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The countdown to the new AFL season is finally over and, if last year was an indication, fans will be in for a blockbuster final season under the reign of Andrew Demetriou.
In the five-and-a-half months that have passed since Hawthorn raised the premiership cup at the MCG, fans have killed the time by doing a lot of things, some sports-related, some not.
They watched Australia dominate England in the cricket for hours, mourned the death of Nelson Mandela, ushered in a new year, endured numerous 40-degree-plus days, saw Ana Ivanovic upset Serena Williams at the Australian Open, saw Schapelle Corby leave Kerobokan Prison amidst a media scrum and watched as the Aussies flopped at the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Additionally, Ange Postecoglou was appointed the new Socceroos coach and will lead them into June’s World Cup, after Holger Osieck was sacked following back-to-back 6-0 defeats last October.
But on a sad note, just as we are about to count down to another new season, the AFL world also mourned the passing of former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey, who was diagnosed with lung cancer towards the end of last Spring.
But as they say, the show must go on, and all the action starts this Friday night, when Collingwood meets Fremantle at Etihad Stadium in the season opener, with the opening round to once again be split over two weekends.
Collingwood Magpies versus Fremantle Dockers
The unavailability of the MCG for the opening round of the season, due to the conclusion of the domestic cricket season, means that for the first time ever, the Docklands venue has the honour of hosting the first match of the new season.
The Dockers endured a rough pre-season as a result of their late finish to 2013, being thrashed by West Coast by 84 points in their first NAB Challenge match, before faring better against the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne in their second outing.
Collingwood, on the other hand, failed to win any of its two matches, losing narrowly to Geelong and being outclassed by Richmond but rebounded in their final practice match by defeating the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium at the start of the month.
Fremantle’s mission this season will be whether they can go one better and finally land their first AFL flag in what will be their 20th year of existence.
Ross Lyon is arguably the best coach in the AFL to have never won a flag, and his efforts in getting St Kilda to within a wobbly kick of what would have been only their second flag in history was one of the reasons he was lured west.
The Australian Open, which was held in Melbourne in the midst of the AFL off-season, should have given him a chance to consult with Ivan Lendl, or even Andy Murray (whom the Czech tennis great currently coaches), as to how to handle championship matches.
Lyon’s grand final record (one draw and three defeats) almost resembles that of Lendl’s and Murray’s respective Grand Slam finals record, in that both lost their first four Major finals before triumphing on the fifth attempt.
If Fremantle were to reach the grand final this year, it would mark Lyon’s fifth attempt to finally get it right.
Collingwood are facing a transitional period with many of its stalwarts – namely Heath Shaw, Alan Didak, Dale Thomas and Darren Jolly – having left the club at the end of last season.
However, there are some new faces that have arrived at the club, such as Patrick Karnezis, Jesse White and Taylor Adams, and all will be out to make an impression in their first year at the Westpac Centre.
Prediction: Fremantle by 14.
Sydney Swans versus GWS Giants
The so-called ‘Battle of the Bridge’ will have its fifth installment on Saturday afternoon, when last year’s wooden spooners Greater Western Sydney take on their more successful neighbours, the Sydney Swans.
Both clubs were aggressive during the off-season as far as player transfers are concerned, with the Giants landing premiership trio Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw and Josh Hunt in their bid to finally climb off the foot of the ladder, and the Swans landing the biggest name in the game, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin.
Both clubs had mixed pre-seasons, with the Swans winning their NAB Challenge match by 40 points, followed by a 35-point loss to West Coast and a convincing 27-point victory over the Brisbane Lions.
The Giants, meanwhile, enjoyed their biggest victory (albeit unofficially) in their short existence, thrashing St Kilda by 68 points and also lost narrowly to Adelaide by just eight points in their last outing before the season proper begins.
This has the potential to be the biggest Sydney derby yet, with a shootout between two-time Coleman Medallist Franklin and All-Australian full-forward Jeremy Cameron a real possibility.
The two big questions will be: How many goals will both men produce, and can the Giants finally knock off their bigger brothers?
Prediction: Swans by 25.
Gold Coast Suns versus Richmond Tigers
Later that Saturday night, the Gold Coast Suns will take on their favourite team, Richmond, on the holiday strip.
The Suns enjoy a 66% record overall against the Tigers, with the only blemish coming in their last meeting midway through last season.
It was that win by the Tigers which not only buried two previous failures against Guy McKenna’s men, but also set them up beautifully for what would eventually be their first finals campaign since 2001.
The Gold Coast have used Richmond as a measuring stick as to how they should progress in the AFL; this will be their fourth year and they enter having won eight matches last year, bettering their first two seasons put together.
And the Suns plan to heap further misery on the Tigers – as many clubs plan to plot the downfall of Damien Hardwick’s men and trap them into finishing ninth this season!
Prediction: Gold Coast by eight.
Carlton Blues versus Port Adelaide Power
Finally, the first weekend of the opening round wraps up on Sunday when Carlton meets Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium in the battle of last year’s losing semi-finalists.
It was in their last meeting in the final round last year which saw Carlton take the lucky loser spot in the finals, after the result of the investigation into Essendon’s supplements scandal saw the club disqualified from the play-offs.
Quite appropriately, it was their most bitter rivals, Carlton, which pounced when they defeated Port Adelaide by a solitary point in the Saturday twilight clash.
As a result, a lot will be expected from Carlton this season as they look to repeat last year’s unexpected run, which eventually saw them go down to the Sydney Swans by 24 points in the semi-finals.
Expectations will also be high at Port Adelaide this season, the club putting an end to five long years without success also by reaching the semi-finals last season.
Despite last year’s breakthrough, which included defeating Collingwood in an away elimination final, many experts have predicted Port won’t better their efforts from last year, and instead may take a step backward and return to the bottom half of the ladder.
The only major change to Port’s playing list is that of the retirement of Brett Ebert, however, new arrival Jared Polec will look to impress after requesting a trade home from the Brisbane Lions.
Prediction: Carlton by 12.
That’s the first round-up of opening round matches, with the remainder of Round 1 to be previewed next week.
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