It's the number that's been in the heart and minds of the Orange Tigers all pre-season since Chris Rothnie's detah, he wore that exact number on his way to three flags with the Tigers.

In round one of their AFL Central West clash of 2019, the Tigers honoured their fallen brother by kicking 16 goals and 16 behinds, defeating Parkes Panthers 16.16.112 - 5.7.37 at Northparkes Oval on Saturday.

It was an emotional day for both clubs - with the Panthers also remembering Amanda Knappett and the Tigers wearing a second black armband for former player John Fisher - but in the end the Tigers proved too good on the paddock.

Tigers' captain Mick Evans said it was a touching tribute to Rothnie after a turbulent off-season, albeit an unintentional one.

"I pulled them together at the end there and pointed out 16 goals and 16 behinds for [Rothnie's] number 16 was a nice little coincidence and goes to show the big fella's looking over us and we'll never forget him," he said.

"It's pretty satisfying knowing the guys pulled together like that; we weren't going in to focus on the win, it was about coming together as a club and trying to use that as really gel after an interrupted preseason.

"To come away with the win and especially with the way the guys stood up for everyone, nobody was a passenger and that was a really satisfying first-up win."

He also praised the efforts of the "absolutely unreal" first-gamers, of which there were plenty. 

Both sides sported multiple debutants, with seven players playing on the black and gold for the first time and more than 10 pulling on their first Panthers' guernsey, and in the end the Tigers' first gamers helped take the game away from Parkes in a dominant first half.

The Tigers were on the board in the first 15 seconds as Sundun Welisara kicked the first of his eventual four goals crumbing in the goal square, and the Tigers raced away on the back of quick clearances from the undermanned Evans-led midfield brigade and a three-goal breeze. 

Parkes couldn't hit the scoreboard in the first quarter and only had one goal to half-time thanks to the rock-solid work from Joel Crosswell, Callan Hunt, Luke Thorley, and the rest of the Tigers' backline, but the most impressive work came from the debutants. 

Max Bylsma made himself busy in the forward line alongside Welisara, Callan Naden showed not only did he have pace to burn but also the composure to back it, and Brendan Longley took the game on while Pavel Melnichuk was able to lower the eyes and hit key passes running off half-back.

"They just looked at home, they went into every contest 100 per cent and didn't look like they didn't belong, couldn't be prouder of them," Evans said. 

Evans' opposite number Brent Tucker said "it was a pretty good start for our boys" despite the tough opening half. "It was a slow start but we worked our way into the game," he said.