AFL Fixture: Richmond to unfurl premiership flag, welcome back Alex Rance in season-opener against Carlton

After a series of Round 1 failings, many wanted Carlton off the big season-opening stage. But the AFL has backed the rejuvenated Blues in and stuck with the now traditional clash with Richmond, Jay Clark writes.

Jack Riewoldt will hope to have mark the Tigers’ premiership celebrations with a win over the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

Premier Richmond will look to notch up its 10th-straight win over a revitalised Carlton in the AFL’s traditional season-opener next year.

The league has once again locked-in the two clubs to kick-off the 2020 season in anticipation of another monster crowd at the MCG on a Thursday night.

It will be a big occasion for Richmond which will unveil its premiership flag and welcome back superstar defender Alex Rance from his knee injury in a home game on opening night.

Jack Riewoldt will hope to have mark the Tigers’ premiership celebrations with a win over the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

And the growing excitement around Carlton’s young list could help deliver a record home and away crowd between the two sides, topping the 90,151 set in Round 1 last year.

Despite calls to take the game off the Blues after a decade of disappointment, the clash between the two sides has become one of the most highly-anticipated and popular games of the season, averaging 88,000 fans over the past two years.

It will be confirmed as the season-opener for the 13th time in the past 14 years in the AFL’s fixture release. Fixture boss Travis Auld is putting the finishing touches on next year’s schedule in talks with broadcasters and clubs this week.

There are hopes the improved Blues are finally in a position to seriously challenge Damien Hardwick’s men and surge up the ladder next season.

Dustin Martin will be primed for another big one against Zac Fisher and the Blues. Picture: AAP

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Carlton has not beaten Richmond in the season-opener since 2012, but the Blues are set to showcase a more attacking game plan under new coach David Teague.

Teague’s Blues won six of their last 11 games after he took over from Brendon Bolton in Round 12 last year.

The Blues also scored 100 points twice in the back half of last season for the first time in three years.

Carlton should also unveil playmaker Jack Martin as the club plots to secure the former Gold Coast gun for nothing in the pre-season draft next month.

The league first handed the season-opener to the two sides in 2007. Since then, they have only missed out on the marquee match once in 2014 when they were shuffled back to Round 2.

Originally published as AFL Fixture: Richmond to unfurl premiership flag, welcome back Alex Rance in season-opener against Carlton