Friday’s AFL 2018 Round 1 match is between Essendon Bombers and Adelaide Crows. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:50 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The away team Adelaide Crows are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and Adelaide Crows.
When: 19:50 | Friday 23/03/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
With the acquisition of Bryce Gibbs o bolster their midfield stocks, the Crows have been highly touted as one of the premiership favourites.
The Crows will certainly need him with a host of big names including Taylor Walker and Brad Crouch unavailable for the Bombers clash.
Essendon have a distinctive new look with the departure of several players including former captain Jobe Watson but they unveil some exciting new additions in Devon Smith, Adam Saad and Jake Stringer.
Adelaide leads the series 6-3 since 2010 and have won 5 of the last 6.
Bombers full forward Joe Daniher has kicked the Bombers’ first goal in each of his last four Friday night games while Michael Hurley has recorded 30 + disposals in each of the Bombers’ last five matches as underdogs.
The Verdict
The Crows have a 29-14-1 (65.9 percent) record playing interstate as a favourite since 2010.
Odds:
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Tip: Adelaide Crows at $1.90
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Josh Jenkins at $12.00
More Info:
Teams:
BOMBERS
B – Dea, Hurley, Hartley
HB – Saad, Brown, Goddard
C – Zaharakis, Z. Merrett, Parish
HF – Stringer, Hooker, McDonald-Tipungwuti
F – Begley, Daniher, Stewart
FOLL – Bellchambers, Heppell, Smith
I/C – McGrath, Langford, Green, McKenna
EMG – J. Merrett, Redman, Baguley, McKernan
CROWS 
B: Kelly, Talia, Hartigan
HB: Laird, Brown, Seedsman
C: Mackay, Sloane, Gibson
HF: Ellis-Yolmen, McGovern, Murphy
F: Bets, Jenkins, Fogarty
FOLL: Jacobs, Douglas, Crouch
I/C: Gibbs, Hampton, Atkins, Doedee
AFL News:
Adelaide’s looming AFL debutant, Darcy Fogarty, has been labelled “crazy” by his esteemed teammate Eddie Betts.
The decorated Betts suggested the 18-year-old Fogarty, who will make his debut for the Crows against Essendon on Friday night, suffers from white-line fever.
Fogarty and defender Tom Doedee have been told they will make their AFL debuts against the Bombers.
Fogarty was selected with Adelaide’s first pick at last year’s national draft.
The key forward is earmarked to fill the void left by the absence of captain Taylor Walker, who will miss the season-opener because of a foot injury.
“Big Fog, he is an absolute beast,” Betts told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Wednesday.
“When Tex (Walker) got to the club, he weighed 72 kilograms and Darcy is weighing nearly 96 or 97.
“He has got that power.
“And when he steps over the white line, he is crazy … he is going to be great for us.”
Doedee, 21, was recruited by Adelaide in the 2015 national draft and will be deployed in defence against Essendon.
“He is a great marking defender and reads the play really well,” Betts said.
