The Red 'n Blacks, fired by a career-high ten goals from key forward Matt Handley, put away a young and fast Trinity line-up at Elsternwick Park today.

Opening Day brings out the faithful who ponder the same thing every year: "Are they ready?" The Xavs answered the question, with a sensational first quarter that netted eleven goals, including six to the aforementioned gargantuan goalsneak.

With the game already safe, the game became a contest. Perfectionists may have ventured that the result itself might have come into question had the relative accuracy of the teams been reversed, but such claims were without substance.

To be sure, Trinity did threaten on occasion, stringing together some periods of sustained scoring. Then Tim Ockleshaw would unleash some of his trademark brilliance, as if to suggest that resistance was futile.

First-gamers Dustin Lloyd and Nick Bye came under the scrutiny of the Titans of the Terraces and won nods of approval for their efforts, while Geelong recruit Matt McCarthy showed glimpses of the form he displayed in his first Xavs tour of duty half a decade ago.

But the star of the day was the big blond fellow up front, who repaid his team-mates for their generosity by converting his opportunities to full effect.

The Xavs will be better for the gallop after a pre-season of interruption and inconvenience.

The recently-married team runner Louis Hannebery worked overtime to ring the changes ordered by coach Barry "Bones" Richardson, granting repose to tired legs, ensuring that the Claret and Stout will be fresh enough for next week's grand final rematch clash with the reigning premier Old Haileyburyians.

OLD TRINITY            1.3   7.10  12.15    16.19 - 115

OLD XAVERIANS     11.2  16.5   20.5   24.10 - 154

Goals: M. Handley 10, T. Clarke 4, T. Ockleshaw 3, D. Sapuppo, J. Scanlan, A. Chatfield, T. Fleming, J. Arnold, L. Howard, R. Colbert
Best: M. Handley, J. Scanlan, T. Clarke, D. Lloyd, J. Arnold, N. Bye

The win saw Old Xavs in third position, behind Collegians and Old Brighton on percentage.

RESERVES

After a sluggish first term in which they down four goals to one, the 2s slipped into gear to smash Trinity by 76 points. Tim O'Meara (5 goals), Hugo Murphy, Lucas Harry and Nick Corcoran, returning home after a one-year sabbatical at the Badlands, were all prominent.

OLD TRINITY             7.3 -45

OLD XAVERIANS    18.13 - 121

Goals: O'Meara 5, Rush 3, Larkins 3, Dimattina 3, Corcoran, Harry, Murphy, Pasceri

Best: Corcoran, O'Meara, Larkins, Harry, Pasceri

THIRDS

The Menages had no answer for the Club XVIII Grand Finalists, going down by nine goals at Darling Park.

PRAHRAN AFC    14.7-91

OLD XAVERIANS  5.9-39

U19

The Arsenal of Theocracy smashed St Kevin's by 25 large in their season-opener.

OLD XAVERIANS    26.15-171

ST KEVIN'S OB            2.9-21

Goals: A. Ryan 7, J. Douglas 5, J. Mercuri 5, P. Cain 3, H. Whiting 2, C. Perkins, K. Hogan, A. Torre, L. Daniher
Best: A. Ryan, J. Mercuri, J. Quinn, S. Misaghian, K. Hogan, S. McDougal

U19 RESERVES

The Maulers won a hard-fought breakfast contest at HQ this morning.

OLD XAVERIANS    8.14-62

EMMAUS ST LEOS  6.13-49

Goals: D. Follacchio, J. Folie, P. Kelly, G. Grigoriadis, C. McMahon, M. Dynon, J. Overland, L. Dimattina
Best: C. Chisholm, J. Overland, J. French, N. Perrone, P. Doyle, T. Curtain

CROCS

The Green Hose raised their premiership flag but lowered their colours to Uni Blues.

OLD XAVERIANS 7.9-51

UNI BLUES         12.5-77

Goals: D. Scott, S. Sheedy, B. Perry, H. Sayers, N. Silk, S. Hulett, D. Parry
Best: A. McCarthy, R. Ryan, M. Davies, E. Nolan, S. Hulett, B. Beetham

‍