The VFL season got underway over the weekend, with nine games played and each encounter seeing star players and new faces stand tall.
AFL-listed talent, Mid-Season Draft hopefuls and new draftees were among the best for Round 1 of the new VFL campaign, giving plenty of fans insight into what can be expected for the year ahead.
Footscray enjoyed a 20-goal win over a standalone side, while a draw between Casey and North Melbourne proved to be one of several close contests.
Frankston, Gold Coast and GWS each had a bye for Round 1.
Here's a recap of the VFL's weekend results and the standout performers from each game.
Carlton (76) vs Box Hill (80)
The Hawks got their new campaign off to a winning start with a close win over Carlton at IKON Park.
Luke Breust's third goal of the game midway through the fourth term would end up being the winner for Zane Littlejohn's side, with the Blues piling on the final five goals of the game to fall narrowly short.
2024 breakout forward Liam McMahn contributed two of those final five majors for Carlton to end his evening with a game-high four goals, with Ashton Moir, Darcy Hogg and 23rd man Ollie Badr the other multiple goalkickers for the Blues.
Former AFL-listed Blue and Bulldog Will Hayes (31 disposals, eight marks and three clearances) and key recruit Ethan Phillips (22 disposals and 10 marks) were among Carlton's best despite the loss.
New Hawks Trent Bianco (31 disposals, 10 marks and four clearances) and Kye Declase (25 disposals and 11 marks) were among the leaders for Box Hill, while young midfielder Henry Hustwaite (30 disposals and 11 clearances) was also serviceable.
Breust led the way with his three goals, while Daniel Wood (20 disposals and 10 marks) was another to feature among the winning side's best performers.
Brisbane (106) vs Port Melbourne (81)
The Lions held off an improved Borough outfit in Ipswich on Saturday, with Port Melbourne unable to make the most of their higher inside 50 count.
Both sides registered 26 scoring shots for the day, with Brendan McCartney's side booting an inaccurate 11.15 to the Lions' 16.10.
In his return from an ACL injury sustained last year, Darcy Gardiner booted three goals in attack for Brisbane, with Mid-Season Draft addition Darcy Craven managing two goals himself.
Fringe midfielder James Tunstill was arguably Brisbane's best, kicking two goals from his 31 disposals, nine marks and eight clearances.
Lions draftee Sam Marshall was his side's nest best ball winner with 24 disposals, while ex-Southport player Charlie Offermans impressed with his 22 disposals and one goal.
Borough recruit Paddy Farrant, who arrived over the off-season from Collingwood's VFL program, was a standout in attack for the Borough with five goals from eight disposals.
Former North Melbourne midfielder Charlie Lazzaro was among Port Melbourne's best with 28 disposals and 10 clearances.
Collingwood (84) vs Sydney (59)
The Swans were unable to start their season with a win despite dominance through midfield at Victoria Park on Saturday.
Sydney had 13 more inside 50s and six more clearances but couldn't control the game, with the Magpies winning the marks count 106-80.
Swans trio Caiden Cleary (37 disposals and eight clearances), Nic Shipley (35 disposals, eight tackles and nine clearances) and Ben Paton (32 disposals and seven marks) were the three leading ball winners for the game.
Young Collingwood midfielder Ed Allan was a standout for his side with 31 disposals, seven clearances and a goal, setting the tone early with a nice major from a front-half stoppage.
New recruit Riley Mason got his career in the black and white underway in style, booting a game-high four goals while Charlie West and Harry Mahoney contributed two majors each.
Young defender Jakob Ryan collected 20 disposals and nine marks as a potential inclusion for Collingwood's senior side.
Southport (89) vs Werribee (71)
The grand final rematch saw the Sharks kick away late to settle a thrilling contest in Queensland, with Southport booting the final three goals of the game.
Zac Foot finished off the game with his fourth goal in what was a bright start to his 2025 season, with the ex-Swan also tallying 20 disposals to be a high-impact asset for Matthew Primus in his first game as coach.
Recruit Josh Gore booted three goals as the Sharks' only other multiple goalkicker, with Jacob Dawson and Michael Manteit among others to contribute.
Dawson was back to his ball-winning best with 35 disposals and 10 clearances in the win, with partner-in-crime Boyd Woodcock collecting 25 touches himself.
Mid-Season Draft hopeful Jack Riding led the Tigers for disposals with 28 touches and 10 clearances, while reigning J.J. Liston Trophy winner Dom Brew had 26 disposals and eight clearances in the loss.
Werribee's Bior Malual was among the 'Bees' best with 22 disposals, two goals and eight marks.
Flynn Young (19 disposals and two goals) and Jaelen Pavlidis (20 disposals and nine marks) were worthy to note, while young forward Brady Wright is another Mid-Season Draft candidate after an eye-catching three-goal performance.
Essendon (94) vs Williamstown (83)
A number of fringe Bombers put their hand up for senior selection consideration in the club's opening win to the VFL season, with a five-goal final term capping off a strong outing for Essendon's reserves.
Multiple goals to Cam Nyko in the fourth quarter, as well as majors from Rhys Unwin, Luamon Lual and Jared Eckersley, contributed in the positive finish over the Seagulls.
Key defender Lewis Hayes was rock solid in defence, recording 16 marks for a return of 27 disposals as he eyes an AFL debut.
Draftee Zak Johnson had no issue finding the ball at the state league level, recording 21 disposals, while leading pair Jackson Hately (29 disposals and seven clearances) and Xavier O'Neill (25 disposals and five clearances) were pivotal in midfield.
Nyko was tied with Kayle Gerreyn and Tyler Sellers in leading the goalkicking column for Essendon with three each, while Williamstown's Nathan Colenso managed a trio of majors also.
Seagulls recruit Hugo Hall-Kahan led the way among his side's ball winners with 25 touches and a goal in his first outing in the blue and gold, while James Cousins (24 disposals and four clearances) was a positive after an injury-hit 2024 season.
Footscray (148) vs Northern Bullants (22)
The Bulldogs heaped early pain onto the Bullants with an emphatic 126-point victory at Whitten Oval for the weekend's Saturday night free-to-air clash.
Footscray kicked 14 goals between the first and final breaks of the game, with trio Jordan Croft, Diesel Moloney and Luca Muratore each booting four goals.
Draftee Luke Kennedy was among the Dogs' best in the engine room, collecting 29 disposals in his second game at VFL level and first for the Dogs, with star midfield-forward Cooper Craig-Peters again impactful with 28 touches, six tackles and seven clearances.
First-round selection Cooper Hynes promised with his 21 disposals and a goal, while Lachie Smith was dominant in the ruck with 42 hitouts.
Bullants ace Jean-Luc Vellisaris (30 disposals, five tackles and six clearances) and gun onballer Patrick Fairlie (23 disposals, six clearances and one goal) were among the standalone side's best in the heavy loss.
Casey (76) vs North Melbourne (76)
The Demons and Kangaroos came away from Sunday's contest at Casey Fields with two points each as a late Geordie Payne point levelled the scores.
Melbourne-listed forward Tom Fullarton's second goal of the game gave the Demons a late lead only for Payne to bring parity to the match in what was an intriguing start to the season for both sides.
Fullarton was one of four multiple goalkickers in the game, with teammate Caleb Lewis and Roos duo Zane Duursma and Finnbar Maley kicking two goals each.
Fullarton was a big force in the contest, recording 10 marks for a return of 15 disposals, while it was ex-St Kilda and Port Adelaide defender Riley Bonner (35 disposals, seven marks and four clearances) who put up big numbers in the red and blue.
Pick 6 selection Harvey Langford impressed with 23 disposals and a goal to go with his five clearances, while VFL-listed midfielder Riley Baldi managed 32 disposals, 10 clearances and six tackles in the draw.
Zac Fisher amassed a game-high 40 disposals as a constant attacking threat from the back half, while defender and mature recruit Adam Tomlinson did his chances of an AFL lifeline via the Mid-Season Draft no harm, recording 24 disposals and 10 marks.
Roos draftee Matt Whitlock (20 disposals and nine marks) and new captain Darcy Macpherson (18 disposals, six tackles and four clearances) were also among North Melbourne's best.
Richmond (88) vs Coburg (75)
The Tigers' new-look VFL outfit got off on the right foot on Sunday thanks to a strong third term after a slow start in Beaconsfield.
Jake Batchelor's men kicked six of their 13 goals in the premiership quarter to take back the lead at the final break, with ruck-forward hybrid Samson Ryan amassing a game-high three goals.
Draftee Tom Sims and VFL-listed pair Austin Johnson and Massimo Raso kicked two goals each for Richmond, with the Tigers' midfield pack contributing to their 88-point tally.
Onballer Tyler Sonsie was among the best in the yellow and black, recording 34 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal in the win, while Kane McAullife has started his second season strongly, recording 29 disposals and a goal.
Coburg's Donovan Toohey also got his sophomore season with the Lions underway in style, recording 40 disposals, six marks and five tackles to see his strong late season form from 2024 transition into the start of this year.
Lions gun Mitch Podhajski kicked three goals to lead his side, while star duo Flynn Gentile (30 disposals) and Jack Bytel (33 disposals and fice clearances) had no issue findings the ball.
Sandringham (60) vs Geelong (91)
Young names for both sides were among the standouts as the Cats clawed their way to a nice win to start the year.
Second-year Geelong forward Oliver Wiltshire was strong with his three goals - and four behinds - from 17 disposals, while fellow 2023 draftee George Stevens was again comfortable in the VFL with 26 disposals and eight clearances.
Veteran Mitch Duncan has also pressed his case for a recall with 24 disposals and eight marks, while VFL-listed Cat Marcus Herbert was among Geelong's best with 27 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances.
Recruit Charlie McCartin, the brother of Tom and Paddy, was also a standout for the winning side with his 11 marks and 19 disposals, keeping his name in the mix for the Mid-Season Draft.
Fellow Mid-Season Draft hopeful Tobyn Murray joined Wiltshire as a leading goalkicker in the game with three majors, while draftee Patrick Retschko booted a sole goal from his 24 disposals in a promising opening performance from the teenager.
St Kilda's top draftee, Tobie Travaglia, was among Sandringham's standouts with 25 disposals, nine tackles and a goal, while fellow emerging Saint Arie Schoenmaker led all ball winners with 31 disposals.
Ex-Blue Jack Carroll collected 26 disposals, 13 clearances and 10 tackles in a big first game for the Zebras, while young Saints Angus Hastie, Hugh Boxshall and Patrick Said also impressed.
