As autumn leaves begin to drape our streets and evening winds start to nip against skin, the AFL season is finally back to its best with all 18 teams competing in a fierce round one.
Richmond Tigers Vs Carlton Blues
Richmond (13.4.82) defeated Carlton (9.15.69).
As the opening bounce jolted the game to life, Carlton dominated play — kicking five goals to one in the opening term.
Two goals in rapid succession seemed to reignite the Blues after their free running had slowed. However out of nowhere, three goals to the Tigers provided a glimmer of hope for Richmond fans.
Quick-fire goals at the beginning of the third term from Seth Campbell and number-one-pick Sam Lalor opened the door wider for the Tigers.
Thrilling the crowd once more, Lalor kicked Richmond into the lead for the first time early in the fourth quarter.
After another two Richmond goals, Carlton would finally respond via Jack Silvagni.
However, Campbell finally sealed the win in the dying minutes of the game, and celebrated with a high flying backflip to send Richmond fans into rapture.
Hawthorn Hawks Vs Essendon Bombers
Hawthorn (17.9.111) defeated Essendon (12.13.85).
Debutant Isaac Kako may have kicked the first goal of the game for Essendon, but a run of six unanswered goals from the Hawks set the game up perfectly for Hawthorn.
A run of three goals from the Bombers in the second quarter hinted that Hawthorn’s lead may not have been unassailable. However, Hawthorn quickly responded via goals from Will Day, Nick Watson and Blake Hardwick and soon bolstered a larger lead than before.
Essendon generated more momentum in the third quarter, threatening to burst through the Hawks’ tight defence. But poor kicking at goal prevented the Bombers from making any significant progress.
The Bombers would again outscore the Hawks in the final quarter, but Hawthorn safely skirted any real threat.
Geelong Cats Vs Fremantle Dockers
Geelong (23.9.147) defeated Fremantle (10.9.69).
Running on the right side of the forward boundary on an impossible angle from distance, Geelong forward Gryan Miers miraculously kicked his and the Cats’ first goal of the season — a goal which summed up how the next four quarters would play out.
A quick response from Andrew Brayshaw to Mier’s goal hinted that the Dockers might be able to match the Cats, however four unanswered goals from Geelong gave a different answer.
The Cats would continue their excellent momentum into the second quarter, slotting seven goals to Fremantle’s two.
Fremantle finally kicked into gear towards the end of the third quarter through the sensational efforts of young debutant Murphy Reid, who kicked four goals within six minutes.
However, it was ultimately for nought as Geelong crushed the Dockers’ dreams with a huge 10 goal final term to seal a comfortable win.
Sydney Swans Vs Brisbane Lions
Brisbane (12.14.86) defeated Sydney (12.10.82).
The SCG was rocking as the Swans put Brisbane to the sword in the opening term, kicking four unanswered goals before the Lions even had a major.
However, Sydney were unable to continue their assault as the Lions twisted the game their way. Brisbane’s second quarter inaccuracy kept Sydney ahead at half time, but the Lion’s would soon fix their kicking woes in the third quarter to slot through six goals and lead by 10 points at the final change.
Will Hayward kicked the opening goal of the final term and the Swans began to swoon, ramping up their attacking intensity. However, Brisbane would not lie down easily, kicking two of the next three goals. In the dying minutes, Isaac Heeney tried to lift his side with a late goal, but ultimately Sydney’s missed opportunities crippled them.
Western Bulldogs Vs North Melbourne Kangaroos
Western Bulldogs (17.11.113) defeated North Melbourne (14.13.97).
A dominant first quarter from the Western Bulldogs saw the team attain a 23-point lead at the end of the term, casting doubt on if the Kangaroos had improved at all.
However, North Melbourne soon bounced into action, kicking five goals to the Bulldog’s three as the team closed the margin to 10 points at halftime.
Unfortunately for the Kangaroos they were a step below in the final term. A rapid smackdown of three unanswered goals from the Bulldogs was the dagger to North fans’ hearts, allowing the Bulldogs to manage the game out.
Collingwood Magpies Vs Port Adelaide Power
Collingwood (21.10.136) defeated Port Adelaide (6.9.45).
The first quarter of the game would unfortunately prove Port’s best, scoring half of their night’s goals in the opening term. However, Collingwood would more than double the Power’s score by the first break.
The second term would slow the Pies down, but they still extended their lead by another 13 points at half time.
The pain would only continue to get worse for the Power as the third and fourth quarters saw Collingwood thrown down seven and five goal terms, while Port only managed two goals across the entire second half.
Adelaide Crows Vs St. Kilda Saints
Adelaide (21.9.135) defeated St. Kilda (10.12.72).
Establishing their intentions early, Adelaide kicked the first five goals of the game to put St. Kilda on the backfoot. The Saints tried to flare up but the Crows resisted, heading into the first quarter with a commanding 30 point lead.
The second quarter was less rampant, but Adelaide held firm — extending their lead by another seven points. In the third term, Adelaide stopped holding back, kicking seven goals in the quarter to sink any chance of a Saints comeback. Here, Adelaide’s new recruits made their mark, with Isaac Cumming, James Peatling and Alex Neale-Bullen all scoring goals within the term.
The fourth quarter was a repeat of the second, as Adelaide played professional football to control the game and end it easily, rounding out a 63 point win.
Melbourne Demons Vs Greater Western Sydney Giants
GWS (11.11.77) defeated Melbourne (11.8.74).
Within 16 seconds, Demons debutant Matthew Jefferson kicked the first goal of his AFL career as Melbourne and GWS battled throughout an even quarter.
GWS would take the lead into the second quarter, but Christian Petracca in his return game would quickly send the Demons into the lead after the break. From there, Melbourne led for the majority of the term.
However, the Giants bounced back to kick three unanswered goals to head into half time on top.
Willing themselves on again, Melbourne dominated the third quarter, kicking five goals to GWS’ two.
Spurred on, the Giants rushed through Melbourne’s defence in the final quarter, kicking a goal within 90 seconds of the restart.
GWS continued to whittle down the margin until scores dried up midway through the quarter with Melbourne barely ahead. Two late missed chances prevented the Demons from sealing the game, and GWS took advantage, moving the ball quickly to unlikely hero Lachlan Keefe.
With less than a minute left on the clock, Keefe would slice home a set shot to give GWS the lead and ultimately the win.
West Coast Eagles Vs Gold Coast Suns
Gold Coast (20.16.136) defeated West Coast (7.7.49)
The first quarter of the game would be the most competitive, mostly due to Gold Coast’s inaccuracy in front of goal. West Coast would notch two majors, but ultimately the Suns would head into the quarter break with a lead they would never lose.
The second term demonstrated Gold Coast’s ability to pile on scores while remaining resolute in defence, kicking 5.2.32 to West Coast’s 0.3.3. The Eagles would find a way to impact the scoreboard in the third term, but were simply outclassed by the Suns who would kick another five goals in the quarter.
The final session of play would prove to be Gold Coast’s most lethal, as the Suns layered on another 41 points to smash the Eagles in the club’s biggest ever win.
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