And that’s it from me
Thanks for joining us tonight on what turned out a pretty predictable result, but a worthwhile exercise on account of Dustin Martin’s brilliance. G’night.
Nice and loud, Tiger Army 🐯👏#gotiges pic.twitter.com/RCxYchJ8F1
— Richmond FC (@Richmond_FC) March 23, 2017
Self-own of the night
Carlton might be sacking their banner-writer at some point this week.
#AFLBluesTigers @mcg @CarltonFC #banner @heraldsunsport @superfooty 📸🏉👍⭐️ pic.twitter.com/tqJb2VDkbC
— Wayne Ludbey (@WLudbey) March 23, 2017
Richmond win the AFL season opener by 43 points!
Full-time Richmond 20.12 (132) defeat Carlton 14.5 (89)
And that is the season-opener done. Carlton’s kids were gallant for much of this match, put they lacked the class, experience and powers of execution tonight, and faced a formidable opponent in the one-man show that is Dustin Martin. The Tigers midfielder was like Teenwolf tonight. The takeaway from tonight: get on him for the Brownlow.
Tigers goal! 4th quarter (3:18 remaining) Richmond 20.12 (132) vs Carlton 14.5 (89)
Grigg goals now for Richmond, but only because Martin handballed him a gimme. He should have six goals, Martin, but he’s bringing his team-mates into the game. “As good as it gets,” says Matthew Richardson. Martin is putting on a clinic.
Tigers goal! 4th quarter (4:04 remaining) Richmond 19.12 (126) vs Carlton 14.5 (89)
Only a smart intercept and handball from Jack Grimes stopped Marc Murphy slamming through yet another consolation goal for the Blues, but Carlton are basically controlling play in junk time. Wayne Carey says Tigers fans will be please with this performance but I’m sure they’ll also be a bit miffed by the prolonged periods in which their side has gone missing. Finally they get a goal here and guess who? Martin sharks a tap out 30 metres from goal, swivels around with a player hanging off his jumper and snaps truly. He’s a man among boys tonight.
Blues goal! 4th quarter (6:58 remaining) Richmond 18.12 (120) vs Carlton 14.5 (89)
Another consolation goal for Carlton as Matthew Wright cops one high in the goal square and puts away the simple chance, though not before an all-in fracas. It’s just pushing and shoving, mainly, and Martin is in the thick of the action. Of concern to Richmond: they’ve conceded 14 goals to the Blues. That ain’t a positive.
Blues goal! 4th quarter (8:54 remaining) Richmond 18.12 (120) vs Carlton 13.5 (83)
Carlton have ground to a halt in the final term but Jack Silvagni refuses to quit, and takes a strong mark 40 metres from goal and converts his chance. A few more performers of his tenacity and Carlton could have caused an upset tonight. We have a crowd figure now: 73,137. Pretty good going for two teams who’ll struggle more often than not.
Tigers goal! 4th quarter (10:47 remaining) Richmond 18.12 (120) vs Carlton 12.5 (77)
I won’t lie, with a 38-point buffer after that last goal it’s pretty much become a case of ‘wait until Dusty does something brilliant’. You know how LeBron James shrinks a basketball court, and Chris Lynn makes cricket grounds look too small? That is Dustin Martin right now; everything else in the game is secondary to his barnstorming brilliance. If he doesn’t get three Brownlow votes for this they should hold a Royal Commission. The game has degenerated a bit here, but Toby Nankervis has just taken a big pack mark in the goal square and slotted his second goal in what has been a promising first league performance for the Tigers.
Tigers goal! 4th quarter (15:51 remaining) Richmond 17.12 (114) vs Carlton 12.4 (76)
I can’t stress enough how many levels above every other player on the ground Dustin Martin has been tonight. It’s like there is a rogue older brother playing in an Under-12s game; he’s got stubble and a visible tattoo, every parent present knows it, but nobody wants to start a fight this early in the season. Meanwhile, Jack Silvagni has almost taken a big hanger, and the game flits from end to end in not particularly pretty style. Soon after Josh Caddy kicks one off the ground and goals from 15 metres out, but the accompanying cheers were for Martin, who barrelled the ball from just outside Carlton’s offensive 50 to well inside Richmond’s. He’s a remarkable footballer.
Tigers goal! 4th quarter (18:49 remaining) Richmond 16.12 (108) vs Carlton 12.4 (76)
Richmond are parking the bus? [Tim Allen ‘Home Improvement’ grunt rings out]. This is dismal from Richmond. They’ve started the final term with seven in defence. Right as I say that, Dustin Martin shoves Sam Docherty in the chest like a school bully, gets the ball to Rioli, and Rioli slams a goal home from close to 50 metres out.
Three-quarter time: Richmond lead by 25 points but it's game on!
Three-quarter time: Richmond 15.11 (101) vs Carlton 12.4 (76)
And that is all she wrote for the third term. Richmond went forward two final times for the term but couldn’t capitalise, which is apt. They’ve been oddly muted in this quarter, and they’ve given Carlton a sniff. The Blues have had 1o fewer scoring shots but they’re hanging in there. Richmond couldn’t possibly lose this from here, could they?
Updated
Blues goal! 3rd quarter (1:34 remaining) Richmond 15.11 (101) vs Carlton 12.4 (76)
Carlton surge yet again! Kade Simpson switches play coming out of defence and works the ball along the southern wing and soon finds Weitering at half-forward. He sends it inside 50 where Alex Rance grabs the ball and attempts to sprint into space, but in doing so he underrates the speed of Matthew Wright and gets tackled to the ground. Holding the ball! Wright is 25 metres out on a slight angle and sneaks it home! Richmond should have buried this game. Instead it’s in the balance.
Blues goal! 3rd quarter (3:42 remaining) Richmond 15.11 (101) vs Carlton 11.4 (70)
Carlton might be missing him in defence but Jacob Weitering is also a formidable target when he’s isolated one-on-one. Here he takes a towering mark over over Alex Rance and his fifth kick of the night turns out to be his third goal. Richmond: two steps forward, one step back.
Tigers goal! 3rd quarter (4:26 remaining) Richmond 15.11 (101) vs Carlton 10.4 (64)
Richmond need a spark here and there is little surprise it comes from Dustin Martin, who shimmies, shakes and bakes, then slips around an opponent before hitting Shane Edwards on the chest 40 metres from goal. It’s money for jam, this one, but Edwards misses. Suddenly it’s the Tigers who are anaemic and unconvincing; Carlton have cut off their run and refuse to allow them to play on at will as per the first half.
Caleb Marchbank has marked it like a demon tonight but has a horror moment here; after a very fortunate free kick, which draws Bronx cheers from Blues supporters, he makes a hash of a short pass and Jason Castagna intercepts. March bank is lucky though, as the Tigers youngster snaps wildly from his close-range set shot and it’s only a minor score. No worries. Dion Prestia mops up across half forward to maintain the pressure and floats a nice pass in to Nick Vlastuin. The latter is 4o metres from goal and hops in towards the mark in unfashionable style, but it’s effective! Richmond have steadied.
Blues goal! 3rd quarter (10:16 remaining) Richmond 14.9 (93) vs Carlton 10.4 (64)
I was exaggerating slightly about Carlton’s determined effort. They’ve lacked poise and class – and that is a function of experience – but they haven’t been disgraced so far. Unlike McIntosh earlier, Bryce Gibbs now gets pinged for a deliberate out of bounds when he sinks his boot into the ball when it’s on the ground, but Carlton recover well enough and Casboult is soon leaping high in the drop zone 35 metres out from goal, and not only marks but goals with his chance. Richmond have fallen asleep at the wheel again. A theory: these prolonged momentum problems don’t bode well for their season, even if there is plenty else to like.
Blues goal! 3rd quarter (12:55 remaining) Richmond 14.8 (92) vs Carlton 9.4 (58)
Right now Richmond lead the inside-50s by ten; 35-45. That seems about right. As does the sight of Jason Castagna with the ball in his hands. He marks another nice pass from Butler here, 45 metres out almost dead in front. He takes his time on a set shot but hangs it to the right – his seventh score involvement for the night.
“You can’t be a top team if you haven’t got good small forwards,” says Matthew Richardson, who knows the alternative pain well. If he’s right, and I think he is, then Richmond fans will be heartened by what they’ve seen from Butler and Castagna tonight. Both have been VERY sharp. Right as I say that, there is a goal, but it’s Matthew Kreuzer keeping his side hanging in there with a 45-metre set shot. They’ve kicked five of the last eight, Carlton. I’ve no idea how.
Blues goal! 3rd quarter (16:12 remaining) Richmond 14.5 (89) vs Carlton 8.4 (52)
Alex Rance hasn’t had many possessions tonight but clears danger here for his side, intercepting and then sending them back into attack. Riewoldt marks 70 metres from goal and sends a long pass to Lloyd, but the latter is bodied out of the contest by Sam Docherty and the ball spills out of bounds. As is his lot in life, Levi Casboult gets a horror bounce out on the wing but Carlton somehow manufacture something. Pickett gets the ball in scoring range after a pass from Weitering but he flicks a handball over the top for Dale Thomas to get a gimme in the goal square. A welcome steadier for Carlton.
Updated
Tigers goal! 3rd quarter (18:07 remaining) Richmond 14.5 (89) vs Carlton 7.4 (46)
Only a bit of overly generous handballing from Jason Castagna (impressive so far) following another pass from Daniel Butler (even more impressive so far) prevents Carlton conceding an early goal here, but trouble does not clear. Jack Riewoldt soon has a set shot and opens his 2017 account by out-swinging a tough one from 40 metres out on a tightish angle. The floodgates could open, I fear.
We’re a few minutes away from the start of the second half, and to say Carlton need a big start is an understatement. They’re 37 points down at the moment and not looking a winning side. Marc Murphy now pulls his team-mates in close for an impassioned lecture, but it’s polish they’ll need to get back into this game. They’re really lacked for disposal efficiency when it’s counted.
Reader feedback: this is done
“You can put down your glasses,” emails Ian Swan. “The question now is whether to cheer the Bunnies against the Roosters, or mark your program for the French Film Festival.” I’d go with Truffaut and Meville, personally. Carlton could do with a few Alain Delon’s out there tonight, and maybe Jean-Paul Belmondo in the middle.
It might not be much of a contest
...but it’s clearly sent the AFL website into meltdown.
And how are our very good friends at the league going? pic.twitter.com/vQWBfwdaxe
— Adam 1.0 (@Demonblog) March 23, 2017
Case closed: Carlton have to play Weitering back or they'll leak 20 goals a game. #AFLBluesTigers
— Martin Blake (@martinj_blake) March 23, 2017
Half-time: Ricmond lead by 37 points
Half-time: Richmond 13.5 (83) vs Carlton 7.4 (46)
Cometh the hour, cometh Levi Casboult? Not quite. The big Blue has received goal-kicking coaching from Sav Rocca over the summer but misses a 50-metre shot here seconds from the siren, and that is that for the first half of footy in the 2017 season. We’ve had plenty of scoring from both sides in this opening half, but Richmond look too strong.
Updated
Tigers goal! 2nd quarter (0:52 remaining) Richmond 13.5 (83) vs Carlton 7.3 (45)
Daniel Rioli ignites his side now, climbing the back of an opponent to take a minor screamer on the wing and then looping a long pass inside 50 to a one-on contest that Sam Lloyd wins. He’s normally dead-eyed in front of goal, Lloyd, and makes no mistake with a wobbly punt.
Updated
Blues goal! 2nd quarter (2:11 remaining) Richmond 12.5 (77) vs Carlton 7.3 (45)
Sheesh, Damien Hardwick should be furious with his men for this late-quarter fade. They were dominant until five minutes ago, but Carlton are punishing them for taking the foot off the gas. Now Silvagni goals to trim the margin a little, though Jacob Weitering is off the ground and clearly pained by that lower back or hip injury from earlier in the night. Finally Richmond drop an extra man back. They’ve been sloppy for the last little bit.
Blues goal! 2nd quarter (3:06 remaining) Richmond 12.5 (77) vs Carlton 6.3 (39)
Bruce McAvaney is doing a very good job of pretending that we’ve still got a game on our hands but it’s not looking good for Carlton, who continue to miss targets at regular intervals. Even last year’s best and fairest, Patrick Cripps, is butchering it. Perhaps it’s best that the AFL website and app is down, because I can’t seek statistical confirmation of Carlton’s shortcomings. Kamdyn McIntosh gets lucky when he thumps the ball forward and out of bounds with clear intent to force a stoppage, and the umpire let’s it pass. Otherwise the umpire’s haven’t really come into it, and in fact Carlton soon get a goal with a counter-attack when Matthew Wright sprints into space and pokes one through uncontested. That came out of the blue.
Tigers goal! 2nd quarter (5:51 remaining) Richmond 12.5 (77) vs Carlton 5.3 (33)
Hmm, bad 50-metre penalty here just as Carlton were arresting their downward momentum, and it’s the most experienced man on the ground – 265-gamer Kade Simpson – who gives it away. It’s a costly one, as soon after Jason Castagna pins one of Dale Thomas’ arms and wins himself a free kick before slotting home his second goal of the night. It’s all going right for the Tigers now.
Blues goal! 2nd quarter (8:33 remaining) Richmond 11.5 (71) vs Carlton 5.3 (33)
Finally the Blues launch a meaningful counter-attack through Matty Wright and Jack Silvagni, who waits until there is contact from his opponent and hooks a neat little pass to the top of the goal sqaure and into the arms of Weitering. The latter goes back and does the business, affording himself a smile as he’s now equalled his goal-kicking tally from last season in his first half of 2017.
Updated
Tigers goal! 2nd quarter (9:44 remaining) Richmond 11.5 (71) vs Carlton 4.3 (27)
Dustin Martin gets another centre clearance here and it’s a particularly eye-catching one; having been tackled by an opponent, he just takes off regardless, giving that man a piggyback ride to view his long kick to advantage. He should get an Uber license at that rate. Jason Castagna has a flying shot at goal after an unselfish pass from Jack Riewoldt but misses to the right. Soon after Castagna turns creator, taking advantage of a Curnow turnover and firing a sideways handball to Martin. The latter snaps his third goal. He’s been lethal tonight, the Tigers star. Carlton are swamped.
Tigers goal! 2nd quarter (12:39 remaining) Richmond 10.4 (64) vs Carlton 4.3 (27)
I don’t want to go the early crow but this is looking like a dangerous period for the Blues. Richmond go forward again and with total ease, and Daniel Butler misses a very gettable chance of kicking his third goal, and he’s only 45 minutes into his AFL career. Caleb Marchbank takes a towering mark in his defensive goal square, then clears, but soon enough the Tigers ping it back inside 50 and Butler finds Daniel Rioli 25 metres out on a slight angle. That’s a soda for him, and there is no mistake. Carlton are flagging.
Tigers goal! 2nd quarter (16:23 remaining) Richmond 9.3 (57) vs Carlton 4.3 (27)
Richmond go forward again but Lachie Plowman clears well for the Blues, carrying the ball a good 15-20 metres before measuring his kick. Richmond get numbers to a stoppage at half-back and work it forward via a series of handballs, then another series of handballs inside 50, the last of which goes to Dustin Martin in oodles of space, and I think you know what comes next. His 45 metre goal has Brendon Bolton furious in the Blues coaching box.
Tigers goal! 2nd quarter (17:31 remaining) Richmond 8.3 (51) vs Carlton 4.3 (27)
We’re away in the second term and it’s Carlton with the first clearance, but it’s sideways to the member’s wing and Sam Docherty sends a sloppy pass out on the full. The Tigers go forward to the city end of the ground by Caleb Marchbank clears by just sinking his boot into it and hoping for the best. It’s all a bit scrappy for a while, but Ben Griffiths hacks it forward for Vlastuin to mark 25 metres out, and he then centres it to Shane Edwards in a more favourable position. Edwards goes back to his mark, methodically works his way in and converts the chance. First blood to the Tigers, yet again.
Other huge AFL news just in:
You'll have not one, not two but THREE types of salt to choose from when you buy hot chips at Etihad this season. https://t.co/ID9NBYRzio pic.twitter.com/tyZlQxIbE4
— AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2017
Quarter time! Richmond lead by three goals at the first break
Tigers goal! 1st quarter (0:30 remaining) Richmond 7.3 (45) vs Carlton 4.3 (27)
And that is that for the first term. Fittingly, given the way this game has gone from end to end at a frenetic rate, Carlton had one last attack here as Charlie Curnow hit Bryce Gibbs on the chest with a pass, but the veteran Blue hooks his 50-metre shot to the right for a minor score. Let’s take a breath.
Updated
Tigers goal! 1st quarter (0:30 remaining) Richmond 7.3 (45) vs Carlton 4.2 (26)
It’s a goal-fest at the MCG. Now Butler gets his second, swivelling like a striker just outside the goal square and sweeping his boot through it to get a quick reply. Carlton really needed to clear that and didn’t to disastrous results. They’re scoring at 1990s rates tonight.
Blues goal! 1st quarter (0:55 remaining) Richmond 6.3 (39) vs Carlton 4.2 (26)
After a dodgy start the Blues simply will not lie down. Now Kreuzer wins the ruck duel and the ball is bombed long. Weitering is back on the ground now and although a little breathless, wriggles ludicrously free of his man and marks 15 metres out on a 45-degree angle. He slots a simple set shot home.
Tigers goal! 1st quarter (1:43 remaining) Richmond 6.3 (39) vs Carlton 3.2 (20)
Oh dear. The Blues fought tooth and nail to score that last goal and Richmond have answered it with ease, banging the ball forward to a contest in the goal square, which Prestia roves perfectly and without a single Blue on his hammer to slam through a close-range goal.
Blues goal! 1st quarter (2:12 remaining) Richmond 5.3 (33) vs Carlton 3.2 (20)
Richmond continue to run in waves and 30 seconds after the re-start Josh Caddy has a high, curling snap from close range and misses. Jack Silvagni is often in the thick of the action but the Tigers keep surging forward. It’s a numbers game. Get it down there enough and they’re going to keep scoring. Other bad news for Blues fans is that Jacob Weitering was ironed out by Alex Rance early in the game. He stayed on for a good 15 minutes or so, but now trots off the ground feeling a little sorry for himself. Silvagni hangs a 50-metre set shot to the right but Dennis Armfield has better luck crumbing a ruck contest and dribbling a left-foot snap through from 25 metres. The Blues needed a steadier and not for the first time in his career Armfield provides it.
Updated
Tigers goal! 1st quarter (5:58 remaining) Richmond 5.2 (32) vs Carlton 2.1 (13)
Richmond continue to hack it forward and hope that Carlton’s shaky defence won’t hold up, but they’re often opened up on the counter-attack. Sam Petrevski-Seton gets involved by chasing down Josh Caddy in the middle of the ground and winning the ball. Alas, Richmond ping it forward into an empty forward line and though he could have cantered in to kick a goal himself, Dustin Martin unselfishly handballs to the first-gamer Daniel Butler so he can slam through a nerve-settling goal. That is on-field leadership.
Tigers goal! 1st quarter (8:29 remaining) Richmond 4.2 (26) vs Carlton 2.1 (13)
Carlton are alive. Sam Rowe spoils at half-back and the Blues swing into a nice transition on the southern wing, with the ball eventually ending up in the hands of Jack Silvagni. His set shot is from 30 metres out on a tricky angle and he misses. We’re going to talk about this endlessly, but doesn’t he lope around exactly like his Dad? The bow-legged gait is almost identical. Anyway, Richmond counter attack well and Riewoldt marks 45 metres out, but hooks his set shot woefully for a point.
Ian Swan has just made me laugh via email. “Seriously, if Hardwick thinks Warner is working as an opener for Australia in India ...” True enough. What is a blazing 18 in footy terms? Jack Riewoldt’s goal-kicking I suppose, but right as I type that he thumps a long, left-footed pass forward and Dustin Martin sprints into space to mark 20 metres from goal on a slight angle. He stops, takes a breath and slams it through. The Tigers get one back. This Martin/Cotchin as rotating forwards thing is working very well.
Blues goal! 1st quarter (12:36 remaining) Richmond 3.1 (19) vs Carlton 2.0 (12)
Another for the Blues! And it’s a bad turnover from the Tigers when Nick Vlastuin loses control of the ball and gets poleaxed in the process. Bryce Gibbs is the beneficiary and having assisted in a goal 23 seconds ago, he slams through his own.
Bryce Gibbs is everywhere early 🔥 #AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/fDPHiGc0PI
— AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2017
Updated
Blues goal! 1st quarter (12:59 remaining) Richmond 3.1 (19) vs Carlton 1.0 (6)
An early observation: Toby Nankervis is looking like a very handy pick-up in the ruck for the Tigers, especially with Shaun Hampson sidelined with injury. Finally Carlton get a chance to slow the game down a little in the centre after a series of tackling efforts reap dividends, then a sloppy pass is enough to get Bruce Gibbs involved; he sprints through the middle of the ground and sends a long, accurate pass inside 50 to Matty Kreuzer. The big Blue goes back on a 45-degree angle, 20 metres out, and punts it straight through the middle. Huge relief for the Blues. They’re on the board.
Richmond goal! 1st quarter (14:47 remaining) Richmond 3.1 (19) vs Carlton 0.0 (0)
This is pretty dreadful from the Blues. They simply can’t get their hands on it long enough and when they do it’s not exactly slick ball movement. By contrast, Dustin Martin gets the ball in his hands, runs off the mark and spears a low pass to his diving midfield comrade Trent Cotchin. Cotchin is 35 metres out and sneaks it home. The Tigers are running rampant here; they’re playing on at every opportunity and looking to punish a flat-footed opponent. If this trend continues it could be a very ugly start to 2017 for the Bluebaggers.
Richmond goal! 1st quarter (16:04 remaining) Richmond 2.1 (13) vs Carlton 0.0 (0)
Richmond maraud their way through the middle with Shaun Grigg ignoring a handball option and eventually tumbling an ungainly kick forward. Reece Conca soon has a snap on goal from 40 metres out but it curls to the right for a minor score. Grigg runs off the mark soon after, brushing Ed Curnow aside and hacking it forward. There’s a throw in soon after, and Toby Nankervis plucks the ball, slams it on his left boot and from 20 metres out gets the snag! It’s not exactly pretty from the Tigers, but it’s daring and mighty effective. Carlton are MIA.
Richmond goal! 1st quarter (17:21 remaining) Richmond 1.0 (6) vs Carlton 0.0 (0)
Murphy gets a nice early touch for the Blues and they go forward but can’t quite take advantage of some pretty scrappy clearance work from the Tigers. Eventually Richmond work it forward and Dion Prestia hits the leading Jack Riewoldt on the chest. Riewoldt is 35 metres out on an acute angle on the member’s side of the MCG, but hooks it across the face for no score. No matter. Jason ‘George’ Castagna tumbles forward to mark at the top of the goal square and makes no mistake with his set shot. What a start for the youngster!
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick stops by for an interview now
“It’s good to be back on the ‘G,” he says. “We just spoke about...it’s a siege mentality at the start.” He then goes left field, saying he told his players they should take a lesson from the contrasting approaches of Matt Renshaw and David Warner to opening the batting for Australia. In essence: do what works for you.
Then Carlton coach Brendon Bolton stops by. “We’ve got five teeangers on show tonight,” he says, “so our future is there for everyone to see.” Translation: temper your expectations. Brad Sewell asks him for some details on his positional tactics, but he laughs it off. We’ll have to wait and see.
A nice little moment for the debutant Tigers
Dan Butler (on his league debut), Toby Nankervis, Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia were all presented their game jumper by Tigers legend Francis Bourke, who was a little hard to recognise not covered in blood. If they play with his spirit and verve tonight, the Tigers should be OK.
This would have to be the most anticipa...umm...anyway...
How many AFL seasons in the past 20 years have been called 'most anticipated', 'most even' in the week before round 1? Most of em?
— Dr. ▀▀▀▀▀ (@DownIsTheNewUp_) March 23, 2017
The comforting sight and sound of Bruce McAvaney
...is now washing over football fans sitting at home. I don’t know about you, but with Dennis Cometti now retired, I kind of hope Bruce hangs on forever. There is something to be said for a bit of class. We’re now 16 minutes from the opening bounce.
Tonight’s teams
Items of interest: among plenty of debutants, a lot of us are most looking forward to Deion Prestia’s first appearance in the yellow and black. I’m also keen to see what sort of physical development Jack Silvagni has made in the off-season. He showed plenty of promise as a skinny rookie last season
Richmond: Alex Rance, David Astbury, Dylan Grimes, Reece Conca, Taylor Hunt, Brandon Ellis, Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards, Shaun Grigg, Daniel Rioli, Ben Griffiths, Dan Butler, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Jason Castagna, Toby Nankervis, Trent Cotchin, Josh Caddy. Bench: Nick Vlastuin, Bachar Houli, Sam Lloyd, Kamdyn McIntosh.
Carlton: Lachie Plowman, Jacob Weitering, Kade Simpson, Harrison Macreadie, Sam Rowe, Caleb Marchbank, Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs, Jarrod Pickett, Dennis Armfield, Levi Casboult, Matthew Wright, Ed Curnow, Jack Silvagni, Dale Thomas, Matthew Kreuzer, Patrick Cripps, Marc Murphy. Bench: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Billie Smedts, Charlie Curnow, Simon White.
Preamble
Hello all and welcome to AFL season 2017. Russell Jackson here. Tonight we’ll watching Richmond and Carlton enact their now-traditional season-opener in front of a rabid crowd at the MCG. There are plenty of people out there who think this game should be a far more blockbustery pairing of sides than these two, but just as many are happy that we have senior men’s footy of any sort to watch. I’ll be back shortly with tonight’s teams.
Russell will be here shortly. In the meantime, have a read of Craig Little’s preview of this match, and the season ahead:
