The opening round of the AFL season was entertaining and threw up some surprising results.
On the surface it appears implementing the new 6-6-6 rule was the right decision, which the AFL would be extremely pleased with.
The round was soured by a couple of knee injuries, and the fact the last two matches were so one-sided suggests the game may well be too long as for the neutral spectator, but thankfully they proved to be aberrations as the other seven games were relatively entertaining.
Top five coaches of Round 1
- Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)
- Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide Power)
- Ross Lyon (Fremantle Dockers)
- Leon Cameron (Greater Western Sydney Giants)
- Chris Fagan (Brisbane Lions)
Carlton Blues vs Richmond Tigers
The Blues managed to get the ball inside 50, but the Tigers created plenty of scoreboard pressure with five goals to nil. However, Carlton worked their way back into the game in the second quarter, and in the third quarter Harry McKay kicked an extraordinary goal from outside 50. But Richmond stopped the momentum thanks to Jack Higgins, who kicked his third of the game. The last quarter was similar to the first, with the Tigers dominating on the scoreboard.
It was a case of what could have been for the Blues, although they do have some positives to take out of the contest.
Blues team lifter: Sam Walsh.
Tigers Team Lifter: Jack Graham.
Collingwood Magpies vs Geelong Cats
The Magpies didn’t convert their opportunities in the first quarter, kicking just three goals from eight shots on goal, meaning they took just a nine-point lead into the quarter-time break. They continued their inaccurate kicking in the second quarter, with just one goal from five shots at goal.
Scores were level at three-quarter-time, with Geelong winning the game by just seven points.
Magpies team lifter: Jack Crisp
Cats game changer: Joel Selwood
Cats coach Chris Scott (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Melbourne Demons vs Port Adelaide Power
The Power would be extremely pleased with their performance, and Ken Hinkley thought it was his side’s best win of his tenure at the club. What Hinkley would be most pleased with would be the display by Port Adelaide’s new recruits and the players who played their first game at AFL level.
It was a fairly comfortable 26 point win for the Power despite trailing at quarter-time.
Demons team lifter: Angus Brayshaw
Power team lifter: Ryan Burton
Adelaide Crows vs Hawthorn Hawks
The Hawks led at every change, surprising the Crows. Adelaide had more disposals than Hawthorn by a considerable amount, but the Hawks controlled the game on the scoreboard, winning the game comfortably, with the Crows kicking just seven goals for the match.
Crows team lifter: Brad Crouch
Hawks team lifter: James Worpel
Isaac Smith and James Worpel of the Hawks (Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans
The Western Bulldogs dominated the first half of the match restricting the Swans to just one goal. Sydney kicked just one goal from six shots at goal. Aaron Naughton, Sam Lloyd and Billy Gowers kicked seven goals between them, with Lance Franklin, Sam Reid and Callum Sinclair kicking only three goals between them.
Bulldogs team lifter: Sam Lloyd
Swans team lifter: Zak Jones
Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles
The Eagles should have won the game given that they led the Lions by 27 points at quarter-time, but they were outplayed from there on winning the game comfortably. It appeared as if Chris Fagan outcoached Adam Simpson as it was difficult to decipher whether West Coast were effectively implementing the game plan that Simpson conveyed to the playing group.
Lions team lifter: Cameron Rayner
Eagles team lifter: Oscar Allen
Lincoln McCarthy and Charles Cameron of of the Lions (Jono Searle/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns
This was a surprisingly good game of footy to watch given both sides finished at the bottom part of the 2018 ladder. It was a tough, tight contest despite the Saints being heavily favoured to win the game by the bookies. The intensity was reasonably good even though both teams are expected to struggle this season.
Both teams kicked fairly accurately, but in the end the Saints were victorious by just a solitary point.
Saints team lifter: Josh Bruce
Suns team lifter: Alex Sexton
Greater Western Sydney Giants vs Essendon Bombers
The Giants controlled the contest on the scoreboard from start to finish. It was surprising that the Bombers got annihilated given they picked a reasonable team on paper. The game was difficult to watch from a neutral perspective, and from quarter-time onwards as it was an avalanche.
Giants team lifter: Tim Tarranto
Bombers team lifter: Kyle Langford
Fremantle Dockers vs North Melbourne Kangaroos
The Dockers dominated the game for its entirety. It was a terribly depressing game for the neutral spectator as it was an utter annihilation on the scoreboard. The Kangaroos were deplorable and showed minimal effort.
Dockers team lifter: Darcy Tucker
Kangaroos team lifter: Bailey Scott
Harold
Guest
The new rules worked well esp on bigger grounds but we are certainly in for more blowouts. lets see what happens this week but close games will be great - we need some of those "entertaining" NRL refs...
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The Cats beat us in most areas on the stats sheet as well.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I don't think JT or Mayne have big enough bodies to be a modern inside mid Doran though I agree Mayne has been fantastic for us. You have to be a beast nowadays to be a good inside clearance player. De Goey has the body but we need him forward. He may pinch hit in there against Richmond. They are training Wills and Tyler Brown as inside mids too as you know but may be tempted to rush in Sier this week and drop Callum Brown.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
I think you just agreed with me.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Definitely, but the Magpies were without Adams and Hoskin-Elliot, but that's probably just making excuses!
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Freo were fantastic on the weekend, but it's only one game of footy, let's see how they go for the remainder of the season. What the Dockers and Bulldogs results on the weekend to show is that you can read too much into JLT form, having said that the Bombers certainly continued their form line from the JLT!
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Good point re throwing into the middle. Adams probably our best player in the Grand Final along with Langdon. What about throwing Josh Thomas into the middle or on the Wing like JLT 2 where was just about our best players. I thought Mayne showed great endeavour against the Cats, so maybe its worth him pinch hitting in the middle. Greenwood has to play to tag cotchin.
Cat
Roar Guru
You mean the third quarter where the Cats kicked the first 3 goals (and Hawkins missed a sitter) and took the lead? The difference for the Hawks is they win the scoreline so they don’t lose ‘all’ the stats. Most certainly both teams can play better … every team in round 1 can say it too. The bye week between the JLT ending and H&A starting didn’t help anyone out either. Teams never look sharp after byes then add in regular round 1 rustiness …
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
The game should have been put to bed in the third quarter or earlier. But you are correct about the stats. However, stats are to assist in interpreting the game, they are not the game. Under Clarkson, the Hawks regularly loose the stats and win the score. The bottom line is that Collingwood played well below their potential on the night (as I am also sure did Geelong). Both sides will be better for the run, and either coach would have walked away with plenty to talk about during the week if they won (or lost).
Cat
Roar Guru
How so? They had less scoring shots, less, goals, less behinds, less clearances, less inside 50s, less contested possession and less tackles. In other words, they were behind in every important metric.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
You are correct, but while both teams could have played better, the game was Collingwood's to loose.
Joe
Guest
I've been noticing it all weekend too. Fair enough that Collingwood could have been 30 up in the 2nd quarter, but when the match ends and Geelong has more behinds, it's time to stop making excuses.
Cat
Roar Guru
I'm not a big believer in the metres gained stat. Not the way CD records it anyway. Are you aware that if say Walsh kicks the ball 60 metres forward and it lands uncontested in the oppositions hands for a turnover that Walsh is still credited with 60 metres gained?
Macca
Roar Rookie
Agree Cat but I will give Walsh credit for being able to improve his DE from 44% in the first half to 54% by the end of the game and it shows that he was able to make the adjustment to the tempo. He also did end up with 430m gained. Newman meanwhile had 26 touches, 22 of them effective and gained 584m, Cuningham (who had 17 touches to half time) ended up with 22 at 68% DE, 5 tackles and 328m gained.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I go for North and they were so well beaten I couldn't stop laughing.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Finding it hard not to laugh at the write up of the Freo - North game. After so many weeks (years) of people bemoaning Freo's "ugly style" (read: tendency to lose), they play produce a big win on the back of some dominant, fast-paced, high-scoring football, and it's described as "terribly depressing" to watch. Hilarious.
Cat
Roar Guru
Outstanding at 44% efficiency in the first half and 54.2% overall with 6 clangers? All well and good to get the ball 24 times but if you burn it almost half the time, that's awful. Nothing against the kid, he'll get better but to say his game was great is just shallow analysis.
Cat
Roar Guru
I find it interesting how a few people have hinted or outright said Geelong didn't win, that Collingwood lost and point to some missed goals. Yes, the Pies missed some gettable shots, but so too did Geelong. Hawkins kicked 2.2 and one out on the full, all were gettable. Rohan kicked one out on the full from a relatively easy kick around the body set shot. Danger missed from nearly straight in front 40 out. Selwood slammed one into the post. Collingwood scored one less behind than Geelong did and had 2 less scoring shots. It's not like Collingwood peppered the goals.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Despite claims of our much vaunted midfield, the Pies missed the inside grunt of Tay Adams and Brayden Sier. I'd throw Jumping Jack Crisp in the middle while they are out. His game has gone to a new level, he has a big body, is brave, takes a good grab and is super fit. We have plenty of outside mid in Treloar, Sidebottom, Phillips and Beams (who does granted work well inside as well) but got smashed inside against the Cats and the slippery conditions didn't seem to help either side. De Goey may need to pinch hit in their more than usual too until Adams returns. Adams is vital to the Pies.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
Bailey Scott was a shining light for the Kangaroos