SNAPSHOT OF ROUND ONE AFL ACTION
THEY SAID IT: “They were up for a street fight and we were up for a nice Sunday stroll. We got what we deserved.” Fremantle coach Ross Lyon after their 65-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
STATS THAT MATTER: North’s 10-point win over Adelaide was their first round-one success since 2009 – a year before Brad Scott became coach.
MAN OF THE ROUND: When you’re the boom recruit of the season, it pays to start well. A career-high 44 possessions did the job nicely for Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield in the 30-point win over Hawthorn. Honourable mention: Lance Franklin, welcome back.
KEY MOMENT: After Carlton’s Levi Casboult shanked his shot at goal early in the last quarter on Friday night, Jack Riewoldt put his through at the other end a few minutes later. Two more goals to Sam Lloyd followed and Richmond’s big scare was over.
TALKING POINT: The new-look illicit drugs code is in the spotlight again after a newspaper report alleged 11 Collingwood players have returned positive hair tests – two days before Sydney walloped them by 80 points. Those test results were supposed to be confidential and Magpies president Eddie McGuire says his club has been thrown under a bus.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: As if the weekend wasn’t bad enough for Collingwood, onballer Steele Sidebottom faces a two-game suspension for rough conduct. Adelaide midfielder Matt Crouch is lucky to avoid suspension for his bump on North Melbourne’s Jarrad Waite. Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich and Brisbane’s Mitch Robinson had their charges thrown out. Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch, Melbourne forward Jeff Garlett and St Kilda’s Jarryn Geary can take $1000 fines. Geelong’s Mitch Duncan was booked for rough conduct after the incident that left Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge with a suspected broken arm.
KEY INJURIES: D Swan (Coll, lower leg fractures) O McDonald (Melb, ankle) J Anderson (NM, hamstring) M Williams (Coll, knee) N Brown (Coll, hamstring) Z Clarke (Freo, knee) M White (Port, pectoral) M Robinson (Bris, calf) L Hodge (Haw, arm)
WHAT’S NEXT: Collingwood and Richmond need to lift on Friday night after the Magpies were terrible and the Tigers were lucky. Fremantle also need a big lift when they host Gold Coast. St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt plays his 300th game, it’s Showdown time in Adelaide, and last year’s grand finalists Hawthorn and West Coast also clash.
