The Power opened its account with a convincing 45-23 win against Deakin University at Noorat Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

It led 7-4 after a low-scoring first quarter before stringing together terms of 16, 10 and 12 goals. Best-on-court Penny Smith finished with 31 goals.

“I thought early on a bit of first-game nerves were there. It took both teams a bit to settle,” Justin said.

“Early we had more of the play but we weren’t making the most of it. We were putting each other under pressure. Once we settled were a lot better.”

She was particularly pleased with goal defence Claire O’Connor and teenager Meg O’Sullivan, the two new faces in the side.

“They seemed to settle in really well. I thought our defence was terrific and Claire O’Connor was a huge part of that in the overall scheme of the game,” she said.

“I gave her our second-best player, that’s a terrific sign in itself. And Meg O’Sullivan, coming up from the under 17s, I thought she got better as the game went on.

“She’ll get used to the intensity of the game. It’s probably a bit more physical than under 17s.”

The result represented a near-perfect start for the Power, which has finals on its radar after stunning the competition in its run to a semi-final last season.

As well as Smith and O’Connor, goal keeper Tania Barbary was also among the best players while goal attack Linda Clifford shot 14 goals.

“There are always things to work on but I couldn’t be happier with round one,” Justin said.

But the story was starkly different in the Deakin University camp. 

Coach Kim Jamieson couldn’t hide her disappointment at the result.

Jamieson was frustrated at the Sharks’ 22 per cent accuracy in the first term — four goals from 18 shots. Positional changes then failed to change their fortunes.

Melissa Burt shot 15 goals while Liz Fowler, who swung from goal defence to wing attack, was their best.

“When you look at those stats, I’m shocked,” Jamieson said.

“I’ll give the girls credit where credit is due, they kept going. But it’s unfortunate and disappointing from a coaching point of view.

“We’re expecting big things this year because we’ve held on to our core. Today it just didn’t happen.”

Jamieson said the Sharks had been honest in their review of the match. She hoped a session with Netball Victoria’s Deb Armstrong tonight would be beneficial.

“We sat down and I went around the group and said ‘how do you think you went and how do you think you played as an individual’,” she said.

“There was some real positive stuff out of that and some real honestly, which was good. We can only look forward.”