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A snapshot of what happened in round one of the 2019 AFL season.

WHAT HAPPENED IN ROUND ONE OF THE AFL

THEY SAID IT: "It's just pure relief. I had weeks where I didn't want to get out of bed. I've never experienced anything like that." - Port Adelaide's Jack Watts was emotional on Fox Footy after the Power's upset win over his old side Melbourne on the back of a torrid few months due to his involvement in an unsavoury video.

STATS THAT MATTER: Geelong star Tom Hawkins picked the perfect time to kick his 500th career goal. With scores level late in the last quarter of a tight tussle with Collingwood, the full forward banged through his second of the night to help secure a gutsy seven-point win at the MCG.

MAN OF THE ROUND: Stephen Coniglio. GWS were missing midfield stars Callan Ward and Josh Kelly, but Coniglio led the charge as the Giants romped to a 72-point obliteration of much-hyped Essendon. The onballer had 31 possessions, laid seven tackles and booted three goals.

KEY MOMENT: Underdone Sydney superstar Lance Franklin could have levelled the scores against the Western Bulldogs with seven minutes left. The Swans were storming home at Marvel Stadium but Buddy was called to play on as the shot clock expired and his rushed shot hit the post. The Dogs then dug deep to ice an epic win.

TALKING POINT: How was the Marvel Stadium turf so bad in the opening round of the season? The AFL used to bemoan the state of the shifting grass at the venue when it was someone else's problem but the league owns the stadium these days, so there's no one else to blame.

TRIBUNAL WATCH: West Coast - Liam Ryan (striking); St Kilda - Jade Gresham (rough conduct), North Melbourne - Ben Cunnington (striking).

KEY INJURIES: Alex Rance (Rich, knee), Jordan Lewis (Melb, hamstring - late withdrawal), Tom Doedee (Adel, knee), Richard Douglas (Adel, ankle), Matt Suckling (WB, ankle), David Swallow (GC, knee), Harry Perryman (GWS, shoulder), Ed Vickers-Willis (NM, knee), Hayden Ballantyne (Frem, hamstring)

WHAT'S NEXT: Richmond kick off round two on Thursday night with a big clash with Collingwood at the MCG, then first-up losers Sydney and Adelaide will be looking to open their accounts at the SCG on Friday evening. Geelong versus Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday will be huge, with Hawthorn against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday also a beauty.