Footy was back in earnest over the weekend, and although the results should be taken with a mountain of salt, the opening acts of a number of potentially season-defining stories were written.
As always, the first games of the JLT Community Series gave us our first look at new rules, new faces in new jumpers, positional changes and new draftees.
Here are the major takeaways from the weekend's action:
2. Walsh leads the draftees, but plenty to like for newbies, and not-so newbies
Number one draft pick Sam Walsh will rightfully garner the bulk of the attention for his scintillating 28-disposal debut on Thursday night, but he wasn't the only member of the 2018 draft crop to show his potential over the course of the weekend.
North Melbourne father-son selection Bailey Scott appeared composed while amassing 21 disposals in his first AFL hitout, while the aptly-named Zak Butters showed off his smooth moves on his way to 25 disposals and two goal assists, displaying the class that led Port Adelaide to make him the 12th pick in last year's draft.
GWS duo Jackson Hately and Jye Caldwell staked their claims to fill the void left by the departures of Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully, while Geelong fans would be encouraged by the performance of 15th pick Jordan Clark in defence.
It was also a promising weekend for a number of 2017 draftees, including fourth pick Luke Davies-Uniacke. The second-year midfielder gathered 27 disposals, and looks set to build on last year's seven-game debut season. In addition, Geelong youngster Charlie Constable did his chances of earning a round one AFL debut no harm with 26 disposals, while second-round picks Noah Balta (Richmond) and Oscar Allen (West Coast) flourished in key forward roles.
