What did your club get right and what did your club get wrong in Opening Round?
We have shone the spotlight on the eight clubs who played in the first weekend of the 2024 season to find where they won it and how they lost it.
See our assessments below:
What they got right
30 borderline perfect minutes of footy
Did the ball hit the ground on a Brisbane possession in the first quarter? It certainly didn’t seem like it.
They piled on seven goals, moved the ball from end to end with ease and looked like the Harlem Globetrotters out there. Dayne Zorko clearly agrees, telling SENQ that it was the best 30 minutes of footy they’ve played under Chris Fagan.
More than just the offence, they completely stifled Carlton whenever they had the footy. The Blues could not find an uncontested mark and every push forward was hurried and panicked.
This in tern led to Brisbane slingshots forward that often punished Carlton.
It was a brilliant display for early March.
Ability to quell momentum
Yes, they completely blew a 46-point lead, but at the very least they were able to arrest the momentum heading into the fourth quarter, leading to an even scrap to finish the game.
A lesser team would’ve completely folded and allowed Carlton to run away with it, but in the end, the Lions at least broke even and turned it back into a 50-50 contest.
Unfortunately for them, Harry McKay took the big contested mark late and slotted the goal that didn’t allow them to escape with four points.
What they got wrong
Jack Payne on Charlie Curnow
Brisbane had great success in the Preliminary Final last year with Darcy Gardiner on Charlie Curnow.
While, in part, the Blues’ delivery didn’t help their spearhead, Gardiner still won the battle and kept the dual Coleman Medallist to just one goal.
However, with Gardiner playing as a defensive key forward this year – a role that didn’t produce much in Opening Round – Jack Payne was given the job.
Curnow was the man who turned the game on its head with his goals in the third term busting the game wide open.
Third quarter intensity
It’s human nature to come out a little less energised when you run out after the main break with a five-goal lead coming off an incredible early performance.
Brisbane coaches and players have all come out post match and expressed their frustration with their third term intensity.
Credit goes to Carlton for being able to flip the game, but the Lions came out jogging and then kicked 1.6 for good measure.
Absolutely nothing went their way in that third quarter.
Nic Negrepontis
What they got right
Everything surrounding Harry McKay
Harry McKay’s yips have been all the talk, but what was largely missed over the pre-season games was the key forward looking like he’s in the best shape of his career.
McKay’s hard work over summer was rewarded against the Lions, booting three goals, nailing set shots and kicking the game winner coming off a great contested mark.
He also spelled Tom De Koning with the backup ruck work and looks to have vastly improved his ruck craft, after struggling in the role at the end of 2023.
McKay looks agile and competitive at ground level when playing in the ruck and allows Carlton to play the extra runner, as opposed to two rucks.
Jack Carroll in the ‘Paddy Dow’ role
Carlton loved using a pure on-baller as their substitute last year, and that was largely Paddy Dow’s role across the season.
Of course, he has departed for St Kilda now and Carroll is the next man up for the Blues in that role.
The 21-year-old played it to perfection, coming on in the third quarter and finishing with 10 disposals, four clearances and a classy goal on the run.
He will receive a bigger role next week against Richmond and will likely take Sam Docherty’s spot in the absence of Sam Walsh.
Carlton’s running defenders are set for the season
Zac Williams’ return and the continued emergence of Jordan Boyd has Carlton’s backline looking like one of the more dangerous in the competition.
Williams looked excellent in his first game back, using the ball well and finishing 19 disposals (17 kicks).
Boyd might just be the best kick on Carlton’s list and brings an attacking flair, while being able to hold up in contests defensively.
Adam Saad sacrificed his offensive game against Brisbane to lock down Charlie Cameron, and largely won the battles on the night, including a crucial one-on-one victory in the third quarter that caused a two-goal swing.
Then there’s Nic Newman coming off a career-best 2023 season, who can be relied upon to use the ball well and play lockdown defensive roles.
Carlton has a settled and versatile group that can all use the footy. They just need Jacob Weitering and Caleb Marchbank back in the fold.
What they got wrong
Consistency is key
Since turning things around in the middle of 2023, Carlton has become quite known for their bursts of scoring, putting teams to the sword for 25 minutes.
However, they were completely overwhelmed by Brisbane for the vast majority of the first half and found themselves in that deep hole – something they can’t allow the win to paper over the cracks of.
The Blues have to be more consistent in order to have success in 2024 and that starts on Thursday against Richmond.
Managing Tom De Koning’s minutes
As mentioned, Harry McKay’s success as the backup ruck was great, but Tom De Koning playing as the sole ruckman was gassed by the end of the game.
He spent a large chunk of the fourth quarter on the bench, with Patrick Cripps and Matthew Kennedy forced to ruck.
The only issue with McKay rucking is Carlton doesn’t have a third key forward option due to the Jack Silvagni injury, meaning Curnow is one-out forward whenever McKay isn’t there.
Jack Martin returning from injury will give the Blues an extra marking option and make things easier, but De Koning clearly only has 70-75% game time in the ruck in him. How does Carlton balance the remaining 30 per cent without giving up too much of an advantage?
Do they turn back to Marc Pittonet? Do they push De Koning further? It will be an intriguing balance across the season.
Nic Negrepontis
What they got right
Forward pressure
It wasn't a great day for Collingwood on Saturday night, but their forward pressure was impressive.
While a lack of marking inside 50 allows a team to put on more tackling pressure, the Magpies did what they could when the ball hit the ground.
Looking at the stats, the Pies made 21 tackles inside 50 to their opposition's one.
Obviously, GWS were marking the ball more often than not, but there's no doubt that opposition defences will earn every ground ball they pick up in 2024 with the likes of Beau McCreery, Lachie Schultz, Bobby Hill and Jamie Elliott nipping at their heels.
Nick Daicos picks up where he left off
Collingwood's best player started the year in flying fashion despite his team's shortcomings.
Daicos finished with game-highs in disposals (34), contested possessions (16), clearances (10) and inside 50s (8). The young Pie also kicked a classy goal in the second term.
The fact that his game attracted little fanfare despite that stat line shows that the young Pie is a near lock to be in his side's best players on the ground week in, week out.
If this form continues and the Pies get back to their winning ways, 2024 could be a year full of individual accolades for the 21-year-old.
What they got wrong
Goalkicking accuracy
Collingwood shot themselves in the foot with their goalkicking on Saturday.
While the Giants were no doubt the better team, Collingwood simply couldn't make it count on the scoreboard when they enjoyed periods of dominance and quality field position.
The Pies ended up kicking 11.16 (82), but at one stage they had kicked 7.15.
Looking at the Giants, they were clinical in front of the big sticks, booting 18.6 (114).
It was one of the key differences in the game.
Aerial defending
Collingwood were clearly hampered by the loss of Nathan Murphy and Jeremy Howe on Saturday.
While Charlie Dean battled hard against Jesse Hogan, the first-gamer was outgunned and didn't have much aerial support from his smaller teammates.
Darcy Moore did his job, but we know that he's far better off with his teammates coming across to spoil and break up marking contests.
They wouldn't want to give up 13 inside 50 marks again in such critical areas next week against the Swans.
Supporting Brody Mihocek
Brody Mihocek enjoyed a strong outing on Saturday, kicking 3.2, but he had next to no support from his fellow tall forwards.
Ash Johnson was the man to partner him with Daniel McStay sidelined, but the mercurial forward only had two kicks and took one mark.
The other man who often impacts up forward is Mason Cox, but the American also had no impact taking one mark and having five disposals.
The Magpies will no doubt fall back to the pack somewhat in 2024 if they continue to get next to nothing out of multiple of their talls.
Lachlan Geleit
What they got right
Intent from the outset
Damien Hardwick’s Suns were savage from the very start against Richmond.
They conceded the first goal of the contest, but from then on they were irrepressible for the rest of the first half.
Their intent at the contest and around stoppage was impressive and in turn allowed their forwards to score freely.
Hardwick would have loved what he saw for the most part.
Forward line function
Gold Coast’s attack looked extremely dangerous, particularly in the first half.
Ben King (five goals), Jack Lukosius (three) and Malcolm Rosas (three) combined for 11 of their 14 goals, nine of which came by the main break.
Throw in the hard-working Nick Holman, the likes of Ben Ainsworth, Bailey Humphrey and Brayden Fiorini, and a third tall in Levi Casboult and there appears a nice mix inside attacking 50.
Powerful Rowell, formidable midfield
Matt Rowell was unbelievable.
He had 20 clearances, which is the equal second most in history, as well as a game-high 33 disposals and a mammoth 26 contested possessions.
Rowell also had 10 centre clearances, two more than Richmond combined. He was animalistic in his attack on the ball and the contest, setting the scene from the first bounce.
With Noah Anderson and Touk Miller along for the ride, the Suns have a formidable midfield outfit to lead the way.
Saw it out after a scare
The Tigers cut the margin from 67 points to 23 early in the fourth.
That must have been alarming for Hardwick.
They lost 16 final quarters last year so there could have been some nerves floating around, but they managed to steady the ship and see out a convincing victory.
It was a sign of maturity amongst this group.
What they got wrong
Third-quarter lapse
It will take some time but the Suns need to start ridding themselves of lapses.
They were outgunned in the third term when the Tigers came hard at them, conceding six goals from 14 inside 50s.
If they do that against better sides, they will be punished even more significantly.
The Suns have been known to throw up some bad quarters along the way so limiting that will be key under Hardwick.
Andrew Slevison
What they got right
Slick ball movement and crisp forward connection
It’s not usually a stat that would be highlighted for a winning team, but the fact the Giants had just one tackle inside forward 50 is significant.
It shows how crisp they were with their midfield to forward connection.
At one stage they had 20 scores from 34 inside 50s which is slick going, especially against such a strong defensive outfit.
They frequently found teammates in good positions which resulted in easier shots on goal and a final score of 18.6, which is just so efficient.
Underrated duo combine for nine
If the Giants can continue to get contributions from their depth players, then it bodes well for a premiership tilt.
Brent Daniels has been smashed by injury in his career to date but showed his quality wth a four-gal, 22-disposal performance.
With captain Toby Greene reasonably well held by Brayden Maynard, Daniels stepped up as the side’s premier small forward on the night and delivered in spades.
Alongside him was Callum Brown who continues to take massive strides forward as an AFL footballer.
The Irishman is emerging as a wickedly underrated player capable of kicking big goals and causing chaos in attack.
His three first-quarter goals set the tone for the Giants and allowed him to bring up his maiden five-goal bag, and against the reigning premiers no less.
Good draft find out of Academy
Harvey Thomas was taken with Pick 59 in the 2023 AFL Draft.
The Giants Academy product had an immediate impact at the elite level, contributing greatly in the club’s Opening Round triumph.
Three goal assists from nine touches in a busy showing as a pressure small forward on debut. Only Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio had more on the night.
What they got wrong
Wasn’t all one-way traffic
They did win by 32 points, so they won’t be too fussed by this, but the Giants did concede 60 inside 50s and 27 scoring shots.
They had 53 inside 50s and 24 scoring shots themselves.
If the Pies didn’t kick so poorly for goal, it might have been a slightly different story.
But’s that just nit-picking in what was a statement win from a very good team.
Andrew Slevison
What they got right
Debutants didn't disappoint in first showings
Despite most of the night being frustrating to watch for Demons fans (with most of last year’s issues rearing its ugly head again), first gamers Caleb Windsor and Blake Howes held their own and didn’t disappoint on the big stage.
Windsor, who was taken with clubs first pick in the 2023 National Draft, racked up 13 disposals, four tackles and four score involvements in his first outing as a Demon. While Howes, who has been on the club’s list for three years now, tallied up 17 disposals, three tackles and a game high 12 intercept possessions in the team’s 86-64 defeat.
With Lachie Hunter and now Jake Bowey’s injury impacting the Demons’ starting line-up, expect these two youngsters to hold their spot in the side and play regular footy for the club in 2024 and beyond.
What they got wrong
Goalkicking practice
Yes, it was wet. It was slippery. The entry inside 50 wasn’t ideal and it was Opening Round.
But the sole reason Melbourne didn’t play in a Grand Final last year was because of its goalkicking. To then kick 2.8 at half-time, leaving the Demons down by a goal when they could have been up by several, is inexplicable.
That wrong was somewhat righted by full-time, with Simon Goodwin’s troops kicking 9.10 and proving simply not good enough in the contest to win against the Sydney Swans.
But of Melbourne’s points, only two were rushed and one was touched on the line. Kysaiah Pickett, Harrison Petty and more were missing, however the Demons would have hoped to prove they were well and truly over their inefficiency inside 50.
Instead, the narrative only grew.
The one wood goes missing
While goalkicking was a noted issue for the Demons throughout 2023, one factor that was not was their physicality.
The likes of Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney made up the league’s toughest and most dynamic midfield.
For them to be undone by a second-rate (at least in Melbourne’s eyes) ruckman and a makeshift midfield missing three of its key on-ballers is surprising to say the least.
Brodie Grundy got the better of his former teammate, especially as the game wore on, while Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Rowbottom and James Jordon outran Melbourne’s midfield late.
They won contested possession and smashed the Demons in clearances, a factor that would have long odds prior to the match.
Seb Mottram
What they got right
Showed some sort of fight
After a dreadful first half, the Tigers at least showed a bit of fight in the second half for just over a quarter.
Adem Yze must have had some choice words at the main break because his side was remarkably different in the third term when piling on six goals to none.
Some players were thrown around and had an impact, namely Noah Balta who went into the ruck and up around the ball, and Jack Ross who had an immediate impact after coming on as the sub.
It was a poor day but at least there were some tiny positives to hold onto.
Vintage Vlastuin
Nick Vlaustin was back to his very best in the season opener.
Yes, he got plenty of opportunity as the ball was pumped inside Gold Coast’s 50 no less than 61 times, but he did stand up to the attacking onslaught fairly well.
He finished with a game-high 12 intercepts, an equal game-high nine marks to go along wth 20 disposals (18 kicks) in what was a vintage Vlastuin performance.
Debutant Seth
A quick nod to rookie draftee Seth Campbell who played well on debut.
He finished with two goals, which could have been three, and looked comfortable at the level.
It was a bad day for the Tigers but they would have been happy to see a rookie selection go well.
What they got wrong
Abysmal beginning
Apart from Shai Bolton’s opening goal, the fist half was abysmal.
Richmond conceded 11 straight goals from the five-minute mark to half-time, appearing helpless at stages.
It all started in the middle where they were utterly slaughtered from the very start.
Annihilated at stoppage and clearance
In the first half, Richmond’s starting midfield of Tim Taranto, Dion Prestia and Jacob Hopper combined for 32 disposals and eight clearances.
Gold Coast trio Matt Rowell, Touk Miller and Noah Anderson came together for 49 disposals and 17 clearances. This is where the game was won and lost.
Rowell was able to do as he pleased to finish with a massive 20 clearances, the Tigers unable to get anywhere near his maniacal attack on the ball.
It was a colossal smacking in the middle despite Sam Naismith holding his own in the ruck against Jarrod Witts.
As Yze said, they were “all over the shop” in the first half.
Ill-disciplined act
The Tigers shot themselves in the foot when the game was potentially there to be won.
Ill-discipline, which plagued the team during the latter years of Damien Hardwick’s reign, reared its ugly head when former captain Dylan Grimes let his ego creep in by felling Tom Berry off the ball after an inexplicable kick on the full under no pressure.
If they had avoided the ensuing goal and managed to haul the margin in below 20 points, who knows what would have happened.
But they never got that chance due to Grimes’ indiscretion before a somewhat questionable umpiring decision for a deliberate rushed behind against Nathan Broad.
However, the damage had well and truly already been done earlier.
Time for Ross to play some footy
After a summer of hype, Thomson Dow was completely overawed.
There has been plenty of talk that he is the man ready to step into the Trent Cotchin void but he was simply nowhere near it on Saturday.
Dow finished with just six disposals (one kick) from 72 per cent game time.
In comparison, Jack Ross came on in the third quarter and picked up 10 touches from 38 per cent game time.
He went at 80 per cent efficiency, had three inside 50s and simply must start more often.
Andrew Slevison
What they got right
Grundy wins the battle against Gawn
Brodie Grundy reminded the competition that he is still firmly in the conversation of best ruckmen alongside his former teammate Max Gawn with a strong performance in the season opener.
Grundy had 23 disposals to Gawn’s 14, had more hitouts to advantage (13-8), score involvements (7-3) and tackles (6-4). Grundy also nullified Gawn’s influence at centre bounces and stoppages by rushing at the Demon prior to the ball being bounced or thrown up.
Gawn was unable to tap the ball into space for the Melbourne on-ballers to run on to which negated their influence all night.
It was a massive win for Grundy in his Swans debut. He was colossal in the second half.
Played the conditions better
It was a muggy 26 degree celsius night in the Harbour City and handling skills were at an all-time low, even for the opening game of the season.
The Demons continued to bomb the slippery ball into their forward 50 which made it easy for the Swans defenders to spoil or intercept, whereas the Swans used their dash off half-back thanks to Nick Blakey and Justin McInerney to add speed to the game.
What they got wrong
Tall trio struggle to make a dent
The retirement of Lance Franklin meant the spotlight was on the tall forwards to fill the void left by ‘Buddy’.
The group of Joel Amartey, Hayden McLean and Logan McDonald combined for 16 touches and 3.3 in an underwhelming display. Amartey struggled in the humid conditions and was subbed out during the third quarter for Sam Wicks.
It was the Swans' midfield and small forwards that got the home team over the line with important goals to Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Robbie Fox and Ollie Florent amongst others.
Charles Goodsir
