‘Mercy rule': Baffling start to AFL blockbuster

Seven footy guru Daisy Pearce was right onto the moment a footy star got away with murder in a baffling start to the 2023 season.

The fifty was not given. Photo: Kayo.

Charlie Curnow got away with murder as Carlton made a red hot start in 2023.

The superstar forward committed a cardinal sin early in the first quarter of the season-opener against Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night when his aim was a mile off when returning the Sherrin to a Richmond player.

The Blues had coughed up the ball on the centre wing when Marlion Pickett was awarded a free kick as the ball rolled to Curnow.

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The star forward tossed the ball way over Pickett’s head and the ball instead landed in a Carlton teammate’s hands.

Despite the clear violation which should have triggered a 50m penalty, the ball was sheepishly returned to Pickett, who sent the ball up towards Richmonds 50m arc.

“Might have been a little round one mercy rule on the no 50m (penalty) there,” Channel 7 footy expert Daisy Pearce said on Channel 7.

The fifty was not given despite Marlion Pickett’s surprise. Photo: Kayo.

It was far from the only eye-catching moment early in the contest as Carlton booted three consecutive goals to lead by nine points at quarter time. The frenetic start simmered into a slog with just six goals kicked in the first half. The Blues led 4.5 (29) to 2.4 (16) at the major break.

The Tigers were well ahead on forward 50m entries and contested possessions but struggled to boot another goal after Dustin Martin kicked the first goal of the season inside the first 30 seconds of the game.

The Fox Footy panel exposed an incredible stat to show exactly how wild the opening term was.

Richmond showed impressive attack on the ball to force the Blues into a staggering 16 forward half turnovers in the first quarter of football — something not seen since the 2021 season.

It was a hot football in the first half. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

The Tigers’ failure to capitalise on their defensive pressure left Lions icon Jonathan Brown flummoxed. The Tigers converted just 0.3 (3) from those turnovers.

“That didn’t happen last year,” Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley said.

“16 forward half turnovers is the most in a quarter since the beginning of last year until now.

Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis said the Tigers would have been better letting Carlton occasionally getting the ball up the other end of the ground.

“There are so many numbers back. It was on repeat,” he said.

“It’s great to get those forward half turnovers, but sometimes it’s nice to drag the field out so you’ve got a bit more room to move.”