West Whyalla extracted revenge on last year's premiers North Whyalla by 17 points in a tight contest at the Bennett Oval on Saturday.
Although there was a three to four goal breeze favouring the scoreboard end, to which the Magpies were kicking in the first quarter, the way the Dragons started the game you would never had known.
The Dragons kicked the first two goals of the game and after about seven minutes of play the ball had not gone into the Magpies forward line.
However they settled and started to play their normal fast, running type of football that won them last year's premiership.
They trailed at quarter time by 16 points.
The second quarter saw some fantastic football played with the Dragons, despite kicking with the wind, only outscoring their opponents by a solitary point, to go into the long break with a 17-point lead.
Magpies coach Freddy Freeman must have got stuck into his players at the long break as they came out firing on all cylinders kicking a goal in the first minute of play.
They looked as though they were going to go on with it, but the Dragons settled and played some brilliant run on football, once again into the wind, but the Maggies fought back late in the quarter to trail by only two points at the last change.
The last quarter began with two quick goals to the Dragons, which gave them a handy lead of 14 points and that was enough, as both teams added another goal each, with last season's runners up claiming victory by 17 points in an enthralling contest that had everything that people go to the football to see, even a little push and shove, which kept the good size crowd on their toes.
Seeing it was the first game of the season the players put on a very good spectacle, which is a plus for the coaches with both clubs having very good pre-seasons.
There were many good players from both teams, with veteran Anthony Manfield best on ground.
He started the game at centre half back and moved into the ruck later in the game dominating with his marking and good field play.
Young ruckman Ben English was good all game and will be a much better player with the experienced Manfield tutoring him in the art of ruckwork.
The Dragons had a winner in attack with Brad Henderson kicking four goals, while defender Aaron Smith was great all game.
They have picked up a handy player in recruit Michael Kellett, while others to play well were Leigh Symons,Scott Norman, Simon Nowak and Matty Holmes.
The Magpies had plenty of good players as well, with Chad Clothier providing plenty of run and finished with four goals, while new recruits Russell Tucker and Matt Quist proved they can both play football and will be handy pick ups for the club, with others to play well were John Reschke, Everette Ernesti,Wayne Dare and Jimmy Abdullah, who had his moments.
It was a great contest for the first game of the season and if this trend continues we are definitely in for a great season of football.
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