DUNSTALL BOOTS A BAGFUL FOR HAWTHORN IN OPENING THRILLER

The Swans win came in the last moments of the match after they had trailed since the first bounce of the 1990 season.

Led by five goals from first game full-forward, Shane Fell, the Swans won 15.14.(104) to Carlton's 14.15.(99).

The other three games played in Melbourne yesterday were one-sided affairs

Hawthorn began the year where the side left off in 1989 - at the top of the ladder.

The reigning premiers, led by a record-equalling 12 goal bag from their champion full forward and last year's top goal kicker, Jason Dunstall, beat their 1989 rivals, Geelong, 28.24.(192) to 11.11.(97).

In a personal best, Dunstall, goal-less in the first term, had 18 kicks in the match to equal the record, he grabbed 12 marks and kicked a tally of 12.4 for the match.

Geelong's champion, Gary Ablett kicked five during his team's better passages of play in the first three quarters before Hawthorn piled on nine goals in the third term and a 10 goal final term burst.

Only 17 points separated the two 1989 grand finalists when the teams adjourned for the long interval.

Clouds gathered over VFL Park in the third quarter but it rained only brown and gold goals as the Hawks turned in a brilliant second half with 19 goals.

Darren Bennett, of Melbourne, also had a goal spree, kicking eight for the Demons as they ran away from North Melbourne to win 22.10.(142) to the Kangaroos' 12.17.(89).

North's 'mosquito fleet' of small players were no match on the sun-drenched MCG for the tall, strong Melbourne side which led all day.

Essendon, touted as a 1990 premiership contender, had a runaway 81 point win over Fitzroy at the Bombers' Windy Hill home ground.

The Brisbane Bears played Richmond under the lights at Carrara on the Gold Coast last night.

Two other matches will be played today to conclude the opening round.

The West Coast Eagles are favoured to beat Collingwood in Perth and St Kilda should account for Footscray at another match in Melbourne.