Details: MCG, Thursday 19 March, 7.40pm (AEDT)

Broadcast: Channel 7/7Mate, Fox Footy, AFL app 

THE GAME IN FOCUS:

After a strong finish to 2019, the slate has been wiped clean and Carlton will be looking to start the season on a high note. 

It’ll be the biggest possible test first up, with the Blues to take on the reigning premiers first-up.

While the game is being played under unprecedented circumstances, it will be all systems go from the first bounce as Carlton runs out under David Teague in his first season as permanent Senior Coach.

LAST TIME WE MET:

The last time the Blues faced the Tigers was at a rainy MCG in Round 21, where the Blues suffered a 28-point loss to the eventual premiers.

The defensive unit was the standout, with Liam Jones and Jacob Weitering fighting admirably and restricting Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt to two goals each.

Mitch McGovern - who has been named at centre half forward tonight - made his return after an intense training block, kicking two important goals in the second half.

Inaccuracy was to the Blues’ detriment on that day: they’ll have to take their opportunities tonight.

BLUE FOCUS:

It’s footy not like we’ve ever seen it before.

Playing without a crowd will be hard for Carlton to adjust to, with this game averaging a crowd of over 81,000 in the last five meetings.

It will be an adjustment for both teams to get revved up without the aid of their many supporters, but once the ball is bounced, the months of preparation will come to the fore.

At the end of the day, its Richmond at the MCG in Round 1. It’s going to be interesting. 

GET EXCITED ABOUT:

A pair of Jacks will be debuting in the Round 1 side: Martin and Newnes have been selected to play after joining Carlton in the off-season. 

Martin and Newnes both showed promise in pre-season training as well as in the Marsh Community Series matches, with the former named across half forward while the former Saint will line up on a wing.

BLUE VIEW:

This will be the first time that Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty run out together in an AFL match as co-captains. It’ll also be the first time they’ve been teammates in 984 days.

Docherty was confirmed to make his return to AFL footy after missing the last two seasons with injury.

Suffice to say, Carlton fans will be excited at the prospect of seeing these two leaders on the field together, captaining the side together in-season for the first time.

CARLTON has suffered a 24-point loss to Richmond in the opening game of the 2020 AFL season. 

While the Blues will find some positive signs in the performances of club debutant Jack Martin and defender Jacob Weitering, it was a fast-starting Tigers outfit who proved to be too good at the MCG.

Q1 breakdown:

It was a dominant start by the reigning premier, with a David Cuningham goal stopping a five-goal burst from Richmond. Levi Casboult was quick to follow up on the scoreboard, but late goals from the Tigers saw them open up a 31-point lead. Sam Walsh battled manfully to collect eight disposals, while Sam Docherty showed no rust to collect seven disposals across half-back. A sour note ended Carlton’s opening term, with Matthew Kreuzer sustaining a foot injury: he would play no further part in the game. 

Q2 breakdown:

An improved showing from the Blues kicked off the second term, with Jack Silvagni getting his team going. Carlton clearly dominated the opening 10 minutes, locking the ball in their forward half for 84 per cent of that period. Docherty was outstanding in his first game back from a two-year layoff, intercepting and rebounding with authority, but four late goals meant the Tigers kicked out to a 46-point lead. 

Q3 breakdown:

It was the Jack Martin show at the MCG. The new recruit brought some spark to the home of football, contributing an impressive cameo in attack. His five disposals brought about a goal assist and four goals, with his second goal showing the class which made him so highly sought at Ikon Park. Jacob Weitering continued a brilliant individual performance, holding Tom Lynch to seven disposals and no goals at the final change.

Q4 breakdown:

It was the kind of showing Bluebaggers were asking for from the opening bounce. Some bold attacking play - brought about by some midfield dominance - saw the Blues reduce the margin to just 16 points at one point, after a stunning goal from Jack Newnes. A late goal from Daniel Rioli saw the margin finish at 24 points, but the second half showed plenty of promise for the Blues in coming weeks.

Moment of the match:

Clutch and class. It was a reinvigorated Carlton in the second half, and one moment could be seen as the turning point. After kicking his first goal in Navy Blue minutes earlier, Jack Martin’s gather, evasion and right-footed snap was exactly what Blues fans had been wanting to see. It set the tone for a debut cameo to remember.

Three things from the game:

1. He was voted into the leadership group in 2020, and Jacob Weitering got off to the perfect possible start. Pitted against Richmond’s finals hero in Tom Lynch, Weitering kept the power forward to just nine disposals for the game: Lynch also finished goalless.
2. The sight of the Navy Blue No.15 running out in an AFL game was a sight for sore eyes. Sam Docherty didn’t miss a beat on return, collecting 26 disposals and nine rebound 50s in an accomplished performance. If that was the beginning, it seems Docherty isn’t far off recapturing his All-Australian form of 2017.
3. The fight was something to be proud of, but a matured Carlton group won’t be resting on its laurels. The Blues will know the first half made the season opener a missed opportunity, even though the attacking impetus and resilience to fight back shone through against the reigning premier.

RICHMOND    7.2     11.3     14.5     16.9 (105)
CARLTON        2.1      3.5       8.7       12.9 (81)  

GOALS: Martin 4, Casboult 2, Cuningham 2, Silvagni 2, Newnes

BESTS: Weitering, Martin, Cripps, Docherty, Casboult, Petrevski-Seton, Murphy