance in the back pocket.
22 touches in duel with Pendlebury (who starred), but most were quality from the master of the overhead handball.
Matthew BOYD – 6
Wore a helmet after ear injury in JLT series, but didn't stop him earning 26 touches and kicking a goal.
Tom BOYD – 3
Contested strongly as the only recognised ruckman in the side but overwhelmed and giving away frees by the end.
Travis CLOKE – 6
Early goal flattened the Pies cheersquad. Involved throughout, the most important tall on the ground.
Zaine CORDY – 3
Returned to defence with the addition of Cloke as the main target, but had little impact.
Stewart CRAMERI – 4
Made his presence felt early in return game but influence waned. Four tackles and a goal.
Luke DAHLHAUS – 5
A heap of quick touches (15 handballs) and tackles (seven) but it was hard work on the inside against Pie mids.
Caleb DANIEL – 4
Busy worker but many of his disposals were under heavy duress as Pies nailed him often.
Lachie HUNTER – 6
Ball followed him for first quarter –- kicked game's opening two goals – but hard to maintain that as a forward.
Jason JOHANNISEN – 8
Started forward, switched back in second half – wherever he went, he won the footy. Bulldogs' best.
Lin JONG – 5
14 tackles an indication of his night at the office trying to stop Pie mids. Only two kicks, however.
Tom LIBERATORE – 7
Relished the fierce inside battle (also 14 tackles) to make a four-quarter contribution.
Jack MACRAE – 7
Scrounged 25 possessions to go with seven tackles. Good game.
Toby MCLEAN – 5
Hard-working forward stuck seven tackles and kicked a goal.
Dale MORRIS – 6
Poked in the eye early but rarely put a foot wrong on the last line. Copped a heavy hit to right leg late in the game.
Robert MURPHY – 5
Eased back and showed he'd lost none of his poise or kicking skill. Went forward in third term and set up two goals.
Liam PICKEN – 7
The former scrapper and now polished if still underrated mid was unobtrusively effective again.
Fletcher ROBERTS – 4
Old-style defender's game. High spoil to kick ratio.
Jake STRINGER – 5
Usual bit of everything – inspiring goal, nice marks, set-shots missed. On balance, a bare pass.
Matthew SUCKLING – 7
Some of his 17 kicks were lasers cutting through the Magpie defence to set up goals. Fine game.
Easton WOOD – 5
Eight marks at half back but not a whole lot to do.