One other season of footy is upon us and all of it kicks off with Richmond and Carlton.Who will reign supreme within the season-opener? 8:23PM HT – RICH 2.4 (16) path CARL 4.6 (30)The Blues absorb a 14-point lead on the most important break, with a scrappy Matt Owies objective in congestion giving them the largest margin of the sport. Carlton has restricted the Tigers — among the best offensive sides final season — to a mere two targets to halftime and Damien Hardwick’s males must carry after the primary break.Tim Taranto had been a ball-magnet with 19 disposals however has racked up six clangers, conserving him to 39 SuperCoach factors.8:03PM AIR BOLTON It’s taken Shai Bolton lower than an hour to take one other mark of the yr contender!The Richmond excessive flyer has soared into the skies as soon as once more, this time leaping on high of ruckmen Tom De Koning and Toby Nankervis.The mark had shades of his 2021 screamer towards the Cats within the goalsquare, solely he didn’t fairly attain the stratosphere on this event. Bolton has been all class up ahead for the Tigers, pulling out the social gathering tips moments after his seize with a shimmy and an extended, looping handball to arrange one other scoring alternative. 7:49PM QUARTER TIME – RICH 10-18 CARLThe quarter began with some Dusty brilliance and ended with a Dusty mongrel.A breakaway and intelligent go from Shai Bolton with seconds left on the clock simply exterior 50.Dustin Martin in his prime would have simply made the space, however now at age 31, he pulled out the torp for the kick after the siren which seemed ugly off the boot and fell simply wanting the road.The Tigers will rue missed alternatives in that quarter however it has been an excellent contest general. Blues ball magnet George Hewett is as much as 11 disposals, whereas commerce duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper have mixed for 14 disposals of their first quarter in yellow and black. Jack Riewoldt leads the way in which in KFC SuperCoach with 40 factors at quarter time. 7:36PM GAME HEATING UPThis recreation is shifting at breakneck pace and it’s a scorching Sherrin with loads of strain being utilized from either side.Richmond has had the run of play within the final 5 minutes however haven’t made it rely on the scoreboard, with Lynch spraying a detailed set shot to slim the margin to 2 factors.A shoutout to debutant Ollie Hollands, who received a 1-on-2 contest deep the Tigers’ attacking 50 in one among his first touches in AFL footy. 7:25PM DUSTY KICKS FIRST IN STYLEDusty slots the primary of 2023!The Tigers famous person made the very best begin to life in his new ahead position, getting a lucky bounce after a dropped mark from Mitch McGovern and snapping actually as he so usually does. The Blues responded moments later with a cultured Zac Fisher snap, making it a objective apiece inside the primary minute. 7:05PM BLUES DEBUTANTS Draftees Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan will debut tonight for the facet they grew up barracking for. Voss stated at his press convention on Wednesday that Hollands will likely be used on a wing, whereas the line-breaking Cowan will play as a defender.Each confirmed nice indicators in the course of the pre-season and loved sturdy draft years in 2022.6:55PM BIG CROWD IN AT THE GThere are loads of keen footy followers piling by the turnstiles. Herald Solar newsbreaker Jon Ralph expects 85,000 followers to attend, and there may be positive to be some lengthy traces on the MCG. 6:25pm SUBS NAMEDNo late modifications for either side. Jack Ross and Lochie O’Brien will begin within the inexperienced vest tonight.5:43PM HOW MCG TURF IS LOOKING The MCG seems to be an absolute deal with forward of the hotly anticipated season-opener – due to a significant restore job.The state of the house of footy was utterly totally different every week in the past as workers got down to change the turf after Ed Sheeran’s blockbuster live performance on the venue on March 3.Has sufficient modified at Carlton to make them contenders?As Carlton supporters put together to mud off their navy blues for one more season, there may be one urgent query on their lips – can this yr lastly be the one the Blues make finals? The Blues missed out on a finals berth by the pores and skin of a Sherrin final yr, however there are heightened expectations in coach Michael Voss’ second season in cost. Now armed with the reigning Brownlow and Coleman medallist, the highlight is on the Blues to finish their 10-year finals drought.These are a few of the key speaking factors for the Blues forward of their 2023 marketing campaign.NEXT STEPWhere does the development come from this season for the Blues?Voss stated this week that the Blues had been “nonetheless rising” and consistency and performing below strain could be keys to taking the following step within the membership’s ambition of “sustainably taking part in finals”. “We’re nonetheless attempting to extend our capability in all areas, whether or not that’s working, whether or not that’s contested ball, whether or not that’s taking part in offence, defence, we’re nonetheless attempting so as to add capability into our group,” Voss advised AFL 360. “The primary factor for us final yr was our consistency. Any time we felt that we misplaced our manner was as a result of we simply didn’t follow the roles we got and we simply didn’t follow the system that we are attempting to implement. “There are lots of causes for that, a few of it’s in our infancy in our first yr (collectively).“What we’re about isn’t essentially altering something, what we have to do is make it stronger and we now have to do it underpressure.” Carlton midfielder Matt Kennedy stated the Blues had the assumption their greatest was ok, however their progress would come from better consistency. “We’ve spoken rather a lot about elevating our ground and simply being extra per our habits,” Kennedy stated this week.“That’s day after day with the way in which that we prepare {and professional} habits.“So I believe that’s the place we’ll get lots of progress. We all know and we consider our greatest is sweet sufficient, however it’s simply consistency at occasions that received us final yr.“ Carlton nice Mark Maclure was assured the Blues might crack the top-eight this season, saying they’d have been stung – and realized – from their late-season fall final yr. “I watched them final yr and noticed some nice enchancment,” Maclure stated.“The most important drawback that they had was they only failed within the final two video games. They’d be upset with (that).“You’ve got to have some character and you’ve got to face up and you’ve got to do all these little issues that make a distinction they usually simply rushed the whole lot as a substitute of … doing it correctly and all being on the identical web page. “I’m positive that Vossy would have been in a position to give them a exercise in that.”FORWARD FORCELast season, Carlton followers lastly received a have a look at simply how good Charlie Curnow and his ahead partnership with Harry McKay might be. After three injury-hit seasons, Curnow propelled himself to the highest of the objective kicking desk to say the Coleman Medal together with his 64-goal season alongside McKay’s 45. Given he had performed a mixed complete of 15 video games within the earlier three seasons, Curnow’s rise pushed him proper to the highest of Herald Solar chief soccer reporter Mark Robinson’s pre-season predictive high 50. Maclure stated 26-year-old Curnow’s true expertise remained “untapped” and his partnership with McKay was each bit as sturdy because the Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron double-act. However he stated the following step for Curnow was backing it up.“He has received a lot expertise, you’ve got no concept … he’s untapped at this stage, nonetheless,” Maclure stated.“He could be a nightmare to play. He’s fast, he’s tall, he jumps, I’ve seen him do some issues that I’ve by no means seen anybody do, kicking targets from the boundary on the flip and also you go ‘What? Can’t be executed’. “So he has received a extremely good spotlight reel however it’s about consistency and getting it executed on a regular basis.”Voss stated humility could be the important thing to Curnow taking the following step in his recreation.“For him to have the ability to do what he did final yr after the footy that he had missed, in some methods it was fairly extraordinary,” Voss stated. “He’s an pleasure machine and he ignites the gang. He’s clearly a vital participant to us. “For Charlie, the factor that can get him by this yr in some methods is simply humility, the truth is that it may be taken off you in a heartbeat. He ought to know that greater than anyone. “If he stays with that humble strategy … and he is aware of that tomorrow ‘I can get crushed’ he will likely be a unbelievable footballer so long as he maintains that mindset.” BROWNLOW BEASTIf there was ever any doubt over Carlton captain Patrick Cripps’ standing as among the best midfielders within the AFL, it was shattered when he claimed the league’s highest particular person honour final yr. After one of the vital dominant begins to a season seen in latest reminiscence, Cripps additionally cemented his standing as the highest Blue together with his fourth membership best-and-fairest award. Returning to his greatest as a clearance animal, Cripps averaged an elite 7.7 clearances and 28 disposals a recreation.However Maclure is assured 27-year-old Cripps can nonetheless elevate his recreation.“I believe he’s getting higher,” Maclure stated.“I simply suppose he has really labored out easy methods to play and easy methods to do it correctly and that there’s an artwork in taking part in within the midfield and profitable the ball. “Don’t neglect he’s 6’5, he isn’t a small midfielder, he’s a monster.”RUCK N ROLLThere is ready to be loads of dialogue surrounding the way forward for the off-contract Tom De Koning on the Blues this season.The thrilling 23-year-old 201cm ruck-forward looms as a sought-after signature within the AFL market.Marc Pittonet, 26, is anticipated to be the Blues’ beginning ruckman this season, however Maclure backed De Koning to take over his submit because the No. 1 ruck this yr. “De Koning …. he’ll play within the ruck I reckon,” Maclure stated.“I believe Pittonet is there for use, however he isn’t a dynamic power. He tries his greatest. “Inform me who’s the best ruckman within the competitors? Max Gawn. So he will get kicks throughout the bottom and all that type of stuff. “De Koning can do this, however he’s not fairly as much as that commonplace as but together with his age and measurement and weight. “He may need grown once more and I’m positive he would have put some weight on this yr and I reckon within the subsequent couple of years you will notice a extremely good participant. “When you give him the highest spot, I don’t suppose he needs to go wherever.”NEW LAYERSThe Blues added former Dockers wingman Blake Acres throughout final yr’s commerce interval and the impression he could make within the midfield will likely be essential early on within the season with younger gun Sam Walsh (again) sidelined. Maclure stated the early-season absence of Walsh was a “enormous” loss for the Blues, however stated the acquisition of the 193cm Acres was a optimistic. “It is going to be a very good take a look at for another person to come back in and take a job,” Maclure stated.“They have Blake Acres who will assist. Acres is an efficient pick-up, one other tall midfielder so that can assist. “You have to have a robust midfield if you’ll win a premiership.” Carlton has wasted little time in bringing contemporary blood into the group, naming the membership’s first two picks in final yr’s draft – Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan – to make their debuts in spherical one towards Richmond. Kennedy stated the younger pair “undoubtedly deserve” their early call-up.“Ollie will carry that working recreation to us. He’s an especially gifted runner and can be robust when he must be so he’ll add rather a lot to our wing shares,” Kennedy stated. “Massive ‘Cow’ is a really aggressive man and he’s been one of the vital constant performers out on the observe. “They know they only need to play their position. They don’t have to do something particular however they’re cog within the chain.”
AFL 2023 Richmond v Carlton live score, stream, how to watch,tips, odds
