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The first round of the AFL season has come and gone. Here are the winners and losers.
Essendon
The biggest winners of Round 1, the Bombers were challenged, then responded, challenged, then responded, and finally challenged one last time, down by 20 at three quarter time against last year’s grand finalists, before responding with authority, running over the top of the Crows in the last quarter.
Led by a fantastic performance from captain, Dyson Heppell, the Bombers had too much for the undermanned Crows, smashing them on the outside late in the contest and up forward throughout. Andy McGrath was outstanding in what looked a new role, Cale Hooker, James Stewart, and Joe Daniher all contributed to the Bombers’ win, while Anothony McDonald-Tipungwuti provided the effervescent spark early in the last to inspire the comeback.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Much was made of Essendon’s three big recruits in the off season, and while none of Jake Stringer, Adam Saad, or Devon Smith were heavily involved – Smith the best with 23 disposals and five tackles – this could be seen as a positive, with plenty of improvement to come from Stringer in particular.
There are still valid questions over the strength of their midfield when it’s time to get down and do the dirty work, they were comfortably beaten in the clearances by a workmanlike Adelaide midfield, but this is a great first step in putting together a challenge in 2018.
Tom Mitchell
In Hawthorn’s win over Collingwood on Saturday night, the AFL’s accumulation king became the first player in AFL history to record 50+ touches in two different matches.
It is often said that possession statistics are overrated, and it is what a player does with the football that counts. Indeed, this very accusation was levelled at Tom Mitchell after his other 50 possession game last year.
Yet this was not a game of cheap kicks or sheepdog lurking. 27 contested possessions and nine clearances from Mitchell indicates a willingness to get his hands dirty doing the tough stuff, while eight inside 50’s and a clean enough – for an inside mid – disposal efficiency of over 70 per cent shows he can get it done going forward as well.
With an impressive second place finish, tallying 25 votes, in last year’s Brownlow count, and a blistering start to this season, are we looking at the early Brownlow favourite?
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Carlton’s generation next
It’s not often a team can said to have gained more from a match after a loss than the winners, but this may just be the case in Carlton’s loss to Richmond on Thursday night.
Inspired by a commanding match from the CCC (Charlie Curnow, and Cripps for those at home. Anyone? No? I’m coining it!), a youthful Carlton took it right up to the Premiers and almost embarrassed them at the first hurdle in their flag defence.
SPS has the class in spades, Fisher the speed, and Marchbank, Plowman and Weitering the defensive composure holding down the fort, but the showpiece, the cream, the pièce de résistance is the cracking combination of Curnow and Cripps.
Patrick Cripps is Josh Kennedy on steroids, a fearsome prospect for any opposition midfield, while Curnow has vice-like hands, and is thankfully a much better kick than his key forward counterpart whose name also begins with ‘C.’
Look out, AFL. The Blues are final cooking.
Port Adelaide’s list management
20 disposals, seven marks, and three goals in an impressive display from Jack Watts, and 19 disposals and two goals from Steven Motlop are an early indication that Port’s questionable off season recruitment may prove to be vindicated. Sure, Tom Rockliff may have been quiet, but he is the recruit with the least issues given his previous levels of performance at Brisbane. Lindsay Thomas, meanwhile, also reportedly put in a big performance for the reserves.
It’s too early to call it a stroke of genius, but in a very even competition could these decisions prove to be crucial in leading Port to a serious challenge this season?
(Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Richmond
Did what they needed to do with embarrassment looming early on. With Dustin Martin picking up where he left off, the reigning premiers are as good a chance as anyone again this year.
Buddy and all of us
The best in the game, and he has been consistently for five years in the opinion of this writer. Every fan of footy should be watching every Swans game and savouring every moment they get to watch this champion in action. He’s a joy.
GWS
That was an annihilation. Wow.
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs were, by far, the biggest losers. Perhaps we’ve already seen the biggest losers of the entire season in Round 1. Humiliated by GWS on field, the Dogs were insipid. They were smashed all over the park, and yet that still is not the worst thing to come from the game for the Sons of the West.
Tom Liberatore’s confirmed ruptured ACL does more than add insult to injury, it’s a debilitating blow to the Bulldogs’ season, and leaves them reeling only one game into 2018.
Where do they go from here? 2016 has never looked further away.
(Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Melbourne
The Dees weren’t embarrassed against Geelong, but there is no doubt that this is a disappointing start to a season that promises much. Their sparkling pre-season form had many people, not just Melbourne fans, but industry wide, considering just how high this group could ascend in 2018, yet the Demons were dismissed back to Earth on the Lord’s Day.
What was most disappointing in the loss was that they were comfortably ahead in clearances, tackles, and contested possessions in the contest, yet behind on the scoreboard. Errant kicking and an awful first half meant that it was a lacklustre Round 1 for Melbourne.
Adelaide
Losing in Round 1 at Etihad Stadium against a resurgent Essendon while missing some key personnel will not be a big concern for the pre-season Premiership favourites.
Giving up a 20-point three quarter time lead, and looking shot early in the fourth quarter will be. An inauspicious start at best for the Crows.
Spectators, Attendees, Players, AFL Fixturing, and Anyone Else Involved in Gold Coast v North Melbourne
Who at the AFL though that it would be a good idea to schedule a professional AFL match in Cairns during wet season? That’s two hours that no one involved is ever getting back.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.