“It was a good way to start the season off for the boys,” Baird said.

“They were playing their first game of Aussie rules for the first time in 20 years, I think, so they were a little bit inexperienced, and our boys played a really good game for four quarters.”

Baird said they know it will not be that way all season, but it was good to get off to the start they wanted to.

“Moree have four or five really quality players, and we found years ago that if you can build around those types of players, then your club will grow,” he said.

“They’ve got a lot of players who haven’t played much football at all, and it was very telling on Saturday.”

With the League under 18s on a bye, Baird said the Saints had quite a few debutantes in Saturday’s game.

“Bailey and Brennan Cosgrove were probably our best players. They were on debut and the same for Damon Harrison; he was playing only his second or third game for us and Russell Bryant kicked 10 goals, which is always a pretty good day.”

Baird hoped the younger players enjoyed their day on the field and said some had said it was the quickest side Saints had ever put on the paddock.

“The young blokes took to the game very naturally and did a lot of running,” he said.

“Hopefully we’ll get them back during the year when they get the bye in the league, and the old blokes enjoyed watching the young blokes go out there and do their thing.”