Round 1, 2018 AFL fixture revealed: Ablett to take on Demons in first game back at Geelong
EXCLUSIVE: RICHMOND could unveil its premiership flag on the opening night of the AFL season against Carlton at the MCG. SEE EVERY ROUND 1 FIXTURE
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GARY Ablett’s first game in Geelong colours in eight years is set to come in a blockbuster Sunday afternoon clash with Melbourne at the MCG in what is tipped to be one of the most widely attended AFL opening rounds in history.
Much of the focus of the AFL’s Round 1 — which is understood to stretch across four days — will be centred on 33-year-old Ablett, who rejoined the Cats in this month’s trade period after seven seasons with Gold Coast.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL FIXTURE FOR ROUND 1, 2018
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He hasn’t played for the Cats since the 2010 preliminary final, and will make an emotional AFL return to the club against the Demons, who are desperately seeking redemption after narrowly missing out on the 2017 finals series.
Melbourne will likely unveil its high-priced recruit Jake Lever, who quit the Crows immediately after this year’s Grand Final to return to his family in Victoria.
As expected, the 2018 season will kick off with the now-traditional Richmond and Carlton match at the MCG, which will have so much more significance now given the Tigers are the reigning premiers.
Given it is likely to be a Richmond home game, and the club’s first since their 37-year premiership drought broke in stunning circumstances, there could be a crowd of in excess of 80,000 fans in attendance.
The Herald Sun believes Essendon’s aggressive post-season recruiting strategy will get an early test against Lever’s former team, Adelaide, with former Bulldog Jake Stringer, ex-Suns defender Adam Saad and former Giant Devon Smith likely to make their first appearances in a new-look Bombers’ outfit.
That will come in the first Friday night prime-time slot, a reward for Essendon making the finals and for finally putting the demons of the supplements saga to rest.
Hawthorn and Collingwood, two teams desperate to make up for frustrating 2017 seasons, will stage a big Saturday night game on the first weekend.
Luke Hodge won’t be there for the Hawks for the first time since 2001, and instead will be stepping out for his new side Brisbane against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on the same day.
That game will be the first on the opening Saturday, but won’t start until 3.35pm, with the AFLW grand final getting its own slot earlier in the day, at a venue to be determined.
West Coast won the battle over their state rivals Fremantle to host the inaugural game at Perth’s new stadium. The Eagles will take on Sydney as the final game of the round.
The Dockers will have to wait another week to get their first look at the exciting new venue, with their opening game to come against Port Adelaide — with Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop likely to step out for the first time — at Adelaide Oval.
Gold Coast will play its first game under new coach Stuart Dew in Cairns, taking on North Melbourne.
Fierce rivals, Greater Western Sydney and Western Bulldogs, will meet in Canberra.
SNEAK PEEK
AFL Round 1, 2018
Thursday, March 22
Richmond v Carlton, MCG, 7.25pm
Friday, March 23
Essendon v Adelaide, Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm
Saturday, March 24
St Kilda v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium, 3.35pm
Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 4.35pm
Gold Coast v North Melbourne, Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns, 7.25pm
Hawthorn v Collingwood, MCG, 7.25pm
Sunday, March 25
Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs, Canberra, 1.10pm
Melbourne v Geelong, MCG, 3.20pm
West Coast v Sydney, Perth Stadium, 7.10pm
ALL Melbourne times
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