Richmond v Carlton: All you need to know before the AFL season openerRohan Connolly
The Age
March 24, 2016After a long off-season, the wait is finally over. On Thursday night, at a packed MCG, Richmond and Carlton play the first of 207 AFL games we'll be watching over the next six months.
It's a football marathon, not a sprint, but with the hype-o-meter threatening to burst, here are five key questions about the season opener.
Who's had the better preparation?Richmond had two NAB Challenge losses against Fremantle and Port Adelaide, interspersed with a big win over a depleted Hawthorn line-up. Carlton lost all three of their games, to Hawthorn, Essendon and Sydney.
But you'd still have to say the Blues have emerged from the pre-season in better shape. In their first hitout against the Hawks and particularly in the last game against Sydney, Carlton showed a lot more toughness and resilience than we saw last season.
Patrick Cripps was a bull around the stoppages and looks set to continue his rise. There were very encouraging signs from Adelaide pick-up Sam Kerridge, and youngsters Nick Graham and Dylan Buckley seem ready to go up a cog or two this year.
The pre-season took some toll on the Tigers. Brett Deledio is the most costly absentee with a quad injury, new recruit Chris Yarran won't be seen for six weeks at a minimum with a foot injury, and Reece Conca even longer.
How will Carlton look different under Brendon Bolton?While many debate how many games the Blues can win under their novice senior coach, one thing they can bank on at least is seeing their team play a more daring and attacking brand of football.
Bolton will draw heavily upon the Hawthorn mantra, which means while there will be plenty of emphasis on contests and hardness, defence is also more likely to be used as a springboard to attack.
In the influx of talent from other AFL clubs have come more than a handful of flexible types who can either take a turn through midfield or assume other roles forward or back.
That should see more Carlton midfielders getting among the goals, something on which there will also be more emphasis, with key-position types such as Levi Casboult and Matthew Kreuzer (when not rucking) in desperate need of a chop-out.
Can Richmond go from a good to great team?After three successive first-week exits from September, opinion seems divided on whether the Tigers' learning curve can go any further.
Last year saw a more consistent Richmond, and under Damien Hardwick the Tigers have developed a pretty solid formula. The query remains, is it quite classy enough?
There's no doubt about the top end. Deledio will be missed on Thursday night, but Dustin Martin, skipper Trent Cotchin, key defender Alex Rance and spearhead Jack Riewoldt have consistently put the runs on the board these past few years.
Do they have enough support? Brandon Ellis is capable of reaching their level, but to match it with the top dogs when it matters most Richmond are probably going to require the already handy Anthony Miles, Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes to go up another gear.
Is the hype about Jacob Weitering justified?A premiership season is another level altogether from some scratch games, but the No.1 draft pick is yet to put a foot wrong.
He was the shining light for Carlton in the Blues' NAB Challenge loss to Essendon and impressive again against Sydney, at times playing loose in defence, on other occasions taking on the might of Lance Franklin and acquitting himself well.
Tall and athletic, the 18-year-old defender shows remarkable composure and an uncanny ability to read the play and intercept attacks.
Thursday night's spotlight and a huge crowd will bring a whole new set of pressures, but this guy already looks a great pick-up for the Blues.
Will Tigers fans microwave their memberships if they lose?Surely the days of manure dumped on the Punt Road doorstep are long gone, and as painful as a round-one loss to an arch enemy might seem, you'd like to think Richmond fans have developed a more realistic streak.
The Tigers will cop the usual rounds of the kitchen if they go under to a side some have tipped to take out the wooden spoon.
But round one has a habit of throwing up some unusual results. Only a brave soul indeed would wager Carlton will finish this season higher on the ladder than Richmond.
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