Sydney made an emphatic statement with a scintillating four quarter performance, which saw them run right over the top of the reigning Premiers Collingwood.
They blew the contest wide open, with six goals in a row, during a devastating second quarter spell – from there, were rarely troubled and never looked back.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe decision to move Isaac Heeney (pictured above) into a midfield role, partly a necessity due to injuries, is paying real dividends as the 27-year-old played a pivotal role with 29 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 10 score involvements and two snags.
On his performance, coach John Longmire said “It has worked well for the last two weeks and he has been super. We will play him where we need him. If we need him forward we will play him there, but he is going really well as a mid.”
He continued “I think it’s good for our team because he just works so hard and his running; he has such an amazing engine. The terrific thing we’ve seen over the pre-season is his ability to put himself forward, put himself mid when he needs to.”
Carlton backed up their tremendous result at the Gabba, last week, to go two-zip after overcoming a plucky Richmond outfit in front of a noisy 83,881 at the MCG.
However, they certainly put their supporters’ nerves through it, having trailed at every change, before coming from the clouds to get over the line by a five-point margin.
It was a real gutsy effort from the Tigers that had to contend with losing three players to injury on the night – defender Josh Gibcus with a suspected torn ACL, Tylar Young suffered a concussion and also midfielder Dion Prestia with hamstring tightness.
The Brisbane Lions, tipped by many to be the favourites for the flag, let an early lead slip and slumped to a second consecutive loss, over in the west, at Fremantle.
In contrast, it was just the result that Dockers coach Justin Longmuir wanted as there is a fair bit of pressure on him and his players to deliver after a disappointing 2023.
Vice-captain Caleb Serong (pictured below) was the standout player with monster career-high 46 disposals: also a club record as well. He notched up another career-high with 21 contested possessions, along with ten clearances as well as seven tackles.
Embed from Getty ImagesGeelong captain Patrick Dangerfield reeled back the years, by kicking the sealer, to help his side get the job done against St.Kilda, in a thriller, at GMHBA Stadium.
With the game up for grabs and just a point in it, the 8× All-Australian and Brownlow Medallist (pictured below) marked and then went back to slot through from around 55 yards out.
Embed from Getty ImagesSpeaking in the presser about that clutch moment, Cats coach Chris Scott said, “There wouldn’t be many players in the competition to back themselves to even make the distance in that situation.”
“It was an interesting decision. It is one of those where if you take the long shot and it’s rushed through, the opposition get the ball back and it can be hard to defend. He backed himself to kick it. That’s why the great players are the great players.”
Before the first bounce, Geelong officially opened their new Joel Selwood Stand in honour of their record-breaking, former captain who retired in 2022 – it helped facilitate the largest crowd (39,352) for a VFL/AFL match at the venue since 1981.
Embed from Getty ImagesEssendon got their campaign off on the right foot by getting the chocolates against their arch-rivals Hawthorn in what proved to be a fiery and high scoring affair.
There is a lot of expectation on the Bombers to really kick-on, following several years of re-building, with supporters desperate to see a first finals win in two decades.
Prior to the game, the club honoured the 40-year anniversary of their 1984/1985 Premiership teams with past-players, including Kevin Sheedy (pictured below, Tim Watson, Terry Daniher, and Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson, celebrated via a motorcade around the ‘G’.
Embed from Getty ImagesClayton Oliver made an emotional return for Melbourne that chalked up a big victory, with a dominant display, in the 45-point thrashing of the Western Bulldogs.
The 26-year-old (pictured below) returned to the line-up, following an extended period away over the off-season amid personal issues, and received a great ovation from fans.
Embed from Getty ImagesSpeaking post-game to Fox Footy, ‘Clarry’ said “It was a little bit emotional; I actually had chills down my spine. It’s been a tough couple of months; Gawny and the rest of the boys have all helped me out. It’s all worth it at the end of the day, coming and doing this and getting the win with the boys.”
He added “There’s still a lot of work to do, little steps along the way, but this is one of them. Keep being a better person and a better team mate, it’s what keeps driving me every single day.”
Jesse Hogan booted six majors, showing his team mates how it is done, as an inaccurate Greater Western Sydney made hard work of beating North Melbourne.
The Giants should have won by a bigger margin, such was their dominance, but amassed 19 behinds in vice-captain Josh Kelly’s 200th AFL appearance.
Another side that clearly left their shooting boots at home were Port Adelaide that racked up an unwanted club record 24 behinds in their triumph over West Coast.
Thankfully, for the Power, though it did matter too much as they led all afternoon and were too strong for the Eagles for whom Harley Reid (pictured below), the number one pick in the 2023 AFL draft, impressed on his debut and already looks a big one for the future.
Embed from Getty ImagesUp in Queensland, Gold Coast made it two-from-two, for only the third time in their history, but were given a real scare by a fast-finishing Adelaide in wet conditions.
They were cruising for three quarters and well in control but the Crows, taking some risks in the last term, scored five straight goals to get back within a kick. In the end, fell just short with Suns’ supporters mightily relieved to hear the full-time siren.
It completed a good week for the club that, days earlier, announced 25-year-old defender Wil Powell (pictured below) had signed a long-term contract extension through until 2029.
Embed from Getty ImagesAcross the nine matches, over the course of the round, attracted 413,405 spectators which is an all-time crowd record surpassing the previous of 400,401 back in 2017.
Round 1 Results
Carlton 12.14 (86)
Richmond 12.9 (81)
Collingwood 10.9 (69)
Sydney 15.12 (102)
Essendon 17.5 (107)
Hawthorn 11.17 (83)
GWS 17.19 (121)
North Melbourne 13.4 (82)
Geelong 10.16 (76)
St.Kilda 9.14 (68)
Gold Coast 8.12 (60)
Adelaide 8.6 (54)
Melbourne 16.13 (109)
Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64)
Port Adelaide 16.24 (120)
West Coast 10.10 (70)
Fremantle 14.9 (93)
Brisbane 10.10 (70)
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