THE first game of any season is filled with anticipation and all clubs are positive, having worked long and hard at their respective recruiting efforts.
That first encounter often goes a long way to indicating the success or otherwise of those endeavours.
Swan Hill will be suitably comforted by its performance, the result a resounding confirmation of the Swans off season deliberations.
On the other side of the ledger the Koondrook Barham has much to consider as their performance was at the best disappointing.
The Swans performed at a very high level and would be very pleased with their recruiting of Toby Thoolen who was the best player on the ground.
The big man was mobile covering plenty of territory exhibiting high skill and team mentality while personally delivering five goals to his teams impressive tally.
The home side was pleased to welcome back the clever Josh Templeton who has added some bulk and composure to his natural talent and he is a valuable acquisition.
Callan Beasy is still a very accomplished ruckman and he took control early at the centre ball-up and easily overshadowed the immensely tall Raiders big man Chris Howgate.
Howgate, while standing 207cm tall, is not physical in attitude and appeared to be brushed aside by Beasy and also Thoolen when that player had a stint in the ruck.
The Raiders cause was not helped by the apparent early injury to big forward Lincoln Green whose influence was diminished because of a knee problem.
Both sides took some time to find their respective rhythm and in particular the Raiders struggled in the absence of a tall marking target up forward.
Each camp relied on a defensive style of game in the first term and while the Raiders were able to contain the Swans with hard running and incessant tackling they did not have the skills to take advantage of the turnovers created but the Swans were contained to just four majors and the visitors went to the break just 20 points adrift and looking as though they had the ability to match the home side.
The second stanza was an example of what was to unfold as the Swans took the game by the throat and if they had been accurate in their shooting for goal the match would have been wrapped up at half-time.
The Raiders deficit had blown out to 30 points and while they had added to their score the game was slipping away.
Any hope of a revival by the Raiders was shattered as the Swans slammed on two goals in as many minutes immediately as play resumed after the main break the visitors appeared to be nonplussed and were more like spectators as the Swans rained scoring shots still many of them behinds but they had blown the match apart.
Jonno Hirst was running tirelessly, Xavier Moloney was smooth and effective, Thoolen was still in control and the Swans did not have a passenger.
Shane Guerra is a legend of the sport and he was tireless across the final line of defence for his beloved Raiders and with the Swans in full flight he was constantly under pressure and repelled numerous attacks and he was ably assisted by Matt Dean who is returning after a couple of years off the track.
The final term was a formality as the game was over and the Swans cruised to a very easy victory and they are looking at being a very accurate bench mark that might measure the chances of many of the premiership aspirants of 2014.
The Raiders will struggle against many of the sides as they are physically small and too easily brushed aside.
They possess speed and agility but luck hand and foot skills, turning over possession too often.
