Friday first AFL Round 1 match is between Collingwood Magpies and Fremantle Dockers with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50pm with away team Fremantle Dockers currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Collingwood Magpies and Fremantle Dockers.
Round: Round 1, Friday March 14, 7:50pm
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 28° Becoming mainly sunny.
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Odds Comparison:
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| Collingwood Magpies | 2.35 | 2.40 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.35 | 2.25 |
| Fremantle Dockers | 1.62 | 1.60 | 1.64 | 1.60 | 1.62 | 1.65 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
It’s that time of the year many of us have been waiting for, with Round 1 of the AFL kicking off this weekend. Last year was a killer season, and fans will be looking forward to more of the same in 2014. The first match of the new season is between the Collingwood Magpies and Fremantle Dockers, Friday night, 7.50pm at Etihad Stadium. With the MCG unavailable due to domestic cricket, the Docklands venue will host the opening 2014 match for the first time ever.
Fremantle will go into this match as slight favourites, despite rough pre-season form that saw them lose to West Coast by 84 points. Collingwood were even worse in the pre-season, however, losing both of their matches against Geelong and Richmond. This game should give fans some insight into the future of Collingwood this season, with the Magpies facing a transitional period due to the loss of Heath Shaw, Alan Didak, Dale Thomas, and Darren Jolly at the end of last season.
Even the fans don’t really know what to expect with this new look Magpies team, so this weekend will be a great preview for the year ahead. Jesse White’s and Travis Cloke’s will be worth watching for the Magpies, with Dayne Beams also looking for a big season after an injury-ridden 2013. Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands will also be key, in what looks like an exciting season opener.
Teams:
Collingwood Magpies:
B: Alan Toovey, Nathan J. Brown, Nick Maxwell
HB: Tyson Goldsack, Jack Frost, Tom Langdon
C: Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer,Taylor Adams
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Jamie Elliott
F: Ben Kennedy, Jarrod Witts, Dane Swan
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Heritier Lumumba
I/C: Martin Clarke, Clinton Young, Luke Ball, Ben Sinclair
Emg: Quinten Lynch, Lachlan Keeffe,Tony Armstrong
New: Tom Langdon (Sandringham Dragons), Taylor Adams (GWS)
Fremantle Dockers:
B: Zac Dawson, Luke McPharlin, Lee Spurr
HB: Danyle Pearce, Michael Johnson,Tendai Mzungu
C: Cameron Sutcliffe, Ryan Crowley, David Mundy
HF: Matt de Boer, Chris Mayne, Nat Fyfe
F: Hayden Ballantyn, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Walters
Fol: Aaron Sandilands, Michael Barlow, Lachie Neale
I/C: Paul Duffield, Stephen Hill, Tommy Sheridan, Jack Hannath
Emg: Colin Sylvia, Zac Clarke, Clancee Pearce
New: Nil
News:
He endured a topsy-turvy summer, but Fremantle recruit Colin Sylvia is a chance to make a shock appearance against Collingwood on Friday night as the Dockers sweat on the fitness of Danyle Pearce.
Fremantle had high hopes for Sylvia after snaring him through free agency at the end of last year, but the former Demon struggled to make an impact during the pre-season.
Sylvia tallied just five possessions in Fremantle’s 84-point practice loss to West Coast last month, with a series of minor niggles and a concussion halting his progression.
However, the 28-year-old was a shock inclusion in Fremantle’s 25-man travelling squad on Wednesday, with coach Ross Lyon holding his cards close to his chest as to whether Sylvia will play.
Sylvia’s chances could hinge on the fitness of Pearce, who will be further assessed on Thursday after suffering a recent leg niggle.
Lyon is confident Sylvia will be ready to perform if given the chance.
“He’s played two-and-a-half practice games, so he’s got about 260 minutes of AFL football,” Lyon said.
“He’s finally got some continuity, but there’s some people in form as well that he has to try and go past.
“It doesn’t matter how much talent you’ve got.
“If you don’t bring consistent effort to the training track and in games, you’re not going to be a consistent AFL player.
“So that’s the expectations, not only for Colin, but all of our players.”
Lyon declared midfielder Nat Fyfe (knee) and goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne (corked leg) as certain starters, but said ruckman Zac Clarke (knee) only travelled to Melbourne as an emergency.
Clarke has been out injured since December, with Jack Hannath set to be used as ruck back-up to Aaron Sandilands.
Collingwood’s key position options took a major hit on Wednesday when swingman Ben Reid and forward Jesse White were ruled out with calf injuries.
Former Giants midfielder Taylor Adams will play his first game for the Magpies, while premiership defender Alan Toovey is back from a knee reconstruction.
Fremantle have looked sluggish during their shortened pre-season campaign, but Lyon hoped the frenzied pressure that took them all the way to last year’s grand final will be on show against the Magpies.
“I don’t like the word tricks because tricks don’t win you games,” Lyon said.
“I’m an unabashed fan of the basics. That will be our trick.
“We’ve mooted positional flexibility; some slight structural changes at stoppages. But at the end of the day it’s about winning the ball and using it well, and when they’ve got it get it back off them.
“We have to make sure our pressure is at a high level.”
Etihad Stadium holds no fears for Fremantle, who have won five of their six games there since Lyon took over as coach.