Kicking things off, Shepparton United's Jye Chalcraft, Shepparton's Luke Smith and Cobram's Esava Ratugolea helped guide Geelong to a crushing opening round win over North Melbourne.
Chalcraft, in his first appearance for the Cats’ reserves, gathered 13 disposals and four tackles in the 18.15 (123) to 6.8 (44) thrashing.
Smith, a 2018 Shepparton premiership player, booted two majors in what was a classy performance at GMHBA Stadium.
Cohuna's Flynn Appleby battled hard for North Melbourne all day.
Seymour's Josh Schache kicked five goals in a best-on-ground performance as Footscray outclassed Gold Coast Suns 16.13 (109) to 6.6 (42).
Euroa's Will Hayes found his way onto the list of better players with a standout 29-disposal game.
Shepparton's Will Brodie had leather poisoning for the Suns and finished with 30 disposals, six tackles and one goal.
On Friday, Shepparton United's Angus Hicks and Nathalia's Nathan Oakes played influential roles in Richmond's 40-point victory over Sandringham.
Hicks, 23 disposals, found plenty of the ball and booted a goal, while Oakes chipped in with a major and five tackles.
Seymour exports Sam Durham and Dylan Cook debuted for Richmond during the win.
Congupna export Matt Shannon suffered an agonising one-point loss in his first game for Carlton.
The Tatura and Shepparton product, who is co-captain of the Blues, slotted a major, while former Tatura talent Tom Miller gathered 14 touches for Southport in the thrilling match.
And a string of exports almost helped Werribee get over the line against Collingwood.
In what was Shepparton United product Michael Barlow's first game in charge, the Bees fell seven points short of singing the song.
Nathalia junior and Shepparton talent Tom Boyd (one goal), Seymour's Bior Malual (23 disposals), Deniliquin's Jack Henderson (20) and Strathmerton's Louis Pinnuck (14) all performed strongly in the loss.
●In VFLW action, Port Melbourne remains undefeated after seven rounds.
Shepparton United talent Kate Adams laid five tackles in the six-point win over Carlton.
The narrow win has the Borough sitting atop the ladder, ahead of fellow undefeated outfit Collingwood.
Rochester's Sarah Ingram battled hard for the Blues in the loss.
Nathalia's Reni Hicks and Mooroopna's Tamara Smith went head-to-head in Geelong's 16-point triumph over North Melbourne.
Hicks was one of the Kangaroos’ top performers with 14 disposals and six tackles, while Smith finished equal on the disposal column, but laid two extra tackles.
Finley's Eloise Ashley-Cooper collected 17 disposals and was an important cog in Essendon's 30-point win over Williamstown.
More local sport
GVL football start times tweaked
'Great learning curve': Bushies coach finds positives in narrow loss
BASL | Determined Shepparton United outfit upstages Tatura at home
23°C