After more than four years of hell, the 10 AFL players resuming from their Essendon doping bans enjoyed a near-perfect comeback.
St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle was the only one not to play on a winning team in round one.
And he played against former Essendon teammate Jake Melksham, now at Melbourne.
Bombers key forward Michael Hurley has revealed there were conversations and text messages with former teammates as they made their long-awaited returns.
The highlight was Essendon's emotional Saturday night win over fierce rivals Hawthorn.
The Bombers lineup featured six players of the 34 who were banned early last year for doping offences.
Carlisle, Melksham, Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide) and Stewart Crameri (Western Bulldogs) were the others to return in the AFL after missing all last season.
"There's been a few text messages," Hurley told Fox Sports.
"I spoke to Jake Melksham briefly yesterday before his game and Stewart before his, then getting back to the phone after the game last night I had a text from Paddy Ryder as well.
"There's that feeling among not only the guys from Essendon, but also the guys from the other clubs as well.
"Having got through last night and having the emotion of everything done, you can look forward to the rest of it now."
All up, 16 of the players who were banned last season are still on AFL lists - 10 of them at Essendon.
HOW THEY FARED
Essendon (beat Hawthorn by 25 points)
Dyson Heppell - new Essendon captain, starred, 34 diposals, 3 goals
Jobe Watson - former captain, impressive, 27 diposals, eight tackles
Michael Hurley - 21 disposals, seven marks
Cale Hooker - 10 disposals, three goals
Brent Stanton - 19 disposals, two goals
Travis Colyer - 15 disposals, six marks
PORT ADELAIDE (upset Sydney by 28 points)
Paddy Ryder - impressed with 28 hitouts
WESTERN BULLDOGS (beat Collingwood by 14 points)
Stewart Crameri - 17 disposals, four tackles, one goal
MELBOURNE (beat St Kilda by 30 points)
Jake Melksham - 15 disposals, nine marks
ST KILDA
Jake Carlisle - 11 disposals
