Richmond are in the rooms, arm in arm for the song. Not very socially-distanced, but I suppose after two hours in the middle there’s little point of that. They’re right to be happy with that - some outstanding ball movement for round one. Positives for Carlton as well, especially Jack Martin, who looks a top recruit. And with that, I’ll say goodbye on this strange night. Thanks for your company. Bye!
As is the modern custom, they play the song twice. I’m sure I’m not the only footy person finding it difficult hearing song play out across the ‘G with nobody singing.
Jack Reiwoldt speaks. He’s disappointed with how it faded off a bit in the second half but they are excited to bank a round one win. “You have got to go into your bag of tricks and find something different in a unique season like this.”
SIREN! RICHMOND WIN BY 24 POINTS!
Richmond 16.9 (105) v Carlton 12.9 (81). TIGERLAND plays out to the empty MCG. It was a testing final term but the premiers finished it off with cool heads.
Q4 0:15 remaining: Richmond 16.8 (104) v Carlton 12.9 (81) “We’ve seen a Rioli do this before!” roars Bruce as the Richmond star burns past two defenders and runs into an open goal at the Punt Road End. “It’s the cream on the cake!” Delicious.
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Q4 1:00 remaining: Richmond 15.8 (98) v Carlton 12.9 (81) Reiwoldt gives away a 50 for getting inside the protected area, giving Jones a rare set shot 30m out. He has to take his kick straight away and does, hitting the post. That’ll be that.
Updated
Q4 2:00 remaining: Richmond 15.8 (98) v Carlton 12.8 (80) A stoppage on Carlton’s half-forward flank, in front of the Smokers’ Stand. They need to make it work, get it clean and find a way for Cripps or Martin to get free inside 50... but they can’t. After some back and forth on the centre wing, Richmond win a deliberate out of bounds decision. They can run the clock down now without too much concern.
Q4 4:00 remaining: Richmond 15.8 (98) v Carlton 12.8 (80) Carlton aren’t giving up! After giving Silvagni a spray - that sentiment shared by several Whatsapp groups I’m in - he’s kept his feet well to deceive a defender and banana a goal from 30! Back to three goals. Cripps brilliant in the build up; he’s everywhere!
Q4 6:00 remaining: Richmond 15.8 (98) v Carlton 11.8 (74) I can’t help but reflect on how exciting this would be with 90,000 fans roaring on their teams. Soldo kicks sweetly from 50, his set shot hitting the post. Lambert then misses with his right foot, snapping from 25. Richmond are one goal away from sealing this. Ooh, Carlton might have given themselves another chance via Silvagni, but he gave off an opportunity from 45 directly in front rather than having a ping himself. It doesn’t work, the kick not getting to where it needs to. He’s had a poor night.
Q4 10:30 remaining: Richmond 15.6 (96) v Carlton 11.8 (74) A set shot falling short from Pickett, a pressure clearance from Carlton on the last line, and a rebound to Bolton. He keeps his nerve and slots the steadier for the Tigers. Back to 22 points.
Q4 12:09 remaining: Richmond 14.6 (90) v Carlton 11.8 (74) HERE COME CARLTON! THREE IN FOUR MINUTES! Newnes is the other man making his Carlton debut and he’s snagged a beauty to get on the board for his new club, off one step from 50 on the sponsor’s logo. Martin was crucial too, with clean hands and strong hips, as Cameron Ling notes on telly. Richmond under pressure!
Q4 13:00 remaining: Richmond 14.5 (89) v Carlton 10.8 (68) Back to 21 points! Carlton’s set shot kicking, Martin aside, has been no good tonight but they’ve flicked the switch now. From 48 out on the angle, that’s a lovely drop punt! A strong mark to earn the opportunity, too. Game on at the Cricket Ground!
Q4 14:40 remaining: Richmond 14.5 (89) v Carlton 9.8 (62) Nearly two in a minute! Cunningham misses on the snap from 25. Urrrgh. The Blue Baggers have dominated the first few minutes of this quarter, just as the did the second and third. But will Richmond pop through a steadier next? It’s what they do best.
Q4 15:20 remaining: Richmond 14.5 (89) v Carlton 9.7 (61) Carlton are inside five goals! They have kicked six majors from free kicks but they won’t mind! And it’s Levi Casboult, the maligned big man, who gets the Blues moving with a set shot from 20 out on a slight angle, gifted the shot after being pulled down without it.
SIREN!
We’re into the final quarter. Can Carlton get really busy? Let’s find out.
As expected, we do have a new audience.
Not a clue what's going on but I'M WATCHING LIVE SPORTS. pic.twitter.com/YSLH2eXQ7v
— Illegal Daniel (@IllegalDThe5th) March 19, 2020
Three-quarter time: Richmond 14.5 (89) v Carlton 8.7 (55)
Much better quarter from Carlton, kicking five goals to Richmond’s three. Jack Martin slotted four of them from five kicks - a lovely way to start his career at Princes Park. Still, the margin is a comfortable 34 points at this final change.
Q3 1:00 remaining: Richmond 14.5 (89) v Carlton 8.7 (55) Astbury, for reasons best understood by him and him alone, pushes Newnes to the ground off the ball. The result is a Jack Martin set shot from 30 and he makes it four goals in the quarter!
Q3 22:22 gone: Richmond 14.4 (88) v Carlton 7.7 (49) Of course, Richmond hit back straight away. They always do. How many times tonight have they found a free man at half-forward who has kicked truly from the arc? From great hands at a stoppage, a perfect chain of handballs followed before Prestia sticks the landing.
Q3 20:03 gone (the TV countdown clock has vanished!): Richmond 13.4 (82) v Carlton 7.7 (49) Cripps to McGovern to Martin! The kick from the club champion was an absolute beauty. For his third in the quarter... he drills it from 30! They’re within six goals. They have a sniff.
Q3 8.00 remaining: Richmond 13.3 (81) v Carlton 6.7 (43) Cummingham makes it two in a hurry for Carlton now! From point blank range, he kicks it into the second deck - they might have to leave that ball alone for the night. And guess who popped it down to him? Yep - it’s Jack Martin once again. He’s going nicely.
Q3 11.19 remaining: Richmond 13.3 (81) v Carlton 5.7 (37) Ooh yes, Jack Martin tough and classy! He has two for the term. This time, having to bust through a tackle before settling and snapping. Regardless of what happens from here tonight, that’s very encouraging for Carlton knowing they’re recruited well.
Q3 12.00 remaining: Richmond 13.3 (81) v Carlton 4.7 (31) Rioli, clever hands, snapped goal! How often have we said that phrase over the years? He’s front and centre as the pack forms 20m from goal, keeps his feet and gets the reward. Two in a minute for the Tigers, their lead now out to 50 points.
Q3 13.03 remaining: Richmond 12.3 (75) v Carlton 4.7 (31) A little push and pull, resulting in Trent Cotchin getting his jumper ripped - without the crowd, we’re getting a good sense of how much chat there is on the park, that’s for sure. Ooh, and to stick with the physical theme, Vlaustin cops a blow when going in for a hard ball, bumped on the side of the head. He’s off the field now. It all comes after Carlton wasted a fantastic opportunity created by Murphy, finding Paddy Dow 40 out straight in front. But once again - he misses. And guess what? When Richmond get their first inside 50 of the quarter, they immediately convert. After some quick hands across half-forward, Castagna collects at 50 and nails it. Have that!
Q3 15.03 remaining: Richmond 11.3 (69) v Carlton 4.5 (29) Jack Martin kicks his first for Carlton! Nice set shot finish. On debut for his new club having moved from Gold Coast and his new teammates, needless to say, are getting around him.
SIREN!
We’re back for the second half.
I’m really enjoying the new audience our game has on twitter tonight. Granted, my feed is heavily populated by other cricket journalists, but it feels like almost all of them are tuned into what is going on at the MCG, in the absence of other sport. Surely that’s a representative sample of the world? Right? To that end, is this your first footy experience? How are you finding it? Drop me a line or ping me a tweet.
This is very good.
Biggest drop in crowd numbers from a V/@AFL player's first career game to their 2nd
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) March 19, 2020
-100,014 - MARLION PICKETT
-78,615 - Ricky Olarenshaw
-72,319 - Noah Balta
-70,533 - Scott Camporeale
-70,164 - David Miller
@Richmond_FC #AFLTigersBlues
Half-time: Richmond 11.3 (69) v Carlton 3.5 (23)
Four goals in eight minutes for the Tigers to end the half. Outstanding. “One team has polish and class,” concludes Garry Lyon on television. “And one doesn’t.”
Q2 0:29 remaining: Richmond 11.3 (69) v Carlton 3.5 (23) Four in a row for Richmond! After Carlton did so well to stick with them and fight back early in this term, the class of Martin has risen to the top. After setting up two goals in quick succession, the superstar now gets on the end of one himself, snapping truly.
Q2 1:33 remaining: Richmond 10.3 (63) v Carlton 3.5 (23) David Teague will be ripping his hair out, Murphy electing to pass to a man under pressure after taking a mark inside 50, the chance squandered by Ploughman from 40. Sure enough, Richmond go coast-to-coast without breaking stride, Martin influential once again drawing the defenders away from Reiwoldt, holding the ball for as long as he can before giving the assist to his full-forward - another open goal. Easy peasy.
Q2 2:55 remaining: Richmond 9.3 (57) v Carlton 3.4 (22) Great skills below the knees from Richmond, keeping the ball moving in their direction on centre wing, moved into the hands of Shai Bolton via Dusty Martin who slaps it expertly with his left fist. It’s a clever finish too, running around on his left foot. Top footy.
Q2 4:54 remaining: Richmond 8.3 (51) v Carlton 3.4 (22) Oooh, that hurts for the Blues, Rioli left free out the back, able to run into an easy open goal. Luke Hodge credits the goal to Richmond’s defence, repelling Carlton time and again as they had the run of play for the first ten minutes of the quarter. “That’s what breaks the heart of a coach,” adds Cameron Ling of the defensive lapse.
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Q2 7:55 remaining: Richmond 7.3 (45) v Carlton 3.4 (22) Another Carlton injury, Nic Newman jogging off in obvious pain after landing on his right shoulder.
Q2 8:29 remaining: Richmond 7.2 (44) v Carlton 3.4 (22) Urgh, the skill level gap is obvious when Carlton bomb the ball into their 50, which Richmond enjoy time and again. The one time they settle on the edge of the arc, Jack Martin is found 30m out on the lead. But he can’t thread his first goal for the club, missing to the right. I neglected to mention earlier that Matthew Kreuzer is out of the game, hobbling around on crutches after hurting his left ankle when landing badly at a ruck contest during the first quarter. That hurts. Now Paddy Dow gets a chance from 40m this time but hooks the set shot. You can hear the frustration through the effects microphone - two bad misses in a hurry. But they’re hanging in there.
Q2 14:52 remaining: Richmond 7.2 (44) v Carlton 3.1 (19) Silvagni gets Carlton the start they needed to start this second term, drilling a set shot from 40m out, on the angle right of goal. Lovely kick. He was ininfringed upon by Astbury to get the shot. As Jonathan Brown notes, all three Carlton goals are from free kicks so far.
On TV, they are talking to Eddie Betts on the phone. As you would expect, he hopes to be back playing soon. Roger. And how about this: they cleaned the ball with disinfectant at the break. “I bet you never thought you’d see that,” notes Matthew Richardson. Indeed. Righto, they’re ready to go again. SIREN!
Quarter-time: Richmond 7.2 (44) v Carlton 2.1 (13)
Richmond were moments away from another opportunity when a quick kick out of the middle sailed into the hot spot at the siren sounded. Seven goals in a 16-minute term - it says it all about the 2019 premiers. They are in fantastic shape.
Q1 0:07 remaining: Richmond 7.2 (44) v Carlton 2.1 (13) Bolton, who was responsible for the inside 50 to Reiwoldt to set up the previous goal, gets his name in the footy record on the cusp of the quarter time bell. Taking an uncontested mark 35m out - Caddy finding him on the lead - he slots it straight through.
Q1 2:41 remaining: Richmond 6.2 (38) v Carlton 2.1 (13) Wonderful entry! Reiwoldt is found from half-forward, bringing down an overhead mark. At ground level, he gives a neat handball off to Castanga who runs into an open goal - his second.
Q1 3:29 remaining: Richmond 5.2 (32) v Carlton 2.1 (13) That’s much better, Carlton moving the ball into their 50 with relative ease, Casboult paid a free for holding the man about 30m out. He turns around and does as he must as the Blues’ primary tall forward. They’ve pegged this back well after the frenetic start.
Q1 5:00 remaining: Richmond 5.2 (32) v Carlton 1.1 (7) Reiwoldt at one end and McGovern at the other, both missing set shots well within range. Between times, Cotchin wasn’t able to thread a snap far closer to the sticks. It’s the echo that stands out on the broadcast more than the empty stands - it’s so loud.
“So where are the holograms when you need them?” asks Kate Ryan. “They could fill the stadium with fake images, has happened before. Virtual bums on seats, fake cheering, nothing new there! Best wishes Adam, must be surreal for you.”
Or perhaps the tarp option, per Port Adelaide in their Footy Park days?
Q1 8:13 remaining: Richmond 5.0 (30) v Carlton 1.0 (6) Advantage paid to Silvagni as Carlton enter their 50 from a clear centre break. He handballs to Cunningham who kicks the Blues’ first from point blank range. Oh how they needed that.
Q1 8:43 remaining: Richmond 5.0 (30) v Carlton 0.0 (0) Make that five in seven minutes! The ball arrives inside Richmond’s 50 again, Reiwoldt moving to the front of the pack at top of the square to take a strong mark on his chest. The champion elects to snap from close range and makes no mistake. He has a second.
Q1 10:00 remaining: Richmond 4.0 (24) v Carlton 0.0 (0) Four goals in six minutes! Lambert was very lucky to win a 50m penalty after being taken down by the veteran Simpson on the edge of the arc. It’s very reasonable to assume he was running towards goal after taking the mark running back with the flight. Alas, he’s taken to the goalsquare by the umpire and the Tiges are running amok.
Q1 11:38 remaining: Richmond 3.0 (18) v Carlton 0.0 (0) Uh oh... Carlton are in major trouble. Such clean use of the footy at half-forward, Edwards pinpointing Reiwoldt on the lead. He steps back from 50 and nails Richmond’s third.
Q1 13:55 remaining: Richmond 2.0 (12) v Carlton 0.0 (0) Eaaaaasy! Two inside 50s, two goals for the Tigers. A neat progression of handballs - started by Marlon Pickett - ends up with Jason Castanga who slams home the major from 15 metres out. They’re away. With these shorter quarters, Carlton need to steady and fast.
Updated
Q1 15:11 remaining: Richmond 1.0 (6) v Carlton 0.0 (0) Shane Edwards wins a 50m penalty for a running through the protected area violation and drills the set shot through from 40m directly in front. He was second in the Richmond B&F last year, a two-time premiership player, and now has the first goal of the 2020 season.
SIREN!
Season 2020 is underway! Unbelievable.
“We Will Rock You to an empty stadium is seriously weird,” Ryan Mason writes to me. Yeah, put it away. Don’t need any of that tonight. The footy will do just fine.
I must admit, I was bit overwhelmed by the teams running out with nobody there. Did anyone else have that response? Not that the week hasn’t hit home for me the gravity of what is happening - we’ve pulled the drawbridge up here with a four-week old baby - but something about the footy at the MCG without a crowd.
No fans, no cheer squad, no banner. @CarltonFC run out onto the MCG.
— FOX FOOTY (@FOXFOOTY) March 19, 2020
📺 Stream #AFL: https://t.co/8rgXYEOMrY
📝 Live blog: https://t.co/jm1GcD85Gs
📱Match Centre: https://t.co/pbMk8ie6WX pic.twitter.com/DKKY14sUCU
Here come Richmond. YELLOW AND BLACK they will be roaring around the nation on their couches. The premiers are also playing as named.
B: Nathan Broad (35), Dylan Grimes (2), David Astbury (12)
HB: Liam Baker (15), Nick Vlastuin (1), Jayden Short (7)
C: Josh Caddy (22), Dion Prestia (3), Jack Graham (34)
HF: Daniel Rioli (17), Shane Edwards (10), Jason Castagna (11)
F: Tom Lynch (19), Dustin Martin (4), Jack Riewoldt (8)
Foll: Ivan Soldo (20), Trent Cotchin (9), Kane Lambert (23)
IC: Marlion Pickett (50), Shai Bolton (29), Toby Nankervis (25), Sydney Stack (44)
No changes to the Carlton team as named.
B: Lachie Plowman (20), Liam Jones (14), Sam Docherty (15)
HB: Nic Newman (24), Jacob Weitering (23), Sam Petrevski-Seton (5)
C: Sam Walsh (18), Patrick Cripps (9), Jack Newnes (32)
HF: Paddy Dow (2), Mitch McGovern (11), Jack Martin (21)
F: Michael Gibbons (40), Levi Casboult (41), Jack Silvagni (1)
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer (8), Marc Murphy (3), Ed Curnow (35)
IC: Kade Simpson (6), Will Setterfield (43), Zac Fisher (25), David Cunninham (28)
Carlton are running out! The familiar Lily of Laguna plays over the MCG PA system but there is no banner. Truly bizarre scenes.
I neglected to mention, if you aren’t a regular on the cricket OBO, you can talk to me at any stage through the game. Drop me a line or ping me a steaming hot take.
There’s usually something special about the ‘G when empty. Although, not necessarily on a night like this. Here’s what it looks like as the players warm-up. On the telly, Dermott Brereton and Kelli Underwood have their umbrellas up.
Footy’s back at the @MCG but you’re not here with us!
— AFL (@AFL) March 19, 2020
But share your isolation celebrations on the hashtag #FootyAtHome and we’ll show the best all weekend at https://t.co/OlY9sltZiu
Or join our new Facebook group here: https://t.co/uvIdrmfHYg pic.twitter.com/81dvr5VQ58
Speaking of the 1972 decider, read about that shootout here, along with plenty of other great stuff, on the MCC’s fact sheet. As they note in their tweet, a lot of people collect every one of these at the Library from David and Trevor before a game. They are moving the service online during Coronavisus. Great people.
Our factsheet for #AFLTigersBlues season opener @MCG is available for those following at home to download at https://t.co/9IkPU3wF1r Today our @MelbCCLibrary volunteers have looked at 1972 Grand Final & those that played for both teams during their career https://t.co/Bi5EDiefMo pic.twitter.com/y15vFez3tx
— Melbourne Cricket Club Library (@MelbCCLibrary) March 19, 2020
When thinking about Carlton and Richmond, my mind immediately turns to the 1972 Grand Final. But here are some excellent alternatives.
Richmond v Carlton- First VFL game after end of the Spanish Flu outbreak- Round 1 1921
— Damian Watson (@damo_wats) March 14, 2020
Richmond v Carlton- First AFL game after September 11 terrorist attacks- 2001 Semi Final
Richmond v Carlton- First AFL game after #COVID19 events ban- Round 1 2020 #AFL
The clubs said all week they were ready for this. So much so, they named their line-ups before the AFL had made a decision that the game would go ahead. And for the first time in a long time, this looks like a game that just about befits the high-profile slot it has on the schedule. Yes, Richmond are raging hot favourites - just two of their premiership 22 are missing from last September - but Carlton did win six games in the second half of last season after David Teague took over.
But for Carlton - who finished 16th last year, it is worth noting - to overcome Richmond on opening night for the first time since 2012, they’re going to have to find several credible routes to goal. That looks tough on paper. Harry McKay was the Blues’ leading goalkicker last year with just 26 majors - and he’s not playing tonight, out with an injured groin. Charlie Curnow, second in the best and fairest, is going to miss a lot of footy with an injured knee and Eddie Betts, returning to where it all started at his original club, did his calf this week at training.
The good news is their co-captain, Sam Docherty, will be out there tonight for the first time since 2017, after suffering two horrible knee injuries in the last two pre-seasons. That’s a great story. Also in for the Baggers from last year is big recruit Jack Martin from the Gold Coast and Jack Newnes from St Kilda. Expect plenty of attention for Sam Walsh too, last year’s Rising Star winner. That’s something Patrick Cripps is well accustomed to, last year banking his third best and fairest by the age of 24, also taking away the prestigious Players Association’s MVP gong.
As for the Tigers, All-Australian Bachar Houli is their big omission, also hurting his calf at training. Brandon Ellis (traded) is the only other member of the 22 who flogged GWS by 89 points in the Grand Final last September. Of course, there’s no Alex Rance either, the superstar defender now retired. Sydney Stack and Jack Graham are the inclusions to that side, the former missing last year’s decider after smashing up his shoulder in the preliminary final.
As for Marlon Pickett, as Eddie McGuide just said on the coverage, he “could retire next week and be the first player to turn out twice and have two books written.” Quite right – his debut was the Grand Final in front of 100,000 spectators – and what a debut it was – tonight the attendance will be zero. In terms of firepower, the contrast to Carlton is highlighted through Tom Lynch, who kicked 63 goals in his first season at the club last year. Oh, and that fella called Dustin Martin – two Norm Smiths to his name - goes alright as well.
For those wondering if @Richmond_FC crowd disparity from 2019GF (100,014) to Rd 1 2020 (zero crowd,) is a record, it isnt.
— Rhett Bartlett (@rhettrospective) March 19, 2020
Some Carlton players in the 1970 GF in front of 121,696 then played Rd 1 1971 in front of 20,399.
A drop of 101,297 in crowd.
Preamble
Irrespective of what happens on the field over the next few hours, this will be a season opener talked about for generations. Not because it will be tonight when Richmond begin their premiership defence, but, rather, the fact that there will be nobody at the Cricket Ground with season starting smack bang in the middle of a global pandemic. The players, broadcasters and football departments in attendance, but the fans are locked out. Indeed, Richmond’s President, Peggy O’Neal, and chief executive, Brendon Gale, are both staying home.
Since 2007, when these sides started playing in the opening round, it is has been routine that the MCG is close to full - more than 85,000 turned out last year; 90,000 in 2018. Indeed, the last time the MCG was in operation just 12 nights ago, more than 86,000 Melburnians were at our spiritual home to witness the Australian Women’s cricket team triump in the World Cup Final. How the world has changed in the days since. It is going to an eerie and unique experience seeing these legitimate traditional rivals going at it without an audience.
But whether or not you approve of the decision the commission made yesterday to proceed, footy is back. A 17-game season awaits us, with a certain Coronavirus hiatus coming sooner rather than later. The 153-fixtures will be played with 16-minute quarters to reflect the fact that they will be squeezed in wherever they are possible. Welcome to the new normal. Welcome to the 2020 AFL season.
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