BULLIOH showed its class to fight back from a four-goal deficit and defeat Cudgewa by a point at Bullioh on Saturday.
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With last year's champions under extreme pressure at half-time, the home team regrouped on the back of a 10-goal haul from first-gamer Ash Murray.
Josh Walters, Michael Sims, Kieran Salome and Beau Roberts fed Murray with chances as the Bulldogs started the season on a winning note.
While Bullioh came away with the points, there was plenty to like about Cudgewa's performance which indicated the premiership is far from a one-horse race.
Coach Brayden Carey had mixed feelings after the match.
"We were very disappointed as we should have won to be honest," Carey said.
"A bad third quarter cost us.
"They are the benchmark but I thought we showed we aren't too far off it.
"We had our chances late but kicked three or four points."
Ryan Mee, David Low and Dayne Carey picked up plenty of touches in the midfield, forwards Kylin Morey and Ben Hall kicked seven between them and Ethan Riddington performed well in defence.
Both sides suffered injury blows early.
Bullioh lost gun recruit Daniel Kannenberg in the opening quarter with a leg problem while Cudgewa skipper Mitch Pynappels popped a knee cap and looks set to spend several matches on the sidelines.
"I'd say Mitch will be out for a while," Carey said.
Federal hammered Border-Walwa by 186 points at Corryong.
Full-forward Darren Bradshaw kicked 10 goals while Steve Bradshaw was arguably even more impressive as he dragged down mark after mark.
Darren Clough also picked up possessions at will.
Border-Walwa kicked their only two points for the match in the third term, with Ash Greenhill, Brayden Lieschke and Walter Paech best for the Magpies.
No match was played in the reserves with both clubs battling for numbers.
Tumbarumba defeated Corryong by 123 points at Tumbarumba.
The Demons were competitive until quarter-time before Michael Foster, Reece Borg, James Crozier and Quinn Rooney took over.
Foster finished with 10 goals on debut and showed enough to suggest he will do some damage in the competition this season.
Corryong were best served by Mitch Harris, Thomas Saunders and David Murdoch.
The Demons fielded a reserve grade side with 13 players listed.
