Hard Ball Gets: Why does the AFL gift Carlton and Richmond the season opener when it’s doesn’t delivered?Josh Garlepp
The West Australian
16 March 2021For the last 13 years Richmond and Carlton have been gifted the AFL’s opening game and it hasn’t delivered, so why does the league persist with a fixturing flop over alternatives like a grand final rematch.
The Tigers have claimed nine of the 12 round one Thursday night match-ups against the Blues since the AFL introduced the tradition in 2008 with an overall average winning margin of 33 points, (the game was moved to round two in 2014).
On this week’s episode of the Hard Ball Gets AFL Show Hawthorn premiership Xavier Ellis, footy journalist Ryan Daniels and The West Australian sports editor Nick Rynne questioned why the competition persists with what has been a redundant event for over a decade when there are far more exciting opportunities for footy fans.
“Should Richmond be opening the season with Carlton?,” Ellis posed to group.
“I’m so much more excited about Friday than I am about Thursday,” Daniels replied.
“It should be either a grand final rematch or at least a top-four side. How many years have we done this and how many years has Carlton not delivered.
“There’s 15 games a year you know are going to be fantastic. The derbies, the Showdowns, Collingwood v Essendon, the top two when they play - just give us something!”
While ANZAC day matches between the Pies and Bombers have regularly delivered captivating games and now hold significant weight in the AFL schedule since it’s introduction in 1995, the Blues v Tigers opening rivalry has generally been underwhelming.
2020 showed the league’s flexibility to break tradition so why not consider an alternative next season if 2021 delivers yet another dead rubber.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/hard-ball-gets-why-does-the-afl-gift-carlton-and-richmond-the-season-opener-when-its-doesnt-delivered-ng-b881822221z
