Richmond v Sandringham
Friday, April 16, 12pm @ Swinburne Centre
The Tigers go in as flag favourite again, while the Zebras will be hoping to get a little bit back after Richmond’s big win over St Kilda last night.
It’s A Big Week For: Sandringham’s gun Williamstown recruit Sam Dunell celebrates his 150th VFL game returning to the club where he started as a St Kilda draftee. But all eyes will be on Tigers Callum Coleman-Jones and Sydney Stack as they return from their suspension for breaking COVID-19 rules in Queensland last year.
Prediction: Richmond by 25
Frankston v Coburg
Friday, April 16, 7.40pm @ Skybus Stadium, Frankston Park
Two clubs who have been in the doldrums for several years but enter 2021 with a spark of anticipation after long and successful recruiting campaigns since their last matches. Both can expect to be much more competitive, but it remains to be seen how much ground they can make up.
It’s A Big Week For: The Frankston Football Club will finally unveil its fantastic new lights for Friday Night Footy, with a big crowd expected down by the bay. The Dolphins must bring their A-game and bank a win to avoid sticking a pin in the balloon of hype surrounding them.
Prediction: Dolphins by 3.
Footscray v Gold Coast
Saturday, April 17, 11.20am @ VU Whitten Oval
One of the premiership contenders hosting one of the newcomers from the NEAFL. The Suns’ depth is being severely tested at the moment, while the Bulldogs are up and flying and should kick off their season with a win.
It’s A Big Week For: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. With Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce firing at AFL level, there isn’t room for No.1 draft pick at the moment, but his time will come very soon and a game against a battered Suns is the perfect opportunity to stake a claim
Prediction: Bulldogs by 46.
Sydney v Greater Western Sydney
Saturday, April 17, 11.20am @ Tramway Oval, SCG
These two teams won’t just be familiar with each other, they will know every little bump and blemish on each other’s bodies and psyches after five practice matches and now a Round 1 Derby.
It’s A Big Week For: Paddy McCartin. All eyes will be on the former St Kilda No.1 pick as he launches his long-awaited comeback from concussion issues. Everybody in football has their fingers crossed that it goes well for him.
Prediction: Swans by 20.
Aspley v Port Melbourne
Saturday, April 17, 1pm @ Graham Rd Reserve, Aspley
One of the most anticipated games of the opening round with a standalone NEAFL club hosting a vastly respected standalone VFL club. How will the Borough go in their first interstate trip for 11 years?
It’s A Big Week For: Anthony Anastasio. The Borough livewire will be champing at the bit to get back out there after injury ruined his 2019 season and then COVID took out 2020. Has been stuck on 95 VFL games for a long time and would love to get a run under his belt.
Prediction: Borough by 8.
Brisbane v Essendon
Saturday, April 17, 1.30pm @ Southpine Sports Complex, Moreton Bay
The Lions start a new journey having not lost a game since August 3, 2018. They went undefeated to win the last NEAFL premiership, beating Southport by 76 points in the Grand Final.
It’s A Big Week For: Cameron Ellis-Yolmen moved from Adelaide to Brisbane for senior opportunities but has found himself out of Chris Fagan’s team this season. There’s only so much you can do in practice matches, so now is the time for him to stake a claim.
Prediction: Lions by 26.
Carlton v Southport
Saturday, April 17, 2pm @ Ikon Park
The Sharks have the biggest test of the NEAFL newcomers, making the interstate trip, and would love nothing more than to throw the cat amongst the pigeons.
It’s A Big Week For: The common perception has always been that the NEAFL was a vastly inferior competition to the VFL and the Southport Sharks have a golden opportunity to disprove that theory here. They have recruited well and face an unknown quantity in a newly formed team. Can they make a statement?
Prediction: Blues by 7.
Werribee v Collingwood
Saturday, April 17, 2.30pm @ Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee
The Tigers enter the new season having missed out on what many saw as a golden opportunity to break a premiership drought stretching back to 1993 before COVID-19 intervened. Mark Williams might be gone, but favourite son Michael Barlow takes the reins.
It’s A Big Week For: Mason Cox. Dropped from last night’s trip to Perth, he will be desperate to leave his sizable mark on Chirnside Park as he looks to regain his spot in the AFL team for ANZAC Day. Nathan Buckley will be looking for plenty of marks and a bag of goals.
Prediction: Tigers by 11.
Box Hill Hawks v Casey Demons
Sunday, April 18, 12.05pm @ Box Hill City Oval
After a thrilling Grand Final in 2018, these teams dropped off the radar in 2019 to finish eighth and ninth and will be looking to bounce back quickly.
It’s A Big Week For: Sam Mitchell. The highly decorated Hawks champjon is seen as the successor for the great Alastair Clarkson in the hot seat at Hawthorn and he takes on his first head coaching role at the club that launched his career with a stunning Liston in 2001. It will confirm a lot of opinions if he can manufacture a winning start against a flying Demons’ outfit.
Prediction: Demons by 15.
Geelong v North Melbourne
Sunday, April 18, 1pm @ GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
North Melbourne is in a full-on rebuild at both AFL and VFL level, and the team that runs out on Sunday will bear little resemblance to the 2019 list. The Kangaroos couldn’t have asked for a bigger challenge to open their campaign.
It’s A Big Week For: The Kangaroos. Leigh Adams returns to his AFL club to take the reins, and it won’t be any easier than the task he previously had at Coburg. Since splitting from Werribee, the Roos have lost both their matches here by 100 points-plus. Their development and morale would suffer badly if it was to happen again.
Prediction: Cats by 60.
Northern Bullants v Williamstown
Sunday, April 18, 1pm @ Preston City Oval
The Ants are back and are ready to bite, but can they get a nip in before the Seagulls spread their wings? It has been a massive achievement to get the famous red and white guernsey back on the park, but they run into a big challenge against the 2019 Grand Finalists.
It’s A Big Week For: Steven Icke, Josh Fraser and everybody behind #BringBackTheAnts. Congratulations to all of you, and I’m sure there will be a few tears in the eyes – on field and in the outer as “We’re From Northern” blasts over the speakers at Preston City Oval on Sunday.
Prediction: Seagulls by 31.
