Sydney FC Women opened their season three W-League account strongly with a comprehensive 4-2 victory over a lacklustre Roar Women on Saturday.

Despite missing star striker Sarah Walsh, out due to a niggling knee injury, the under-strength Sydney squad proved too strong for a Roar Women outfit that struggled to find its feet and maintain its shape.

Led by an in-form Heather Garriock, who scored two of their four goals, Sydney found the back of the net first in the grand final rematch. Roar's Tameka Butt equalised with a cracking and seemingly revitalising goal soon after (as Butt noted after the game, she's scored against Sydney in each of their meetings-something that will surely see her a heavily marked woman in future games), but Sydney piled on another three goals to Roar's match total of two to cement a solid victory.

It was a surprisingly slow opening for Roar, with most fans expecting the season two runner-ups to come out fighting. It may have been due to the suddenly warm and sunny weather in Queensland (which in recent weeks has been uncharacteristically raining and cold), but Roar appeared strangely lethargic.

Admittedly, with approximately half of the Starting XI having been overseas with the Matildas for the Peace Queen Cup and then the friendly against world number two team Germany, Roar Women haven't had the solid training prep together they have in previous seasons.

Dominating possession and play and carving up Roar's new-look defensive backline as communication and structure fell by the wayside, Sydney signalled their premiership intentions. Expect a top-four finish and some serious premiership-contention from them.

Although I incorrectly picked the Roar v Sydney winner, I'm chuffed to say I was spot on about striker Sasha McDonnell, who's been picked up by Newcastle Jets.

Having tested the keeper throughout the match, she scored a double in the space of five minutes in the last 10 minutes of the game against Adelaide United to give the Jets the three points and a confidence-boosting start to the season.

Meanwhile in the final match of the round, season two golden boot Michelle Heyman started the season in fine form with a hat trick for Canberra United against Perth Glory Women.

Kate Gill cancelled out Heyman's 34th-minute goal with one of her own just before half time, but Heyman added another two to her tally before Cian Maciejewski scored one to take Canberra to a goal total of four.

Round two will see the winless Perth host the also-winless Adelaide, Brisbane travel to the cooler climes of Canberra, and Melbourne Victory enter the W-League fray with a match against traditional interstate rivals Sydney.