Richmond v Carlton: AFL 2021 season opener – live!

Team stats are still incredibly even.

Player-wise, Castagna (2.1) is the only multiple goal-kicker, Lambert, Cripps and Walsh lead the disposal count, and Martin still deserves his own “x-factor” metric.

Q2: 1 mins remaining: Richmond 8.5 (53) v 6.6 (42) Carlton – Free to Casboult just inside 50, about 5m from the boundary line on the right wing. He goes to the top of the square and it’s punched behind.

Q2: 2 mins remaining: Richmond 8.5 (53) v 6.5 (41) Carlton – Another 50m against Carlton, the first for infringing the new marking rules. It results in Caddy taking a set shot from 30m out, dead in front, and that means four goals in a row for the Tigers. This was an even contest for half-an-hour, with Carlton arguably the likelier of the two sides, but in a flash the Tigers are now threatening to bust this game open.

Q2: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 7.5 (47) v 6.5 (41) Carlton – At one end, Fisher doesn’t get hold of a makable set shot. At the other Pickett pops the ball in front of the onrushing Lynch who marks with strong hands and… duffs his effort!

Q2: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 7.5 (47) v 6.4 (40) Carlton – Carlton are just losing their grip for a few minutes and Richmond are running over the top of them. They swarm down the right wing and Martin has possession 40m from goal in the right forward pocket, but he choses the wrong option and Castagna can only snap a behind when better was on offer.

Q2: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 7.4 (46) v 6.4 (40) Carlton – Good pressure from Carlton, earning them repeat attacking stoppages. They can’t find space though and Richmond break, emboldened by Lambert’s superb switch from right to left. Pickett delivers the ball inside 50, it comes to ground, Martin picks it up, tucks it under his right arm and sticks out his left like it’s a light sabre, swatting away challengers then snapping across his body for a trademark goal. I say trademark, it is bloody brilliant, and should not be taken for granted.

Q2: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 6.4 (40) v 6.4 (40) Carlton – The calmest man on the ground is Mark Murphy. Time and again tonight he has glided across half-forward, picking the decisive final pass. This time it finds Fogarty, but his set shot is poor.

Q2: 9 mins remaining: Richmond 6.4 (40) v 6.3 (39) Carlton – Richmond burst forward but Saad’s pace tells, chasing down the sprinting Bolton. Jones is then pinged for a deliberate rushed behind! It looked there at first glance, but Jones never took possession, only ever shepherding a bouncing Sherrin. “Never had control” says Luke Hodge, disappointed with the call. Not the first stiff decision against the Blues this quarter.

Rioli misses the shot from the behind post, but he finds the six-pointer soon after. Richmond back in front.

Q2: 11 mins remaining: Richmond 5.3 (33) v 6.3 (39) Carlton – Richmond win the clearance, and as it has been all night, the team that exits the stoppage out the front immediately looks a goal threat. This time the bomb to the goal square causes chaos but Carlton somehow keep it out despite the most frantic efforts of Castagna. Carlton go up the other end and after the floating entry comes off Cripps’ hands Fisher, front and square, snaps just wide.

Q2: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 5.3 (33) v 6.2 (38) Carlton – First 50m of the night goes against Curnow for entering Riewoldt’s protected area. It turns an inside-50 from 65m into a soda. Tigers back within a goal.

Q2: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 4.3 (27) v 6.2 (38) Carlton – The Blues are matching the Tigers for intensity, and it is something to watch. Walsh and Cripps in particular and throwing themselves around and they are not out place going to toe-to-toe with the premiers. The outcome is seriously intense football, and not much finesse, but it must make Carlton fans’ hearts sing.

Q2: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 4.3 (27) v 6.2 (38) Carlton – Ten seconds later and a near carbon copy goal extends Carlton’s lead! This time it’s finished off by Gibbons. Who are this team in navy blue?

Q2: 15.30 mins remaining: Richmond 4.3 (27) v 5.2 (32) Carlton – Make that seven lead changes. Seconds after the restart Carlton exit out the front and smuggle the ball forward with a series of handballs. It ends with Silvagni benefitting from a free-kick and snapping the Blues back in front.

Q2: 16 mins remaining: Richmond 4.3 (27) v 4.2 (26) Carlton – Richmond soon reclaim possession and the long ball to the 50m arc sees a pack start to form, but Lynch is at the front of it, like the froth on a wave, and he leaps to take a very handy mark. He doesn’t look confident with the set shot, but he absolutely leathers it and it sails through. Another lead change!

Q2: 16 mins remaining: Richmond 3.3 (21) v 4.2 (26) Carlton – Richmond win the centre clearance but Martin’s bomb to the hot-spot is too spicy for any Tigers and Carlton clear. Richmond’s pressure is back with a vengeance though and the Blues cannot make decent yardage without a black jumper hassling and scragging at them. Eventually the ball is back in Carlton’s defensive 50, but they survive again and clear to midfield.

Q2: 18 mins remaining: Richmond 3.3 (21) v 4.2 (26) Carlton – Lovely intercept mark from Balta – his fourth of the match already – after Dow burst through a stoppage. Carlton chop off the counterattack though, and after some precise kicking through midfield and the right wing, Murphy sets up McKay on the lead. And the big man holds on this time, goes back and fires the Blues back in front. Excellently crafted team goal and a classic power forward’s finish.

Individual stats favour Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin, and Jason Castagna. I also enjoyed Dion Prestia’s game in midfield – lots of pressure and grunt work.

The team stats are incredibly even across practically every line. The standout figure is just one tackle inside 50 in total – presumably a reflection of how the new marking rules allow defenders to escape from deep in defence and avoid those suffocating repeat attacking phases.

That was fun. Richmond very Richmondy, Carlton also very Richmondy.

Q1: 1 mins remaining: Richmond 3.3 (21) v 3.2 (20) Carlton – That said, they need to avoid making turnovers. Which is easier said than done against this rampaging Richmond outfit. Another pressurised turnover in midfield turns defence into attack. Martin wins the mark one-out, he selflessly handballs infield and Castagna can’t miss.

Q1: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 2.2 (14) v 3.2 (20) Carlton – Setterfield pulls a set shot just wide from 50m. The opportunity was reward for fierce pressure across half-forward and more swift ball movement. I like the look of this version of the Blues.

Q1: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 2.2 (14) v 3.1 (19) Carlton – It’s a goalfest! Dow snaps Carlton back in front with a lovely finish, hanging off the back of a pack, accepting the handball and slicing through with the outside of his right boot.

Q1: 4.30 mins remaining: Richmond 2.2 (14) v 2.1 (13) Carlton – Richmond are either winning stoppages or swarming all over Carlton so quickly the Blues are coughing turnovers immediately on receiving possession. Either works for the Tigers. From the latest waspish passage Lambert is the link man before finding Castagna to mark and goal. Richmond back ahead.

Q1: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 1.2 (8) v 2.1 (13) Carlton – It should be two in a minute but Prestia is too cute with his finish on the run after another surging Richmond attack from a turnover. The Tigers’ pressure has not relented over the summer and it is really putting Carlton’s skills to the test.

Q1: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 1.1 (7) v 2.1 (13) Carlton – The premiers strike back through Aarts. A messy phase of play in midfield ends with a classic Richmond turnover. Prestia is instrumental, but once the ball is out it ends quickly in Aarts’ hands and he snaps home on the run.

Q1: 7 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 2.1 (13) Carlton – Not for the first time tonight Carlton go coast to coast and add six points. The move is a series of fast play-ons down the right wing. The centring ball comes off hands and over the back to a blue guernsey, where it’s shipped quickly to O’Brien who gallops home unopposed. The Blues are giving this a red hot go.

Q1: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 1.1 (7) Carlton – it is noticeable how much space there is already. It may just be opening night energy and a willingness to play on from both sides, but it is a hot footy. There will be some burning lungs out there already, and with the interchange now limited to 75 there will be some fatigue later on.

Meanwhile, Martin was unmarked out the back and swallowed up an uncontested mark in the right forward pocket following a quick turnover. Incredibly, he misses the lot with a wayward banana.

Q1: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 1.1 (7) Carlton – Great work fro Silvagni on halfback, showing terrific strength to withstand the tackle then hoof clear. One kick later and McKay has a chest mark 10m out – but he fluffs it! Oh dear, that was a poor miss. A good spell from the Blues but they fail to take advantage.

Q1: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 1.1 (7) Carlton – Carlton are moving the ball beautifully from back to front, mixing snappy handballs in midfield with penetrating kicks to leading forwards. Richmond chop off the latest sortie near their own goalsquare, but the warning signs are there.

Q1: 13 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 1.1 (7) Carlton – Some neat possession footy in midfield for Richmond, but Carlton’s backline does well to spoil the inside-50 out of bounds. Repeat stoppages on the right flank look set to pay dividends for the Tigers but after finally engineering space for Rioli, the livewire snaps out on the full when he should have done much better. Carlton respond by going coast to coast down the left wing, a move ending with McKay leading and marking with strong hands in front of Vlaustin in the left forward pocket. But his kick is narrow.

Q1: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 1.0 (6) Carlton – Chaos in Carlton’s defensive 50 after a mongrel form Jones. Aarts should capitalise but can’t get clean footy and the Blues escape. After smuggling the ball away Carlton work the ball up the ground but a couple of contentious umpiring calls provide a soundtrack of boos. Eventually Silvagni finds space to mark outside the arc, he plays on to Casboult one-on-one, and the big forward marks in the goalsquare to belt the Blues into the lead!

Q1: 17 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 0.0 (0) Carlton – Richmond are wasting no time getting back into their work. McIntosh and Martin engineer another inside-50 but there’s a stoppage, after which Carlton earn a clearing free. It’s only as far as Nankervis though, who isn’t paid a towering grab. Another free to the Blues sets them up to attack but Vlaustin floats across halfback to intercept.

Q1: 19 mins remaining: Richmond 0.1 (1) v 0.0 (0) Carlton – The first decisive act of the season is a Dion Prestia tackle on right centre-wing. Soon afterwards Martin wins the first free-kick for holding at a stoppage. The new man-on-the-mark rule comes into immediate effect with Martin using it to engineer space before the ball is launched to Riewoldt in acres in the forward pocket. His set shot is skinny.

Season 2021 is underway – and the deafening roar has never sounded so good.

“Yellow and black” reverberates around the MCG. What a contrast to last year.

And here come the Tigers, led by Jack Riewoldt, to the accompaniment of drums. Richmond are top to toe in black, aside from that trademark yellow sash.

Out run the Blues, in their familiar navy blue guernsey and white shorts.

Conditions are perfect at the MCG tonight. It’s been dry for days in Melbourne so the turf looks in fine condition, there’s barely a breath of wind, and it’s about 25C and dropping in the Richmond evening.

One thing missing from tonight’s season-opener is the voice of Bruce McAvaney. One of the most respected commentators in Australian history has called it time, following longtime calling partner Dennis Cometti in retirement.

Footy viewers are much poorer for both absences. There could be a lot of matches watched on mute this year.

A bit more on the crowd situation. Capacity at the MCG remains at 50%, despite a late push to raise it to 75%. That figures is the Chief Health Officer’s call.

The G will have a COVID-safe plan in place with the venue sectioned into five zones. The first row of seating on level one is unsold to guarantee physical distancing between fans and players.

And if you want to know why this season of breathlessly hyped football will be better than the last, Scott Heinrich has your back.

It’s a softly, softly approach, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Fifty-thousand supporters will be at the MCG for the season opener between Richmond and Carlton, half that will be allowed at Marvel Stadium and fans will get through the turnstiles into GMHBA Stadium. The return of footy to Victoria, where most AFL games are played, is a fantastic thing made even better by the allowance of crowds. Man cannot live on cardboard fans and canned applause alone. There is no substitute for the real thing. One thing 2020 showed us is that supporters are an integral part of the live experience. They are welcomed back with open arms.

Football’s back. All of it. Every kick mattering to somebody somewhere.

Carlton are missing a midfield champion of their own in Jack Martin (calf), while star recruit Zac Williams misses out through suspension. Eddie Betts has not been risked as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.

In better news, Harry McKay, Levi Casboult, and Jack Newnes have all been passed fit following tests, while Adam Saad and Lachie Fogarty will debut following offseason trades.

Former Demon, Oscar McDonald, is Carlton’s first medical substitute.

B: L.Plowman, L.Jones, T.Williamson
HB: S.Docherty, J.Weitering, A.Saad
C: W.Setterfield, P.Cripps, M.Murphy
HF: L.Fogarty, H.McKay, J.Newnes
F: Z.Fisher, J.Silvagni, M.Gibbons
FOLL: M.Pittonet, P.Dow, S.Walsh
I/C: S.Petrevski-Seton, L.O’Brien, L.Casboult, E.Curnow
Sub: O.McDonald

The headline news from Punt Road is that Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has officially been ruled out of tonight’s contest with gastro. Cotchin missed yesterday’s captain’s run and he has subsequently been deemed unfit to play.

Cotchin and Bachar Houli (calf) are the only members of Richmond’s grand final winning 22 to miss out tonight through injury. While Josh Caddy and Jake Aarts are the only two to be selected tonight that were not involved at the Gabba.

Jack Ross has the honour of being Richmond’s first medical sub.

B: D.Astbury, D.Grimes, N.Balta
HB: L.Baker, N.Vlastuin, J.Short
C: D.Prestia, M.Pickett, K.Lambert
HF: J.Aarts, S.Bolton, J.Castagna
F: T.Lynch, D.Martin, J.Riewoldt
FOLL: T.Nankervis, K.McIntosh, J.Caddy
I/C: D.Rioli, N.Broad, J.Graham, S.Edwards
Sub: J.Ross

Well, scoring should be up with the return to standard quarter lengths and rule tweaks, but even so…

I’ve not seen Making Their Mark yet, but it seems to be getting rave reviews.

Tigers supporters, do you agree with Brendon Gale’s assessment of the behind-the-scenes access?

“When people get a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes it contextualises some of the things that are going on,” Gale told AAP at Amazon’s documentary launch. “There were some things that happened during the year that was being presented externally was like ‘they’re out of control and egomaniacs’.

“But they’re human beings and they’re young men and they’re flawed, like we all are. You’ve just got to deal with it.”

Scott Heinrich has listed what he expects to be the season’s biggest talking points. And for Carlton, that includes the future of midfield superstar Patrick Cripps.

Blues fans, do you expect Cripps to be at Princes Park next year?

There is no bigger name in this year’s crop of restricted free agents than Patrick Cripps. The man is a beast, he will be just turning 26 when the season begins and any club in the land would welcome him with open arms. He’s also yet to make a solitary finals appearance in his seven years at Carlton. The Blues may be on the improve, but Cripps will know this is a gilt-edged chance to improve his lot both personally and professionally. Carlton will want to tie up their co-captain yesterday, but these things have a habit of dragging out. Cripps’ future will be an ongoing hot topic in 2021.

Tonight will see the introduction of the AFL’s hastily introduced medical substitute amendment. Quite why it took until the eve of the new season to confirm is anybody’s guess, but here it is. I’m sure it won’t be abused, and equally sure it will be welcomed wholeheartedly by all in and around the game.

The substitute will be confirmed 60 minutes prior to a game starting and can only be chosen from the listed emergency players. They can be activated at any time of the game, including if teams have completed their 75 interchanges.

The substitute will receive a full match payment – outside the cap – and would receive a premiership medal if they were a member of a winning grand final team, even if they did not take to the field.

Games as substitutes will count towards players’ career games tallies, even if they are not activated, while substitutes would also be eligible to play at state league level that week.

What does the season have in store? Scott Heinrich has cast his eye over rule changes that carry the potential to liberate the Sherrin.

Don’t get your hopes up, but 2021 might just be the year the AFL gets its mojo back. Australia’s much-loved indigenous code has been suffering an identity crisis for nigh on two decades now, mired in a losing battle against an invisible enemy. There is no dirtier word in the game than congestion, and the game has never been harder to watch.