Queensland paceman Chris Swan believes the honours were evenly shared on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield final against Victoria.
The Bulls' pace battery took full advantage of a green-tinged MCG wicket and conditions that were bowler-friendly early to have the Bushrangers in strife at 6-75 immediately after lunch.
But Swan demurred when asked if Queensland let the Vics - who finished on 9-286 thanks primarily to Matthew Wade's 96 and solid support from John Hastings (47) and Damien Wright (42) - off the hook.
"They were always going to bat well in partnerships," said Swan. "No Shield team just lies over."
"We were pretty happy to have them 6-70, but they batted well, Matthew Wade, John Hastings then 'Wrighty' at the end there, so it's probably shared honours at the end of the day."
"We would have taken (9-286) at the start of the day."
"They won the toss and batted on a flat Shield day-one wicket and we would definitely have done the same and definitely taken that."
Swan, who returned the best figures for the Bulls of 3-57, said his fellow quicks were always confident of being able to replicate the form that's served them well at the Gabba in conditions that are generally drier and less accommodating in Melbourne.
"Our strategies are still the same," he said.
"Everyone still nicks a good leg-cutter and you've just got to keep stacking dots and getting the ball through to the 'keeper."
"We've been working well at bowling a lot of maidens and consecutive maidens."
"We were stringing them together for a while until Wade and Hastings batted well together and put on that good partnership."
"The momentum started to swing a bit when they opened their arms, but I'm happy with the day."