But what did we learn from round one?

ALBURY

The old guys have still got it.

In the third quarter, Wangaratta Rovers were trying desperately to launch a comeback when Albury co-coach Luke Daly took a superb intercept mark.

In the same term, Albury was on the attack and Dean Polo kept the ball in play and then worked it beautifully to win a free kick and goal.

The Tigers aren't as reliant on their veterans as they once were, but it's still comforting to have them there.

COROWA-RUTHERGLEN

Big man Tom Goodwin will be a personality player.

At 200cms and 116kgs, Goodwin already stands out and while he's the first to admit he needs to shed a few more kilos, the youthful Wodonga struggled with his presence and power.

LAVINGTON

Aidan Johnson might have the league's best palm.

Wangaratta Rovers' Jack Gerrish has a powerful fend, but when Johnson showed tremendous strength to brush off two Yarrawonga players and set up Adam Flagg for a goal midway through the third quarter, Johnson might have claimed the crown.

MYRTLEFORD

Former AFL player Taylor Hunt could leap out of Dawson Simpson's sizeable signing shadow.

Understandably, Simpson's recruitment in October, 2019, attracted enormous attention because he played 48 games over 12 years with powerful clubs Geelong and GWS and is the O and M's biggest player at 209cms.

However, Hunt played 105 games at Geelong and Richmond and if you think of an O and M player to have played a similar amount of matches, Albury's Chris Hyde had 93 and won the Morris Medal, two club best and fairests and seven premierships.

Naturally, Hunt has different attributes to Hyde, but the most pleasing aspect for Myrtleford is its name players, like Hunt and fellow ex-AFL player Kurt Aylett (GWS, Essendon), are in terrific condition.

NORTH ALBURY

You have to admire the loyalty of George Godde.

He debuted in 2013 and when it became obvious over summer the Hoppers would struggle, it would have been so easy to join a district outfit.

WANGARATTA

Abraham Ankers will be the Pies' classiest on-baller since Morris medallist Jon McCormick (circa 2007-08).

Now Matt Kelly has been a wonderful player for the Pies, but he doesn't possess the polish of the Northern Territory star and Joe Richards is a two-time best and fairest and Morris Medal fancy, but even he doesn't have the finishing skills near goal of Ankers.

Ankers showed his credentials after just six minutes against Wodonga Raiders, bursting from a clearance to set up Michael Newton.

And while we're on the Pies, they had four 2017 premiership players in the reserves in Ben Douthie, Victoria Country rep Dylan Van Berlo, Frazer Dent and Will Reilly.

WANGARATTA ROVERS

The league has a new contender for the most desperate player in Tyson Hartwig.

Albury's Shaun Daly and Myrtleford's Matt Dussin have always played every game like it's their last.

At the 10-minute mark of the first term, the Tigers had a player on the goal-line by himself, but Hartwig's desperate lunge saved a goal.

WODONGA

The Bulldogs have a beauty in North Melbourne VFL player Josh Clayton.

That won't surprise anyone, given he played AFL with Brisbane, but the fact he's not a full-time player this year (he will next), meant he slid under the radar.

WODONGA RAIDERS

Lachie Flagg is one of the league's most improved players.

In a five-minute patch in the second term against the Pies, the defender took three intercept marks and then was forced from the field, dry retching on his way off.

He returned and it was lucky Raiders had Flagg and coach Jarrod Hodgkin because the margin might have been 20 goals.

ALSO IN SPORT:

YARRAWONGA

The Pigeons have their own 'mosquito fleet' in siblings Jack and Will Sexton.

The sons of 1989 premiership player Damian, the pair impressed with pace and courage.

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