ANY GIVEN Sunday.

It is the mantra that governs the NFL and one that the AFL is seeking to emulate, though for the AFL, 'Any Given Weekend' might be more apt, taking into account the spread of games right through the weekend.

The mantra is all about competitiveness. That supporters should hope and believe that, every time they play, their team is a genuine chance to win. It is a key plank behind the AFL's new zeal for equalisation, taken up with great gusto after a trip by League and club leaders last year to meet heavyweights from the NFL and other US sporting bodies.

What made Saturday's two results so exhilarating was that this mantra of 'Any Given Weekend' could be upon us earlier than we might have thought. Last year, Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney were the two millstones around the neck of the competition in terms of competitiveness. To play them was to all but guarantee four points and some healthy percentage in the bank.

We have yet to see the Demons play in earnest, but the indications are promising. For the Giants, their 32-point win over the Sydney Swans on Saturday represents a more tangible sign. They're on their way.

Just as Gold Coast's third-year players showed marked improvement last year, it appears the same is happening for the Giants. Midfielders Stephen Coniglio, Adam Treloar, Toby Greene and Dylan Shiel now look like they belong in the crash and bash of an AFL midfield. Jonathan Patton kicked three goals in his first game back from a knee reconstruction. More ominously, Jeremy Cameron would have perhaps broken even with Ted Richards, yet he kicked four. 

The Giants got superb leadership from Callan Ward and Phil Davis, whose "Buddy study" paid off big time, keeping the boom Swans recruit to seven touches and a goal. Heath Shaw and Josh Hunt added further steel to a backline that was bent but ultimately did not break. Shane Mumford, delivered to the Giants because of the salary cap fallout from the Franklin signing, was a colossus in the ruck.



Jaeger O'Meara and Sam Day flank Gary Ablett after the Suns' win over the Tigers. Picture: AFL Media

Gold Coast's win over Richmond was less surprising given the venue and the Suns' great record against the Tigers. And while Gary Ablett got his quest for a third Brownlow off to the perfect start, it was fourth-year players David Swallow, Dion Prestia, Sam Day and Tom Lynch who were among the best.

It was the first time both new teams had won in the same round, let alone on the same round and the easy take-away was that this was the dream weekend for Andrew Demetriou and his relentless expansion agenda.

But for anyone who craves a truly even competition, it was a sparkling weekend. 

QUESTION TIME

How would the Brisbane Lions have felt watching Jared Polec running around for Port Adelaide?
Sick in the guts. Polec was one of those dubbed 'mummy's boys' who packed up and left the club at the end of last season for a variety of unrelated reasons. The feeling at the time at the Lions was that West Coast-bound Elliott Yeo was the only walk-up member of their best 22 to leave the club, but based on his classy 24-possession debut for Port Adelaide on Sunday night, Polec also shapes as a huge loss.

How did Daisy go?
Sixteen touches on debut including a nice first-quarter goal that left a particular Collingwood president speechless in the commentary box. He'll be better for the run, but I remain convinced he won't be the savior some Carlton types have portrayed him to be. Thomas won't help the Blues when they're thrashed at clearances like they were, nor will he address their deficiencies in the key positions at both ends of the ground.



Ashley Browne: What was really surprising on Saturday was how badly the Swans faded in the final term. You would have thought the older, bigger bodies would have run the game out better. But the Swans have been so uber-professional in the last few years that I'm going to throw a theory out there,. From a preparation point of view, they might have viewed the Giants game as the last of their pre-season and that their 'season proper' starts in a fortnight against Collingwood. They did look ordinary and far more bothered by the storm delay at the end of the first quarter.



AB: I think so. As dreadful as they were, I still love that top-end midfield when it's up and running – Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Luke Ball, Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams. What I didn’t like was what the Pies did at selection, leaving out a second tall forward to take the load off Travis Cloke. They'll be considerably better when Ben Reid and Jesse White return to the side. Good enough for the 12-14 wins necessary to make the finals.



AB: Hasn’t the draw opened up superbly for the G-Men? St Kilda is depleted through the midfield, where the Giants are loaded and St Kilda's backline is a work in progress whereas the GWS forward line is humming along nicely. It's hard to pick a favourite until we see the Saints in action against Melbourne next week, but the Giants have to like their chances. And why stop at 2-0? Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are the two after that. 4-0 anyone?



AB: Here you go. Since the expansion era – 2011 – here are how many of that year's finalists won their season opener:

2011: 5
2012: 5
2013: 6

You'd have to think that despite their stumbles this weekend, that the Swans, Tigers and Pies will make the finals, so at this stage, we're tracking at the five or six figure for this season. But you're right not to get too wound up over the results to open the season. It's a marathon, not a sprint, just one game from 22, the leaves haven’t started to turn … yada, yada, yada.



AB: They went into Saturday night at missing at least three players from their best 22 – Ivan Maric, Dylan Grimes and Dan Jackson who, just quietly, won the Jack Dyer Medal last year. Jake Batchelor, Matt Dea and Aaron Edwards could step into that side and it wouldn't be any weaker. So I don’t think depth is the issue for the Tigers, rather that on Saturday night, Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin were their only four-quarter players. I also wonder whether they need to play Dusty Martin when the game needs to be won. He cooled his heels at full-forward on Saturday night while the Suns were running rampant at the other end.



AB: Just a great win and I really liked Leon Cameron's relaxed attitude after the game, which was to enjoy the win for the next 36 hours because special wins like that don't come around too often. Judging by the number of hangers-on in the rooms after the game that seemed to be the plan.



AB: Depends which Coast you are talking about. West Coast? Yes. They're my (and many others') finals smokey, refreshed by a new coach and the promise of a better run with injuries. As for Gold Coast, the Suns are in the midst of establishing a powerful home ground advantage but finals hopes will depend on winning four or five away from home. Among their road trips this year are two games in Perth and one each in Adelaide and Launceston.



AB: Combination of a few things. The AFL wants to start the season earlier, particularly in the northern markets so as to not to give the NRL a three-week head start in the media. The AFL has listened to pleas from the players to institute a second bye, and for that to be accommodated the start of the season needs to be brought forward. And finally, the unavailability of several grounds including the MCG, the Gabba, the SCG and the Adelaide Oval because of cricket and concerts, also meant the round needed to be spread out over a fortnight. Having said that, I'm not a fan of the staggered start.



AB: I loved Ballantyne's game. Three goals and plenty of his trademark aggro and lip. I wondered whether he would be carrying any baggage after his nightmare of a Grand Final, but I need wonder no longer. He has bounced back beautifully.