While the match was a celebration for just the league's second 400-gamer John Hunt - who kicked two goals, including one with 12 seconds left and was then swamped by team-mates - the ability of a host of newcomers to adapt will dictate the Panthers' season.

Ex-Holbrook forward AB Mackinlay kicked five goals and bruising Brock-Burrum premiership player Aidan Johnson snared four in the 24.15 (159) to 3.5 (23) win at Lavington Sportsground.

"They came fit and they all started round one, which was fantastic," coach Simon Curtis said.

"What we were looking for was a contest from Aidan, he was just ferocious, so aggressive, he brings the ball down and finishes well.

"AB, we know he just kicks goals, he's kicked a lot of goals in the bush and he kicked goals in all the practice games.

"And Brad Carman (ex-Holbrook), I thought he was sensational, I'm not sure he's played a lot of footy in that back pocket, but there's a spot for him now."

Lavington's vastly superior foot skills destroyed North.

The likes of brothers Nick and Kris Holman, Curtis himself, Shaun Mannagh & Co cut through the Hoppers' defence in extremely tricky conditions, which was at least a three-goal breeze.

"It was really difficult kicking into that breeze," Curtis said.

"There weren't any bad habits which crawled in today, so it was a really good day."

Lavington kicked with the wind in the first term and because of that breeze, North could barely get the ball into attack, apart from Clay Moscher-Thomas's clever goal.

The home team carried a 29-point lead to quarter-time, but the real damage was done in the second term when Lavington piled on five goals to one against the breeze.

In his first game against his former club, Mannagh picked up 36 possessions and two goals, but he's unlikely to play much football with the Panthers due to his Richmond VFL commitments.

Curtis racked up 41 disposals and it shows how difficult the conditions were when one of the league's elite kicks butchered a few passes.

Johnson had 21 touches, including nine marks with six inside 50.

North's David Miles, coach Isaac Muller and George Godde battled hard.

"Our turnovers is what probably killed us today and that was a bit of a theme last year, we need to really improve on that," Muller said of his first game in charge.