Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui and Suns counterpart Jarrod Witts do battle at Optus Stadium. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
RICHMOND 15.15 (105) d CARLTON 11.14 (80)
Damien Hardwick warned us about Dustin Martin’s improved fitness after a monster summer, but he didn’t warn us about his team. We should have known, really. The Tigers outlasted Cartlon to win a hard-fought affair by 25 points, kicking the last three goals to crack the game open, and the fact they kicked nine goals to one in time-on of quarters was telling in the result. Martin kicked two from 31 disposals in yet another best-on-ground display. Carlton’s Oscar McDonald was the AFL’s first medical substitution – after the rule was rushed through during the week – and kicked two goals after replacing Jack Silvagni (shoulder).
COLLINGWOOD 7.11 (53) lost to WESTERN BULLDOGS 10.9 (69)
The grudge match. As pointed out by numerous wags on social media, the Pies fought Treloar and Treloar won. The experienced midfielder was forced out of Collingwood over the off-season and was also forced out of the Bulldogs’ strong on-ball division, spending most of his first match in the tri-colours on the wing and across half-forward. Treloar was jeered by a section of the Magpie Army with his first touch but kept his cool to set up a goal for Aaron Naughton, and both sets of fans applauded Treloar when he won the ball on the wing in the final term. Bailey Smith was outstanding for the Bulldogs.
MELBOURNE 11.14 (80) d FREMANTLE 8.10 (58)
Nobody is ringing Australian Football Video to order the replay of this scrap-fest on VHS. Not even the most ardent Dees fan would bother. Melbourne were far from good, but the Dockers were far worse as poor skill and decision making cost them repeatedly, and again lost important key defenders Alex Pearce (knee) and Joel Hamling (ankle) to serious injuries. Tom McDonald matched Blues brother Oscar’s two-goal haul as Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca edged their battle with Nat Fyfe and Andrew Brayshaw in the midfield. Steven May and Jake Lever were outstanding in defence for the Dees.
ADELAIDE 15.13 (103) d GEELONG 13.13 (91)
The upset of the year, so far … OK, small sample size, but who on earth picked this? Not only did last year’s wooden spooners run riot in the first half and tear Geelong apart, but they had former skipper Taylor Walker winding back the clock to lead the charge in attack. The Cats – seen as flag contenders again after narrowly missing out last season – were stunned. Walker kicked four goals in the first half and finished with five as the Crows gave their fans something to cheer about early in the season. Shane McAdam’s big mark was a highlight but the fallout will centre on Patrick Dangerfield and the match review officer after the star Cat’s collision with former teammate Jake Kelly. Dangerfield chose to bump and the pair clashed heads, leaving Kelly concussed. The Crows also lost Kelly’s replacement Mitch Hinge (shoulder) and defender Luke Brown (achilles).
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ESSENDON 13.13 (91) lost to HAWTHORN 14.8 (92)
“Did somebody say KFC?” Alastair Clarkson was in a rare playful mood and delivered the witty one-liner when asked about the substitute rule during his post-match press conference. But the master coach could afford to crack jokes after witnessing his regenerating side pull off a comeback for the ages against an old rival. When you look up “a game of two halves”, this is pretty much it – though it was really a game of two quarters. The Bombers kicked eight goals to one in the second term and led by 40 points before the Hawks flipped the script in the third. Ultimately, it was decided by what Clarkson called “a flip of the coin” as Tim O’Brien’s goal with 90 seconds left on the clock sealed the issue. The performance of emerging key forward Harrison Jones was a positive for the Bombers in their first game under the full-time tutelage of Ben Rutten.
BRISBANE 14.10 (94) lost to SYDNEY 19.11 (125)
John Longmire, maybe: “Hey ‘Nicksy’, hold my beer.” The Swans saw Adelaide’s bet and raised it, staging a huge upset in enemy territory up north. Brisbane kicked the first three goals at the Gabba but a youthful Sydney side – including draftee debutants Logan McDonald, Errol Gulden and Braeden Campbell – were level by half-time and kicked 11 goals after the main break to stun their hosts. Gulden, McDonald and Isaac Heeney kicked three goals each and Callum Mills starred in the midfield. Lions recruit Joe Daniher kicked 2.2 in his first outing for his new club after leaving Essendon through free agency.
NORTH MELBOURNE 9.11 (65) lost to PORT ADELAIDE 17.15 (117)
Four goals from off-season recruit Orazio Fantasia helped Port put the Kangaroos to the sword in a strong start to their flag pursuit. Fantasia kicked three of the Power’s eight majors in the second term as they blew the game wide open and Travis Boak, Robbie Gray and Ollie Wines starred in a dominant midfield. Ex-Collingwood forward Jaidyn Stephenson was one of North’s most prolific midfielders and Luke Davies-Uniacke took another step forward in a side that was well beaten. North were unlucky when they substituted Aidan Corr out of the match with a toe injury and then saw Curtis Taylor go down with a head knock, while Port had Riley Bonner go out with a hamstring injury.
GWS 11.12 (78) lost to ST KILDA 13.8 (86)
The Saints were always going to get a serious test without injured crew Dan Hannebery, Max King, Rowan Marshall, James Frawley, Jarryn Geary and Zak Jones. Paddy Ryder, who has been granted leave for personal reasons, was also missing. But the men left at Brett Ratten’s disposal passed that test with flying colours amid a Sydney downpour. Saints speedster Dan Butler finished a hard-fought contest with a tackle on Callan Ward and goal from the resulting free kick with just 40 seconds left on the clock. Giants star Toby Greene took a contender for mark of the year with a huge grab as Tim Membrey (Saints) and Harry Himmelberg (GWS) kicked three goals each for their respective sides.
WEST COAST 12.11 (83) d GOLD COAST 8.10 (58)
The Eagles took until the dying stages to shake off their unfancied opponents but the big story was Matt Rowell. The 2019 No.1 draft pick, who missed most of last year with a shoulder injury, hurt a knee early and was on crutches as his teammates battled on. Rowell now faces another extended stint out of the game. However, there was plenty to like from the Suns, who pushed West Coast all the way. Dom Sheed won a heap of the footy and Oscar Allen kicked four goals in a starring role for the Eagles as he readies himself to take over from Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling long-term. Ben King kicked three at the other end.
