Big hits and high flyers were part of the action in the first round of the SANFL where the league returned to a 10-team competition for the first time since 1990.

The Eagles Lachlan McGregor’s six-goal performance was the standout effort in front of goal.

Off the field, the League would have been rapt with the TV ratings.

Seven’s opening match of the 2014 SANFL IGA League between Norwood and Port Adelaide was the second highest rating home and away match broadcast on television since 2001.

The LIVE three hour telecast averaged 55,038 on 7mate with a peak audience of 74,000 viewers.  The match averaged 72,261 viewers from the opening bounce to the final siren.

The broadcast, with commentators Mark Soderstrom, John Casey and Tim Ginever and boundary reporter Tom Wilson, marked the return of the SANFL to Seven since the 1987 Grand Final.

The telecast helped 7mate to record a 10.4% share in prime time (6pm to midnight) – not only blitzing all the digital channels but also eclipsing Ten’s main channel (10.1% share).

It is 7mate’s third highest nightly prime time share since the station’s opening night in September 2010.

Seven will televise the match of the round during the 18-match home and away season.

Zac Milbank has a look at some of the highlights from other matches from the weekend.