Full forward Evan Smith will be a handful for defences after booting nine goals on debut for premiers Wollongong Bulldogs in their 73-point thrashing of Shellharbour in Saturday's round two clash at Bomaderry.
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The University-based Bulldogs have won the past three first grade premierships and, despite having nine debutants, showed they'll again be a serious contender under coach and stalwart Lee Murray.
Despite having their opening round clash against Wollongong Lions washed out, the Bulldogs showed little sign of early season rust in a powerhouse 18.8 (116) to 6.7 (43) victory.
Wagga Wagga-bred Smith played for Sydney AFL and North East AFL side Sydney University last season and showed he will be a force in the South Coast comp.
"I live in Wollongong and, after a season at Sydney, I'm really happy to be at the Bulldogs," the widely travelled Smith said.
"Everyone's been great and with so many other new guys we've really fitted in well. I kicked nine but had three out [of bounds] on the full so there's plenty to work on."
Under skipper-turned-coach Murray the Bulldogs have won the past three first grade flags and been in every grand final since joining the first grade in 2010.
Meanwhile, Wollongong Lions played their first South Coast AFL match since 1988.
The return was made all-the-more memorable by means of their 44-point win over last season's grand finalists, Northern Districts, at Kully Bay.
The Lions busted open a tight match by kicking seven goals to one in the third term to win 15.7 (97) to 8.5 (53) in a match transferred from North Dalton Park due to the wet conditions.
A spiteful third quarter led to two Bulldogs and one Tigers player being sin-binned, but the Lions remained focused in a tight final term, booting five straight goals to the Tigers 4.1, to seal an impressive win.
Wollongong midfielder Will Cook, running defender Ben Green and half forward Simon Quinn were outstanding, with the victory over a premiership contender the perfect start for new coach Craig Morrison.
The Lions joined the Sydney AFL in 1989 and now return to South Coast after last season playing in Sydney's second tier comp.
Finally, Nowra Blues bounced back from a first-up loss to Bomaderry with a hard-fought 19-point win over Kiama at West Street Oval.
The clash was moved from Kiama to Nowra, with the Blues booting two late goals to win 12.12 (84) to 9.11 (65).
