Masala roar as Trobers down Swans

Masala Dandenong kick-started their 2019 campaign in style, defeating South Mornington by 46 points at Citation Oval. Leading by 13 points at quarter time, Masala kicked into gear and piled on 11 goals to six thereafter. Declan Fowler was unstoppable in front of goal with five majors for Masala, while Jay Stivala was best afield. Greg Pullen and Sage Opitz were standouts for South Mornington.

Nine goals from Marcus Baxter led Eley Park Sharks to a dominant 85-point victory over Box Hill North at Elgar Park. The Sharks piled on 13 goals to five in the first half before finishing the game with a further 11 goals to five. Baxter was unstoppable in front of goal as was Blake Walter who dobbed five. James North led from the front for the Demons alongside David Edwards.

After suffering relegation in 2018, La Trobe University claimed a first-up win, running out 71-point victors against South Melbourne Districts. The Trobers led by just three points in a low-scoring first half, 24-21, but exploded with 13 goals to one after the main break. Seven players kicked multiple goals for the Trobers while Calvin Ross was named BOG. Jason Clifford and Rory Kennedy found plenty of it for the Swans.

St Francis Xavier came from behind in their Round 1 clash against Albert Park and ran out 10-point winners at Strathaird Reserve. The X-Men trailed by 16 points at the first break but fought back with 10 goals to six to see out the match. Harrison Coe kicked four goals for the X-Men and Stephen Richards-Gill three, while Joshua Beets kicked six for the Falcons.