SUPER START
REVEALED: AFL’s Round 1 draw pits Gaz against the Demons
GARY Ablett’s first game in Geelong colours in eight years is set to come in a blockbuster Sunday afternoon clash with Melbourne at the MCG in what is tipped to be one of the most widely attended AFL opening rounds in history.
Much of the focus of the AFL’s Round 1— which is understood to stretch across four days — will be centred on 33-year-old Ablett, who rejoined the Cats in this month’s trade period after seven seasons with Gold Coast.
He has not played for the Cats since the 2010 preliminary final, and will make an emotional AFL return to the club against the Demons, who are seeking redemption after narrowly missing out on the 2017 finals series.
Melbourne will likely unveil its highpriced recruit Jake Lever, who quit the Crows immediately after this year’s Grand Final to return to his family in Victoria.
As expected, the 2018 season will kick off with the now-traditional Richmond and Carlton match at the MCG, which will have more significance now given the Tigers are the premiers.
Given it is likely to be a Richmond home game, and the club’s first since its 37-year premiership drought broke in stunning circumstances, there could be a crowd of more than 80,000 fans in attendance.
Essendon’s aggressive post-season recruiting strategy will have an early test against Lever’s former team, Adelaide, with former Bulldog Jake Stringer, exSuns defender Adam Saad and former Giant Devon Smith likely to make their first appearances for the Bombers.
It will come in the first Friday night prime-time slot, a reward for Essendon making the finals and for putting the supplements saga to rest.
Hawthorn and Collingwood, two teams desperate to make up for frustrating 2017 seasons, will stage a big Saturday night game on the first weekend.
Luke Hodge will not be there for the Hawks for the first time since 2002, and instead will be stepping out for his new side, Brisbane Lons, against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on the same day.
It will be the first game on the opening Saturday, but will not start until 3.35pm, with the AFLW grand final having its own slot earlier in the day, at a venue to be determined.
West Coast won the battle over its state rival Fremantle to host the first game at Perth’s new stadium.
The Eagles will take on Sydney as the final game of the round.
The Dockers will have to wait another week for their first look at the exciting new venue, with their opening game to come against Port Adelaide — with Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop likely to step out for the first time — at Adelaide Oval.
Gold Coast will play its first game under new coach Stuart Dew in Cairns, taking on North Melbourne.
Fierce rivals Greater Western Sydney and Western Bulldogs will meet in Canberra.