The Swans did the damage with a sizzling second quarter performance, piling on seven unanswered goals to blow the game open.

The reigning premiers fought back but it was only shortlived as Griffith ran out comfortable winners, 13.7 (85) to 6.8 (44) at Crossroads Oval.

Griffith had the majority of the ball early but were unable to capitalise on the advantage, as the Demons took a three-point lead into quarter time.

The second quarter belonged to Griffith, as 15-year-old Kahlan Spencer announced his arrival to senior footy with a couple of opportunistic goals in the space of five minutes.

The half-time siren could not come soon enough for the Demons, as Griffith raced to a 39-point lead.

Collingullie-GP then responded and controlled the third term. They closed within 18 points at one stage late in term and could have got closer if it wasn't for a couple of wasted opportunities.

Griffith got the all-important first goal of the final term, and four of the five majors for the quarter to run out impressive winners.

Griffith coach Will Griggs was pleased to start the year in such positive fashion.

"Obviously it's good to get a win. There were some fantastic parts about the game and there were some not-so fantastic things so there's a lot to work on, which is good. That's a positive," Griggs said.

Griggs was particularly pleased with his team's second and fourth quarters, where they ran in 11 goals to one.

"Yeah absolutely, (the second quarter) was some of our better footy and I thought even our last quarter, we only had one, maybe two on the bench so to run that out was pretty good," he said.

Alex Overs strained a hamstring in the third quarter of the Swans' win, while Reece Matheson picked up a minor ankle injury.

Overs started the game well and was ferocious around the contest, while Richards was another to impress in his first game back at the club, ending with three goals. 

The Swans' defence was terrific. They held both Luke Gestier and John Buchanan goallless, while also starting many attacking raids from defence.

Griggs said the win did very little to ease the pain of last year's grand final defeat to the Demons.

"Nah. Not at this stage. It's only early, it's only round one," he said.

"They've got a lot of improvement with some blokes to come back in but we missed one of our main crucial blokes (Lucas Conlan) today as well and we're looking forward to getting him back in the next week or two."

For Collingullie-GP, Blake Harper was by far and away their best, while Jason Ainsworth impressed in his first game.

Jason Ainsworth showed a lot of positive signs and will be better for the run, Matt Hobbs was solid in defence in his first game for the club, while Harry Radley and Josh Gunning showed good signs.

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