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SOUTH Bendigo fired an early salvo in the Bendigo Football-Netball League's under-18 competition, opening the shortened season with a 64-point win against Eaglehawk at Canterbury Park on Saturday.

In one of only two games played in the first of the competition's nine rounds, the Bloods got the jump on the Hawks in the first quarter and powered away to a comfortable 17.14 (116) to 8.4 (52) victory.

"We feel that we'll be an improved side this year and the boys played some good footy today," South Bendigo coach Peter Tyack said.

"I'm really pleased with the way the boys are developing and today was one of those games where everyone played their role for us.

"Giving out the awards after the game, we really could have given them to anyone, so that was a great start for the year."

The Bloods skipped out to a 20-point advantage at quarter-time and were able to hold sway for the remainder of the game played in perfect July conditions that greeted the start of the long-awaited season.

The pair of Thomas St Clair (five) and Declan McMahon (four) combined for nine goals for the Bloods and both featured among their best players, along with Darcy Radford, Wil McCaig, Liam Shiell and Kyle Simpkins.

"It was just fantastic for the boys to be back out playing," Tyack said.

"It has been tough times for every single person, but for the young people to be able to get out and play their sport, it's so important for their health and well-being.

"You could see the excitement from players of both teams to be back out there playing the game they love... forget the scoreline, that's the bigger picture."

The Hawks trailed the Bloods by 23 points at half-time, before the floodgates opened in the second half when South Bendigo piled on nine goals to three.

"We didn't play the way we wanted to today. South set up really well around the footy and were able to move it quickly into their forward line and capitalise on our mistakes," Hawks coach Ash Grant said.

"Having said that, we were really happy with the games of a few of our boys. Mitch Ronchierri, who still has another two years of under-18s, played really well out on the wing.

"Mitch McConnell coming back from injury was really good up forward and Ethan Arnold through the middle was good as well.

"We moved the footy well in patches and were able to get scores on the board, but not multiple scores and we weren't able to get any momentum in the game."

The Hawks will now turn their attention to taking on reigning premiers Kangaroo Flat at Dower Park next Saturday.

"I said to the boys after the match that one game doesn't define a season. We've got Kangaroo Flat next week and they are considered one of the favourites, so it's another good opportunity to test ourselves," Grant said.

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Strathfieldsaye pulled away from Sandhurst in the last quarter to win by 17 points at the QEO.

With both teams featuring six Bendigo Pioneer-listed players in their sides, the Storm prevailed 9.9 (63) to 7.4 (46).

"It was a good game of footy and a great experience for the boys because it had the intensity similar to that of a grand final," Storm coach Bart Leahy said.

"The pleasing thing for us is we had a lot of boys who have come up from our under-16s, which is a big jump, and they played really well."

The Storm led by five points at three quarter-time before adding 4.1 to 2.1 in the final term.

Jai Featherby (three) and Bode Stevens (two) were both multiple goalkickers for the Storm, who were off-target in the first half when they kicked 3.8, before straightening up with 6.1 after the break.

"For our boys, it was great to be able to play a high-intensity game on the QEO against quality opposition... I said to them afterwards that if they could play well today, they could play well in any under-18 game," Leahy said.

Mitch Hallinan through the midfield and off half-back, Malachi Coleman in defence and on-baller Thomas Bennett were Strathfieldsaye's best.

Sandhurst's better players included Caleb Connick, who was given a defensive job on the Storm's Xavier Mitchell, classy midfielder Noah Walsh and Sam Conforti.

"I felt we contested well and hung in, but that was it... we were hanging in without being able to take that next step," Sandhurst coach Dave Gallagher said.

"We showed glimpses of good footy, but Strath is a good team that sets up well and makes it difficult to score and they definitely did that to us today."

Both the Golden Square v Kangaroo Flat and Maryborough v Castlemaine matches were postponed, with the BFNL taking precautions in relation to the positive COVID-19 test of a worker at Don KR Castlemaine.

"All clubs impacted have been really supportive and back the decisions that have been made," BFNL manager Cameron Tomlins said on Saturday.

"It comes down to safety and if we feel we can't proceed in an environment that is fully safe, we'll make the required decisions."

The BFNL will make further announcements regarding the postponed matches "in due course".

Sandhurst v Maryborough - 11.15am at QEO

Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk - 2.30pm at Dower Park

Kyneton v Golden Square - 2.30pm at Kyneton Showgrounds

South Bendigo v Castlemaine - 2.30pm at QEO

Strathfieldsaye bye

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