‘Eerily similar’: History repeats itself in ‘spooky’ AFL season opener

Melbourne got off to the perfect start in the AFL season opener, and eerie similarities to last year’s grand final had fans seeing double.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: Christian Petracca of the Demons runs with the ball during the round one AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Melbourne has started the 2022 AFL season where they left off last year with an impressive 26-point victory over the Western Bulldogs.

The reigning premiers got their campaign off to the perfect start in the grand final rematch, which played out in almost identical circumstances to last year’s decider against the Dogs.

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Many fans thought they were watching a replay instead of a rematch at the MCG, particularly in the first half on Wednesday night.

The Demons got off to a flyer, kicking the first four goals of the game to race out to an early lead in the opening term.

But just like last year’s grand final, the Bulldogs flicked a switch and surged back into the contest, kicking the next eight goals in a remarkable shift in momentum that gave fans flashbacks to last September.

The Dogs took a nine-point lead into half time but from then on, the Dees took control of the game, hit the lead and never relinquised it.

Where have we seen this story before? Picture: Mark Stewart

It wasn’t quite the second half thrashing of the grand final but Melbourne eased to a comfortable (14.13) 97 to (11.5) 71 victory.

AFL fans and commentators said the similarities between the season opener and last year’s grand final were uncanny.

“This has got grand final written all over it,” Melbourne great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.

Daisy Pearce said the resemblance between the two games was “spooky”.

“It’s not just the flow of scoring but the way it’s played out,” she said on Channel 7.

“Melbourne hot early, the Dogs getting speed on the game and raining goals but then Melbourne were happy to just take heat off the game, weren’t they.

“Lower percentage plays just to exercise control again and then chip away at the score from there.”

Sports reporter Daniel Cherny tweeted: “The scoring pattern in this game is eerily similar to the grand final.”

Christian Petracca (right) was on fire against the Dogs. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Footy journalist Rohan Connolly said: “Reasonable amount of deja vu going on right now.”

Commentator Gerard Whateley added on AFL Nation: ““That is a remarkable burst of goals. It’s eerily similar to the Grand Final.”

The Age’s Greg Baum said on Twitter: “This is not a rematch. It’s a replay.”

Is this a replay? #AFLDeesDogs

— John Hunt (@JohnHunt1992) March 16, 2022

Aight, have I got the '21 GF on replay right now or? #AFLDeesDogs

— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) March 16, 2022

They had every right to think they had seen the same game before.

Christian Petracca won the Norm Smith medal with 39 disposals and two goals in the grand final and he was best on ground again with almost the exact same stats — 38 touches and two goals.

Originally published as ‘Eerily similar’: History repeats itself in ‘spooky’ AFL season opener