Round 1 2020 Review

 One of the most historic season opening rounds in recent memory, not so much due to the play on the field but the lack of noise beyond the boundary. After weeks of speculation and worry the AFL season has officially started however, the fans had to be resigned to screaming at the TV from their living room rather than directly into an opposing players ear over the boundary fence. Due to the rising Covid-19 pandemic the AFL took the decision to begin the 2020 AFL season without any crowds. A sad day for the footy faithful who no doubt had this weekend circled on their calendars as the day they could strap on their colours and march proudly into the arena to watch their chosen warriors do battle. A clear statement was said and echoed "its better than no footy at all". That's the truth, at least there was still some sport to sink our teeth into and give us a reason to cheer... or scream. In fact the absence of crowds has given way for a wonderful inclusion into viewing AFL. Being able to hear footy players shout and swear at each other made for entertaining viewing, and the lack of crowds seemed to birth an improvement in set shot accuracy throughout the weekend.

Richmond (105) vs. Carlton (81) 

The usual blockbuster season opener of Richmond and Carlton consistently brings in 80,000 plus crowds. This year paints a much more eerie picture with the players marching out into an empty MCG for the inaugural game of the 2020 season. But enough about that, lets talk footy. Shane Edwards took the honors of the first goalscorer of the 2020 season as the Tigers picked up where they left off displaying the fast clean link up play they have demonstrated and perfected for multiple years now. As well as Carlton played there was nothing could do after a slow start which saw them concede 5 goals before taking their first goal late in the first quarter. The challenge became greater for Carlton as their Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer went down with a badly rolled ankle with 2 minutes before quarter time. Trying to regain traction on the tigers is a hard enough task on any normal night, but now without their no.1 Ruckman it just got a whole lot harder. It would eventually be discover that Kreuzers injury will keep him out of the game for at least four months. Quarters 2 and 3 presented much of the same story, despite Carlton brave efforts and at sometimes very good play, the Tigers maintained and even increased their lead. Some standouts in this stretch included Daniel Rioli, his speed through the middle of the ground and presence up forward appeared to be too much for the blues. And of course Dustin Martin showed some brilliant unselfish play as well as his ever present and unbeatable agility to show why he is one of the games best. I point of pride on the Blues side was the work of Jack Martin who was ever present throughout the night and gave us the goal of the game halfway through the third quarter by slickly out maneuvering Nathan Broad and snapping it through the big posts from about 25 metres out. Carlton found something in the fourth quarter that showed that they definitely are improving by challenging and at one point even threatening to take the game to Richmond. Carlton managed to come within 16 points of the Tigers but the boys from punt road managed to hold firm for a 24 point victory. 

Honourable mentions: Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton, Dion Prestia

1 Vote - Jack Martin

2 Votes - Patrick Cripps

3 Votes - Dustin Martin

Western Bulldogs (34) vs. Collingwood (86)

Utter domination on a Friday night at Marvel. Collingwood stretched out to a healthy lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Brody Grundy Reaffirmed his top spot on the Ruckman totem poll with a best on ground performance which saw him outshine young dog Tim English. Grundy's superiority was clear as he achieved  37 hitouts and kept English to just 11. A number of Collingwoods youngsters stepped up including John Noble, Josh Daicos and Tyler Brown, who presented viewers with a highlight as he delivered a clean handball inside fifty to his brother, Callum, who went on to score to put the Pies up by more than four goals in the first quarter. The Pies' Dominance continued through the night with the dogs highlights few and far between with one coming when debutant Ben Cavarra scored his first goal in AFL football in the second quarter. The dogs scored three in a row late in the third quarter but it was not enough to match Collingwoods clean link up play and great ball use to set a clear statement in the first round. The Dogs, however, will need to step up their game fast if they want to have any hope of challenging into finals. 

Honourable Mentions: Callum Brown, Jeremy Howe, Steele Sidebottom

1 Vote - Brody Mihocek

2 Votes - Taylor Adams

3 Votes - Brody Grundy

Essendon (63) vs. Fremantle (57)

Football returned to an empty Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the Bombers got off to a great start against Fremantle. Essendon secured 5 goals in the first quarter but two scores by Lobb and Tabernar late in the 1st ensured that the men from the west were still in the fight. Debutant Sam Sturt got the Docker back in fighting ways in the second quarter with a massive goal from fifty on a sharp angle. Stringer also managed a spectacular goal from the other side of the fifty in reply, out stepping perennial medalist Nat Fyfe to give the Bombers some breathing room. Essendon enjoyed a 26 point lead going into the final quarter but Fremantle would not give in without a fight. It was  agreat effort from the Dockers forwards including young Sturt who was nearly the match winner. Sturt gave one the Dockers hope in their recruiting as he racked up two more goals in the final quarter including one where he managed to fend off veteran defender Michael Hurley to take a clean mark inside fifty. The Bombers managed to cling on and secure a win by just one goal in one of the more watchable games of the weekend. 

Honourable Mentions: Andrew McGrath, Sam Sturt

1 Vote - Nat Fyfe

2 Votes - Rory Lobb

3 Votes - Dylan Shiel

Sydney (74) vs. Adelaide Crows (71)

There was a genuine thriller at the SCG on Saturday afternoon as the Swans secured a narrow win over Crows. This mathcup was a close one from the outset with two sides trading goals all throughout the first quarter. Acuracy was the name of this game as neither team went outside the big posts all first quarter, the Crows using this to secure a healthy lead by quarters end. The kids were on show for these two relatively young sides with emergeig talents such as Nick Blakey putting in respectable performances. Tom Papley picked up from where he left off in his State of Origin performance being constatly around the ball and delivering one of the more humerous moments of the weekend as he went to celebrate and high five an empty grandstand. It was in fact the Swans veterans that got them over the line in this thriller with Josh P Kennedy and Luke Parker controlling th eplay in the middle. Isaac Heeney was the leading goalscorer as he secured Four. Taylow Walker had the match winner in his grasp as he had a shot on goal from 50 with 25 second to go that would have put the Crows up by two and secure the win. The kicked drifted right and the Crows had to concede a three point loss in a nail-biter finish. 

Honourable Mentions: Jake Lloyd, Isaac Heeney

1 Vote - Rory Sloane

2 Votes - Josh P. Kennedy

3 Votes - Luke Parker

Gold Coast (29) vs. Port Adelaide (76)

It seems now that every year the Gold Coast enter with a mixture of optimism and fear as they attempt to improve on last years failings. This however appears to be another hard, long year as they seemed to be an entire class below a storming Port Adelaide. Granted, the Suns started strong with a goal from Ben King, a face Suns fans wish to see more of in 2020. Mitchell Gerogiades (pictured) opened the scoring for the Power with his first goal in AFL football. Port Adelaide ran away with the game at metricon as their hard running and ball control would see them win by 47 points over a Suns team who seem to be lacking in most areas. One in particular seems to be goal scoring, you would be hard pressed to imagine them winning many games this season with less than thirty points on the table. Port Adelaide played harder and with more endurance than the Gold Coast, the only concern for them out of this game is the loss of Hamish Hartlett with a Quad and Brad Ebert late int he game with a knee injury which puts them both in doubt for the coming weeks. 

Honourable Mentions: Connor Rozee, Karl Amon

1 Vote - Travis Boak

2 Votes - Brad Ebert

3 Votes - Tom Rockliff

GWS (105) vs. Geelong (73)

Unquestionably the most anticipated match up of round one. Both teams looking fro redemption from last year and get off to a flying start int heir 2020 campaigns. Especially GWS after an embarrassing blowout loss in their first trip into the Grand Final against Richmond last year. The Giants seemed unharmed by this however and quickly got on with their job, with some excellent link up play in the first quarter to jump out to an early lead. GWS secured five goals int he first quarter but the reliable Cats midfield guns of Ablett and Dangerfield ensured that Geelong was still int he fight. A combined effort from the Giants youngsters and their veterans contributed in this game including some notable performances from Zac Langdon and Daniel Lloyd. The match was living up to expectations going into the second half with the Giants' lead being cut down to only 13 points. The Giants held on in the premiership quarter with some strong performances and clean ball use from Toby Greene and Nick Haynes. Toby Greene was the clear best on ground with some slick play which saw him rack up four goals and 16 disposals. Geelong threatened again in the final quarter but GWS managed to put any doubts after the 2019 Grand Final behind them and reestablish themselves as a dangerous team. 

Honourable Mentions: Nick Haynes, Jacob Hopper

1 Vote - Stephen Coniglio

2 Votes - Gary Ablett

3 Votes - Toby Greene

North Melbourne (56) vs. St. Kilda (54)

The first Sunday game of 2020 presented a low-scoring surprise thriller at Marvel Stadium. The game opened with a terrifying back flip fall from The Roos' Josh Walker, where in which he landed on the back of his neck and sustained a concussion. In fact injuries were abound in this close quarters grudge match with Jack Zeibell (knee) Paul Ahern (hamstring) and Jade Gresham (knee) all out for the foreseeable future. Max King secured his first goal in the AFL and would go on to secire one more before the end of play. No doubt many Saints fans a re hoping he can become the big full forward presence they need. Due to its low scring nature every goal in this clash seemed incredibly important. St Kilda enjoyed a healthly lead going into and throughout the second quarter with it even stretching out to 28 points at half time. North melbourne comeback began late into the third quarter with a succession of quick goal from the likes of Aaron Hall and Jye Simpkin bringing the back into the fight. The stage was set for a mammoth final quarter as Ben Brown and Nick Larkey teamed up for a score that would bring them within one goal of the Saints. No goals were scored for the majority of the fourth quarter until Ben Cunnington gave North their fifth goal in a row and  the lead for the first time in the match. Ben King quickly replied for the Saints, but it was Ben Cunnington who proved to be the match winner for the Roos as he took another clutch mark deep inside fifty to secure the win For North Melbourne.
Honourable Mentions: Zak Jones, Shaun Higgins
1 Vote - Jack Billings
2 Votes - Luke Dunstan
3 Votes - Ben Cunnington

Hawthorn (90) vs. Brisbane (62)

An intriguing match up was presented on Sunday afternoon as the high flying Brisbane Lions came into the season with immense confidence after a surprising 2019 campaign that took them all the way into the Semi Finals. On the other hand Hawthorn is a team which is desperate to reassert themselves among the best teams in the competition after not even making finals in 2019. The first quarter presented some entertaining  football with goals traded with Brisbane enjoying a three point lead going into quarter time. Despite some smart play from the Hawks the Lions were still in the fight all throughout the second and third quarter.  Shaun Burgoyne was a strong forward presence for Hawthorn securing 3 goals o his name. Lachie Neal showed why he may well be in the hunt for the Brownlow this year with a performance that saw him rack up 26 disposals and a goal. However it wasn't enough to quell the better team effort by Hawthorn which saw them take the win by 28 points.
Honourable Mentions: Jarred Lyons, Issac Smith, Shaun Burgoyne
1 Vote - Tom Mitchell
2 Votes - Chad Wingard
3 Votes - Lachie Neal

West Coast (78) vs. Melbourne (51)

The mood was strange around the last match of the weekend. As it had been confirmed that this would be the last football we could watch for a while as the AFL took the decision to suspend the season due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic. Therefore it was important to relish the next couple hours as it would be the last  live footy we could sink our teeth into for the foreseeable future. The Eagles hosted the Demons at Optus Stadium for this clash of two teams that had something to prove after their 2019 campaigns. The eagles did not have a bad season by any stretch but were unable to defend their premiership of 2018. The Demons suffered one of the most depressing season in recent memory. After reaching a prelim in 2018 they came second last in 2019. Despite the empty Optus stadium the Eagles looked just as at home. jumping out to a 24 point lead int he first quarter. It quickly became apparent that Melbourne's goal kicking was sub par, managing only three in the first half. Despite a valiant effort by Jack Viney and Ed Langdon in midfield Melbourne still seemed to be lacking any team cohesion that they were also missing in their 2019 campaign. West Coast however clean and calculating game led by Andre Gaff and Luke Shuey in midfield and backed up by some strong forward work from the likes of Darling and Liam Ryan. Tim Kelly's first outing in the blue and gold produced a great presence on field. If the Demons have made improvement over last year none of them were apparent in their round one efforts. The sun set on a victorious West Coast at Optus Stadium and the 2020 AFL season entered its own period of hibernation, here's hoping it can return as soon as possible. 

Honourable Mentions: Christian Petracca, Liam Ryan, Ed Langdon

1 Vote - Tim Kelly

2 Votes - Jack Viney

3 Votes - Luke Shuey