It's hard to read into pre-season form, given how much teams rest and rotate players through the summer in order to have them ready for the opening rounds.

With movements in team's ranks and the addition of new recruits round one provided football followers with a taste of the North Gippsland season to come.

For some the opening round showed that there is plenty of improvement to be made, with last Saturdays matches providing teams with an opportunity to refine facets of their game plan as they look to gain the winning edge throughout the season.

Renowned for their slow starts to past seasons, COWWARR coach Luke Cooper would be mistaken if he had a sense of de-javu with the Saints again troubled in the season opener.

Knowing the importance of getting the right start to the season Cooper isn't concerned as yet, noting that there was a number of positives to come from a first up loss.

"Churchill got on top of us half way through the second quarter, we fought back in the third but couldn't get the goals on the board, Chris Stasinowsky and Tim Johnston had their chances but we missed about seven majors for the term.

"There were some positives that we can take from the game; we had a few new guys in the lineup with new recruit Jordon Sandy best on ground for us and we fought hard to get back into the game which was a big plus.

"We know how important it is to definitely get off to a good start to the season, but in saying that we are only one game down and someone had to lose," said Cooper.

A realist at the prospect last year's grand finalists ROSEDALE pose, Cooper said that his side was looking forward to hosting the Blues at home.

"The guys love playing at home, at Cowwarr, we know that Rosedale are a good side and are always tough to beat.

"We come up against the top five sides from last year in the opening part of the fixture, which will certainly give us an indication as to where we are at.

"Last year after a slow start to the season the tough draw showed us where we were at," said Cooper.

While the Saints have steam rolled the opposition in the second half of the season over the course of the last two years, finishing strongly to make finals, seasoned campaigner Cooper knows that the Saints can ill afford to drop too many early given the evenness of the competition.

It is this evenness which was clearly evident last weekend, missing 10 players from their lineup it was the second tier of Blues player that helped steer the side to a spirited victory.

With their resolve tested by a tough Kangaroos outfit, the Blues responded each time the reigning premiers challenged. Rosedale's attack on the football and forward line pressure was key in securing victory and will again be required to overcome a tough Saint outfit.

Unearthing a number of new stars, WOODSIDE's new look lineup proved the right combination with the Wildcats running away with the contest last Saturday.

Contesting two classic contests last season, like this week's opposition GORMANDALE have been astute with their recruitment over the break and look poised to be fierce competition when the big cats meet.

Left wanting following a blistering performance by old foes TTU, Tigers coach Luke Henderson will be seeking a lift in intensity from his chargers in order to open their season campaign.

There will be little let up for the Tigers with this week's opponents damaging midfield and potent forward line set to cause more headaches for Henderson as he plots the right matchups for the clash against the Wildcats.

Woodside can ill afford to be complacent following their first up win; the home side will need to deliver another consistent performance to hold off the Tigers.

Proving to be the surprise packet, SALE CITY ran over the top of Glengarry last Saturday to steal a one goal victory.

Starting out strong in their opening clash a young BOISDALE/BRIAGOLONG outfit made an impression on the opposition with a competitive performance.

Round one saw the Bombers get good mileage from their new additions against Woodside. Justin Shears made his mark in front of goals booting three, Adam Helmke made a welcome return following a season on the sidelines and midfielder Josh Kennedy was instrumental in the engine room.

There was plenty to like about the fresh faced Bomber lineup, and plenty for coach Daniel Sandeman to work with. It doesn't get any harder this week with the Bombers to meet Sale City who come into the match on the back of stirring and somewhat unpredicted victory.

It's a daunting prospect for any opposition side; however the Bombers will be confident that their young lineup will have the legs and ability to run out the game against the young pups that proved that they will fill the void of several departed premiership players.

TTU kicked started a new era under coach Matt Stolarczyk with an ominous six goal victory in round one.

This week the Bombers will be further tested when the new look lineup faces an early challenge which will see the evolving side pitted against CHURCHILL, who remonstrated with the Saints in a tough physical contest.

Lacking consistency in past seasons the Cougars were ruthless in their four quarter effort and will need to deliver another consistent performance to overcome a tough Bomber outfit.

Highlighting ahead of the season "that it was hard to say" exactly where his side was at, Bomber coach Stolarczyk would have been pleased with the points first up and the manner in which the sides new recruits gelled with the squad.

HEYFIELD and GLENGARRY both went down in narrow defeats in a round one and will be eager to do all they can to avoid a 0-2 start when they meet at the Gordon Street Recreation Reserve.

Inaccuracy in front of goal proved costly for the reigning premiers, who kicked themselves out of the contest. Boasting 28 scoring shots for a return rate of nine majors, the Kangaroos had plenty of the ball and dominated passages of play but couldn't execute the blow on the scoreboard.

In contrast Glengarry appeared poised for victory before a final quarter fade out saw the fleet footed Dogs run over the top of the Magpies.

Renowned for their tough ruthless clashes, both sides will be aware they can ill afford to allow the opposition a sniff or the game may be over by half time. The pressure is set to be paramount as the two sides search for the points.

By Lauren Carey