Opinion AFL 2025 Opening Round - Weekend Wrap & Liked, Learnt, Hated

[SC_Power]

This is so ****ed.

Any surprises that the 4 AFL franchises that they are desperate to see succeed all happen to have played round one? Not enough they paraded around their academy players and free hits, but they also get the mid season bye to make them even stronger.

Cant even use the old excuse they used to about no NRL games in those states this year.

As well as the two “old player” Vic squads in Collingwood and Geelong who could use an extra week rest.

Is Collingwood a franchise?

I guess they are….

 

[FreddyTwoShoes]

Liked: Carlton got pantsed.
Learnt: That Melbourne ex players might outvote the Melbourne FC come Brownlow night.
Hated: That 10 teams who play Round -1 also get the benefit of an extra bye week during the season.

Yeah, that round 2 bye is going to really freshen us up for finals.
Personally I wish they’d leave us off their stupid round zero experiment.

 

[SC_Power]

Yeah, that round 2 bye is going to really freshen us up for finals.
Personally I wish they’d leave us off their stupid round zero experiment.

Better than not having it?

The Vic clubs all wanted to go, you’d think it’s because they get to not have a bye before they’ve even played a game, and they get one of their interstate trips out of the way early.

 

[Hawksboy72]

Liked: Lions/dogs game...Group 1 standard.

Learnt: (Always knew) hawthorn's list has way to many holes in it to be a serious contender.

Hated: (more fearful) the speed of the game may lead to the bottom 3 or 4 copping some frightful hidings, can see some big scores being put up this season.

 

[JoondalupJ]

I think this opening round was more telling than last year.

GC are obviously legit, Geelong didn't have their key players which tells you without Cameron and Dangerfield they will massively struggle to start the season.

Collingwood had the best defensive effort of the round without two key backs playing, that tells you their depth is real.

WB showed that a healthy sam darcy means Naughton is able to be a game changer and that Ed Richards and Bontempelli are two of the best in the comp.

Saints showed that without max king, they are not a serious finals threat.

Hawks showed that giving up Worpel without putting a winning offer to Essendon for Merrett was a big **** up.

We saw that Gulden was a HUGE out for Sydney last year and that with him in the side they are good enough to demolish teams and Carlton have BIG problems with the 'top end talent' on their list.

We shouldn't rush to overreact but what we saw this Opening round was a lot more informative than last year, especially because we played three more games this year, and the match-ups were better imo.

Lots of comment about missing players either still out e.g. Geelong, or players fitting back in later on.

My worry from a Hawthorn point of view is are we going to see Will Day doing a Mitch Lewis and be injured for much of his initial few years, he is a genius player with exceptional talent with football nous, but he AIN'T on the ground much.
And that can be a problem for all clubs , King the Saints, Danger and Cameron. Cats?

Then the movers like Petracca makes the Suns look like winners and Melbourne we'll see whether they will miss the two guns that have left them, and the failing May.
The free kick to the "Sun's King" for goal only added to the feeling that defenders can only legally defend about 10% of game time. Well it feels like it.

Watched up til that free/goal and turned it off. Free for goal is boring.

And, was Worpel really that important, to Hawthorn, or getting Merret, was that an essential? Nah.

You cannot rely on single people to make your season.

You have to fill the holes. This opening round was confusing look at Carlton and the mass hysteria of Blues fans and the Blues haters in newspapers, after a single quarter, where they fell over somehow.

That was abnormal. It was just one of those strange drop outs.

But the vitriol they received was something abnormal too, and created by this stupidity of open round, when they should have that grand final week off banned!
And just have an 18 team bye week, in the middle of the season and start the matches a week later.

The game is looking a bit the same every week every game.Coll looked good, Saints will celebrate 60 years alright!

 

[JoondalupJ]

Liked: Lions/dogs game...Group 1 standard.

Learnt: (Always knew) hawthorn's list has way to many holes in it to be a serious contender.

Hated: (more fearful) the speed of the game may lead to the bottom 3 or 4 copping some frightful hidings, can see some big scores being put up this season.

Liked Lions/Dogs game ...Group one standard?
Yes!
Proving we have 2 divisions these days.

Add Tasmania and we'll be like the VAFA! 6 DIVISIONS if they keep adding.

 

[Chief]

football content

It has taken over. It's all just content now.

 

[FreddyTwoShoes]

Better than not having it?

The Vic clubs all wanted to go, you’d think it’s because they get to not have a bye before they’ve even played a game, and they get one of their interstate trips out of the way early.

Is it easier to play interstate earlier in the season than later?
And “Vic clubs all wanted to go”? I hadn’t heard that. Got a source?