More than 1800 junior footballers hit the turf for the first time in 2018 at the weekend.
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90 teams in the BJFL took part across five divisions - under-16, under-14 and under-12 grading games in the boys competition and under-18 and under-15 in the girls competition.
For the boys, the first month of the season is all about grading games.
The highlight of under-16 week one was the thrilling finish between Strathfieldsaye seniors and Kangaroo Flat seniors.
Despite not kicking a goal in the final term, the Roos held on to win 9.8 (62) to 8.11 (59). Lachlan Balcke and Riley Bouwmeester were best for the Roos, while Tom Bennett and Linc White were best for the Storm.
In under-14 grading games, only two of the 22 games finished with a margin less than four goals.
The Golden Square seniors held off Sandhurst seniors by 11 points thanks largely to a six-goal to none second term.
Rhys Louris starred for the Dogs, while Luke Salvador was best for the Dragons.
The Dragons reserves flipped the result when they rallied from a two-goal half-time deficit to edge out Golden Square reserves by 10 points.
Lewis Fisher was best for Sandhurst, while Dayten Uerata played well for Square.
34 under-12 teams took to the field over the weekend.
The Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 12D and Golden Square 12D clash was the closest match of the round. The Eagles withstood a late charge from the Dogs to win 4.5 (29) to 4.3 (27).
Kyneton 12A and Golden Square 12A stamped their class with 23-goal wins over Quarry Hill 12A and St Francis of the Field 12A respectively.
The two girls competitions junped straight into home and away action.
In the under-18s, Kyneton overcame a scoreless first term to defeat Eaglehawk by two points.
Paige Webber-Mirkin and Ashleigh Wilson stood out for the Tigers, while Zelma Carter and Tara Archbold were the Hawks' best players.
Strathfieldsaye looked slick in its 49-point win over Woorinen.
Ireland O'Rourke bagged five of the Storm's nine goals and Tara Slender was dominant. Lily Den Houting and Natasha Kelly played well for the Tigers.
In other games, Golden Square kicked seven goals to one after half-time to defeat Sandhurst by 50 points, while Kangaroo Flat outclassed South Bendigo by 80 points.
Eaglehawk's thrilling four-point win over Kyneton was the highlight of round one of the under-15 girls.
Drew Ryan and Keely Fullerton won plenty of the ball for the Hawks in the 4.8 (32) to 4.4 (28) victory. Gemma McMaster-King and Imogen Hewitt were the Tigers' best.
Kangaroo Flat scored a 15-point win over South Bendigo at Dower Park. Oakley Turner and Isabella McAllister were the standouts for the Roos, while Asha Coulson and Charlize Bake were best for the Bloods.
Strathfieldsaye defeated Golden Square by 41 points and Sandhurst belted White Hills by 25 goals.
BJFL milestones rounds one and two: 100 games – Jack Speechley (Strathfieldsaye). 50 games – Darcy Mulquinny (Strathfieldsaye), George Simpson (Strathfieldsaye), Abe Sheahan (Strathfieldsaye), Jett Nicholas (Strathfieldsaye).