And so it begins (again)...
AFL SEASON 2018 IS HERE! (Well, tomorrow night, anyway)
But first, let's look to the AFLW Grand Final.
AFLW Final! Woot! Doggies vs Lions
Saturday sees the women's final between the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park ... so it's a good thing the match starts at 12:35pm, because the lighting at that ground remains a debacle (oh, we didn't budget for lighting for the women's season, says the multi-billion dollar AFL machine. Dickheads).
The Bulldogs are mounting a last-ditch challenge to skipper Katie Brennan's two week suspension, to be heard tomorrow. I hope she gets off. Yes, the sling tackle was bad, but I still have memories of the AFL letting Barry Hall play the 2005 GF after punching a bloke, so ... yanno. What's good for the goose, etc.
*is still bitter*
AFL 2018
The season kicks off with its now traditional Richmond vs Carlton matchup. The Tiges will unfurl their 2017 Premiership flag before the game (cue more ajaye happiness). The big question for me: Has Carlton finally managed to find a full forward who can kick straight? Also: Will I stop annoying Mr. Beef with questions of "Who's that?" about Carlton's glut of nondescript brown-haired GWS cast-offs?
While Richmond still looks hungry, their GF opponents Adelaide have been very quiet over the summer months. What kind of form will they be in after that crushing 2017 loss and the spate of players jumping ship at the end of last season? (Though sadly not Mitch McGovern, who totally should've come to join his brother out west...)
An Ablett-less Gold Coast plays the first of a slew of "home" games away from home (this week, it's off to Cairns' humidity). Thanks to the Commonwealth Games and other scheduling quirks, they won't actually play on the Gold Coast until mid-season.
West Coast also have an awkward "home" game fixture, opening their season at the new Perth stadium, which has totally different dimensions to Subi. Given the Weagles Web won't work at a wider ground, here's hoping they have a new game plan. It'll be a few years before we regain a home ground advantage over there. In positive news, NicNat's a chance to return (though without match fitness), but how will my Eagles cope against a Buddy-led Swans outfit when Josh Kennedy's out for the first few weeks of the season?
AFLW - GRAND FINAL
Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane
AFL ROUND 1
Richmond vs Carlton
Essendon vs Adelaide
St Kilda vs Brisbane
Port Adelaide vs Fremantle
Gold Coast vs North Melbourne (Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns)
Hawthorn vs Collingwood
Greater Western Sydney vs Western Bulldogs
Melbourne vs Geelong
West Coast vs Sydney
SEASON TIPS
Premiership AFLW:
Premiership AFL:
Coleman:
Brownlow: