The game as it stands
The Blues will be looking for a similar result to Round 1 of 2022, where they marched home with a drought-breaking 25-point victory in front of 72,000 fans at the MCG.
With a crowd of up to 90,000 people this time around, Carlton will be aiming to put its best foot forward when it comes to the physicality and consistency it has been searching for all pre-season.
Mitch McGovern and Jack Martin will return to the side after getting through a VFL practice match last week, while Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan will play their very first AFL game after being drafted in the off-season.
Blake Acres will play for the first time as a Blue while Jack Silvagni will pull on the Navy Blue for the 100th time.
George Hewett and Matt Kennedy will return to the midfield after both were absent in the backend of last season due to injury: the pair were influential in Round 1 last year, amassing 28 and 33 disposals respectively.
Find out more about the game here.
Key match-up
Tom Lynch and Jacob Weitering will be opposed for another season opener, with Weitering restricting Lynch to five disposals in Round 1 last year.
Lynch looms as Richmond’s most dangerous forward, but with Weitering’s experience playing on the league’s toughest talls, it’ll be a key battle in a match full of them.
Player to watch
It's been over a year since Ed Curnow last ran out with the Blues at senior level, but that will change tonight.
Running out alongside brother Charlie, Curnow's leadership and tenacity will likely be put to use in attack in the role he has showcased in pre-season.
He's been chomping at the bit to get back for game No.205.
Goss from Voss
Flagged to play more forward time in 2023, it’s no surprise that Dustin Martin’s influence is one which AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss will have his eye on.
“‘Dusty’ is one of those players who is pretty special, they’ve got a couple. They’ve got some players in the midfield that they’ve added as well so they’ve got some depth through there; the half backs present some issues as well.
“We always have some contingencies in place, we want to start the way you want to start and get the matchups the way you want them then the game will show itself in terms of adjustments.
“We’ve been pretty clear that we want to get us right and if that means putting more attention on Dusty to get that job done, then we’ll do that.”
Things we love to see
Jack Silvagni will play his 100th game tonight – but it’s not your ordinary 100-game milestone.
It is the first time in V/AFL history that three generations of players have played 100 games for the same Club – the fact that it’s in the famous No.1 makes it even more special.
The Silvagni name has been synonymous with Carlton since 1958, and hopefully will continue long into the future.
