Cellar dwellars Brisbane and St Kilda have delivered doses of hope as new AFL rules triggered high-scoring in the first batch of pre-season games.
Brisbane's prized recruit Lachie Neale made an instant impact with a best-afield performance in a seven-goal belting of Hawthorn on Sunday.
Richmond downed Melbourne by 12 points in Shepparton on Sunday while, a day earlier, St Kilda beat North Melbourne by 25 points in a heartening triumph for the long-time strugglers.
Last year's wooden spooner Carlton also notched a win, accounting for Essendon on Friday night in the first competitive outing under new AFL rules.
The law change dictating each team must start six players in each zone - forward, defence and midfield - had immediate effect with most games featuring high scores.
Carlton, St Kilda, Brisbane, Adelaide and Richmond all banked victories by kicking 100 points or more.
And reigning premier West Coast scored 99 points in an ominous 34-point triumph against Geelong.
The major injury came in Richmond's 16.17 (113) to 16.5 (101) triumph over Melbourne, who lost Jeff Garlett because of a dislocated shoulder.
Brisbane's Charlie Cameron tweaked a hamstring and Port Adelaide's All Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder rolled an ankle in a 17-point loss to Adelaide on Saturday.
North recruit Aaron Hall hurt a knee and didn't play after halftime in what coach Brad Scott said was a precautionary move as his side lost to a recharged St Kilda.
Saints coach Alan Richardson took the unusual step of asking club chief executive Matt Finnis to address his players after their morale-boosting win.
"I thought it was important and asked Matty from a club's perspective what it would mean for our fans," Richardson said.
"And that was Matty's message: well done boys, you've done a pretty good job in terms of making the whole business work."
Brisbane's on-field businesss worked a treat with the input of recruits Neale, Jarryd Lyons and Lincoln McCarthy.
Ex-Fremantle onballer Neale was a standout as the Lions thumped an inexperienced Hawks outfit 15.12 (102) to 8.12 (60).
"There's not one bloke that's trying to run the show ... the guys in there are really selfless," Neale said.
Former Gold Coast midfielder Lyons gathered 26 disposals and ex-Geelong forward McCarthy kicked two goals, had 17 touches and laid eight tackles.
Australian Associated Press
