The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 1

We’re back again – and about time too!

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, the 2021 AFL season gets underway tonight!

That means it’s time for tipping and I’m sure you’re just as keen as me to get stuck back into it. Don’t forget to join our official AFL tipping competition.

I scored 106 last year which, just quietly, would’ve been good for second – so I’m sure everyone in the comments who rubbished my selections all season will have no trouble taking out the top gong.

Joining me on the panel again is everyone’s good friend Liam Salter, but Marnie Cohen is sadly taking this year off writing – her replacement(s) is/are yet to be unveiled.

With all that out of the way – let’s get into the tips! Good luck everyone.

Stirling Coates

Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Geelong, Essendon, Brisbane, Port Adelaide, GWS Giants, West Coast

For the first time in who knows how long, I’m actually really keen to see Richmond and Carlton kick off the season. Firstly, it’ll be so nice to see a game at the MCG with people in the stands, but it’ll also be a huge test for a Carlton side who simply must finish in the top eight to get a pass mark.

The Blues have dropped ten straight to the Tigers since their famous finals win in 2013, with only two of those coming by under 20 points. I’ve got no reason to believe Richmond will drop this game, but we should be in for one of the closest season-openers in a while. Tigers by exactly 19 points.

We got more deja vu with Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs playing the second game of the season at Marvel Stadium. The Magpies trounced the Dogs by a surprisingly large margin in this fixture last year, but the Bulldogs – plus Adam Treloar – should exact revenge this time around. The burgeoning Bulldog midfield going up against a Collingwood one missing Steele Sidebottom should send shivers down anyone’s spine.

On Saturday, we turn our attention to two sides who fancy their chances of taking the next step in Melbourne and Fremantle. The Dockers would normally be capable of winning this, but their horror list of injuries and the MCG factor mean the Demons should get the job done. If they don’t, watch the spotlight on Simon Goodwin become a high beam.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Geelong flexing their muscle over Adelaide shouldn’t require much explanation, nor should Brisbane getting the job done against Sydney later that night.

The other Saturday night match looks interesting though, with both Essendon and Hawthorn desperate to prove their prospects aren’t as dire as predicted. The Hawks are usually good for a Round 1 surprise, but I think they’re in for a reality check against a Bombers side who have a pretty decent recent record against them.

Sunday’s matches look reasonably straightforward too; Port Adelaide should absolutely pummel North Melbourne – but wouldn’t it just be the most Power thing ever for them to somehow drop this one? Gold Coast are on the way up, but the Eagles in Perth is still an assignment well beyond them.

The middle game should be a belter though. I’m backing the Saints to do great things this year, but the hodge-podge 22 they’ll be forced to field thanks to a truly atrocious injury list means they’ll fall victim to a hungry Giants team eager to bounce back in this one.

The Shoe-In of the Week returns for another year despite its iffy record – and the first team to cop my trademark curse in 2021 has to be the Cats.

Liam Salter

West Coast, St Kilda, Melbourne, Richmond, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide

A beginning to the season that isn’t in hourly jeopardy? Games with crowds? Contentious, last minute changes to the rules and regulations? What year is this – 2019?

It’s great to be back on this esteemed column, but even better than that it’s great to have footy back.

The season-opener looks ever fascinating, with Carlton set (for reals, this time) to compete for a finals position in 2021. I’m sceptical that the Blues will be able to upset the strong-as-ever reigning premiers, though it should be a great clash to kick off the season.

on Friday night, Adam Treloar will be the man of the moment as the Doggies play Collingwood in Round 1 for the third time in five years (that ledger is 2-1, Bulldogs, by the way).

The Pies are a warm tip to drop out of finals contention this year and I’m going to tip Luke Beveridge’s side to score a win against the team who can fulfil the league’s controversy counter all by themselves. It’s Collingwood after a horrid summer, however, so I can’t count their determination out.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Essendon and Hawthorn play on Saturday night, with Alistair Clarkson’s team coming off its worst season since he began his impressive reign, and Ben Rutten’s side playing their first clash under his solo stewardship. The Hawks, as ever, will be desperate to beat their arch rivals, but I like Essendon’s chances more this year. I can’t split them here, so I’ll toss a coin and go … the Bombers.

Six months after their finals chances were killed at the hands of St Kilda, Greater Western Sydney kick off their season against that very team. Unfortunately for the Saints, they’re at a venue they never won at and are also grappling with a severe injury crisis. I like the Saints, but I can’t see them winning this one.

As ever, there’s a few games that are easier (haha) tips, so let’s run through them quickly. Brisbane should kick off their season with a win against the Swans, Port Adelaide will easily be too strong for the Kangaroos, a forward-less Freo will score a plucky win away against the Demons (let me have optimism for just one week), Geelong will beat the Crows in South Australia and the Suns just won’t be able to upset the Eagles in Perth – not with the latter having a home ground advantage second only to the West Australian Labor Party.

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