Carlton veteran Sam Docherty faces yet another test of his already remarkable resilience, his 2024 campaign over after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against the Brisbane Lions.
Gold Coast deserved the win, but Richmond coach Adem Yze can take heart that his team rallied after being embarrassed early. Damien Hardwick will just take the win. So should his players.
For too long the competition’s governors have been sticking Band-Aids on Alastair Clarkson’s behavioural problems, only for the troubled coach to rip them off again.
Toby Greene is among the AFL’s most recognised footballers, despite plying his trade off Broadway, due to the unique on-field cocktail of match-winner and miscreant.
Harry McKay was the hero with the winning goal as Carlton reeled in a big deficit to pull off a win over last year’s grand finalists Brisbane in Gabba thriller.
Alastair Clarkson says he will have to “reinvent himself” after copping a $20,000 fine for his expletive-laden quarter-time outburst at St Kilda footballers. He will be suspended for two games if he re-offends before the end of next year.
Nick Maxwell, captain of Collingwood’s 2010 flag team, knows the job ahead in trying to go back to back and manage the black-and-white army’s expectations.
Melbourne vice captain Jack Viney declared Melbourne’s off-field issues irrelevant to the loss to Sydney, also refusing to blame fatigue in humid conditions.
Sydney did not have a full midfield cast, and found a way through Brodie Grundy. Melbourne reflected Clayton Oliver: respectable, but below their best.
The selected teams for the AFL’s opening round. Richmond are not taking any risks with Dustin Martin, while Orazio Fantasia has been picked for Carlton.