Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood
Friday March 20, Marvel Stadium, 7:50pm AEDT
Team News:ย The Bulldogs come in with a very strong line-up heading into round one. Ben Cavarra finally gets his chance after a stellar stint in the VFL. New recruit Josh Bruce will also debut for the Dogs up forward and will look to play a big helping role for young gun Aaron Naughton. Also led by a potent midfield of Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Josh Dunkley, the Doggies will be looking for a big round win over premiership fancies Collingwood.
Despite missing Adam Treloar through injury and Dayne Beams' career likely finished, the Pies come into round one with a side as strong as any in the competition. The usual suspects Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom will lead from the front.
Tyler Brown will make his debut for the Pies alongside brother Callum, while Mason Cox makes a return to the line-up. Jaidyn Stephenson was an unlucky omission from the round one team but with forwards Jordan De Goey and Jamie Elliot at the forefront of the forward line, the Pies will have no shortage of livewires able to turn a game on its head.
Prediction:ย A close game by two teams with genuine top four aspirations. Pies by 5.
Essendon vs Fremantle
Saturday March 21, Marvel Stadium, 2:10pm AEDT
Team News:ย Essendon are currently riddled with injury, already missing key players Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker and Joe Daniher through injury, but still have enough there. On a positive note, Devon Smith makes his return after missing most of the 2019 season due to injury, while Jacob Townsend and Tom Cutler will make their debuts for the Bombers after their respective trades to the club. After some homesickness, Conor McKenna is an emergency for the team and will be sure to return sooner rather than later.
Led by reigning Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe and under the reign of new coach Justin Longmuir, the Dockers head into Melbourne looking to get their first win for their new coach after two positive showings in the Marsh series.
Despite missing Jesse Hogan indefinitely in a development period for the Dockers, they will put their best foot forward behind the lead of guys like Fyfe, Michael Walters, Rory Lobb and Luke Ryan. James Aish will make his debut after a trade from Collingwood while Sam Sturt will also debut for the club. Brandon Matera, Connor Blakely and Caleb Serong were unlucky omissions.
Prediction:ย The Bombers should win this despite their injury worries.ย Bombers by 18.
Adelaide vs Sydney
Saturday March 21, Adelaide Oval, 5:05pm AEDT
Team News:ย Matthew Nicks will lead the Crows in his first game as coach. Led by Rory Sloane, the Crouch brothers and Taylor Walker up forward, the Crows still boast a strong core despite a rebuild likely on the horizon. The Crows lost the likes of Eddie Betts and Sam Jacobs in the off-season as they look for some fresh blood in the team. New draftee Fischer McAsey will make his debut for the Crows down back, while Billy Frampton will make his debut for the Crows after getting traded from Port Adelaide. Veteran David Mackay was an unlucky omission while young forward Elliott Himmelberg was also unlucky.
The Swans will be without star forward Lance Franklin for the foreseeable future and it is unclear when he will return in a period of change at the Swans. Despite missing Franklin though, the Swans still have the likes of Isaac Heney, Tom Papley, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker leading from the front. George Hewett is an unlucky out after a promising 2019 season, while Callum Sinclair will also miss, with the Swans opting to go with Sam Naismith as their sole ruckman.
Prediction:ย This will be a tight and heavily competitive contest, but Adelaide should have enough to win at home.ย Adelaide by 15.
GWS vs Geelong
Saturday March 21, GIANTS Stadium, 7:40pm AEDT
Team News:ย The Giants come into the game raring to go after a disappointing end to 2019. The Giants will welcome the return of new captain Stephen Coniglio after missing the last part of 2019 with a knee injury.
With the likes of guns Jeremy Cameron, Josh Kelly, Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield running around that will be sure to kickstart the 2020 season off the right way in a tough match up. Sam Jacobs will make his debut for the Giants after a trade from Adelaide in the off-season, while new draftee Tom Green will also make his debut for the club. Zac Williams will miss with an achilles issue.
Geelong will also be aiming for a positive start to 2020 after just falling short in the preliminary final in 2019. Led by the holy trinity of Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett Jr and Joel Selwood in the midfield and Tom Hawkins up forward, the Cats boast a majority of the team that saw them just miss out on making the Grand Final in 2019 despite being minor premiers, minus Tim Kelly.
The Cats have opted to hold out Rhys Stanley while off-season recruit Josh Jenkins will have to wait another week for his Cats debut after being named as an emergency.
Prediction:ย This will be a very tight and highly competitive contest between two very good teams with genuine premiership aspirations.ย Giants by 12.
Gold Coast vs Port Adelaide
Saturday March 21, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm AEDT
Team News:ย The Suns come into the 2020 season on the back of a wooden spoon after losing their last 18 games of the 2019 season. The Suns have revamped their line-up for 2020 and enter round one on the back of a promising Marsh series and with a number of new recruits, including ex-premiership Tiger Brandon Ellis, ex-Crow Hugh Greenwood and draftees Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson.
Connor Budarick will also make his debut for the Suns after being rookie elevated. The Suns have opted to keep young and promising forward/ruck Peter Wright as an emergency for this game in a new look forward line led by young gun Ben King. Promising youngster Izak Rankine will also have to wait for his debut after suffering another injury setback.
Port Adelaide will look to improve their consistency in 2020 after a very up and down 2019. The Power have a near full strength line-up in what shapes as a must-win game. Led by Travis Boak, Connor Rozee, Robbie Gray and Scott Lycett, the Power have enough in their team that can trouble any team on their day.
The only notable out for round one is forward Charlie Dixon, who will miss the game through injury. Mitchell Georgiades will make his debut for the Power after being selected at pick 18 in the 2019 draft and is the only notable inclusion into a Power team that feels they are finals contenders.
Prediction:ย The Suns had a promising Marsh series, but the Power should get the win with their line-up.ย Power by 27.
North Melbourne vs St Kilda
Sunday March 22, Marvel Stadium, 1:05pm AEDT
Team News:ย Rhyce Shaw bought some new life into the Roos when he was named interim coach, and now named as their official coach, Shaw will look for that same energy in his first full season at the helm. The Roos will be looking to start the season in the way they played for a fair chunk of 2019 under Shaw - hard and tough.
Led by Shaun Higgins, Ben Brown, Ben Cunnington and Todd Goldstein, the Roos head into round one with a full strength team looking to kick start their season off the right way. Off-season recruit Josh Walker will make his debut for the club while fellow recruit Aiden Bonar and 2017 draftee Tristan Xerri could also be in line for a debut after being named on an extended bench.
St Kilda had a big off-season recruiting wise in an attempt to make a quick jump up the ladder. The Saints recruited the likes of Brad Hill from Fremantle, Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder from Port Adelaide, Zak Jones from Sydney and also Dan Butler from Richmond who are all expected to make their debuts.
It adds to an exciting core, including Dan Hannebery, Jade Gresham, Jack Billings and Rowan Marshall in what is expected to be a very promising season for the Saints led by new coach Brett Ratten. The Saints come in with a lot of promise and high expectations for 2020 and will be looking to kick their season off the right way.
Prediction:ย This will be a very even and hard contest. The experience of the Saints new recruits could just will them over the line in this one. Saints by 7.
Hawthorn vs Brisbane
Sunday March 22, MCG, 3:40pm AEDT
Team News: The Hawks will be looking to improve in 2020 after just missing out on a finals berth in 2019. The Hawks recruited Jonathon Patton from GWS, Sam Frost from Melbourne and Michael Hartley from Essendon in an attempt to bolster their squad for another finals push. The Hawks will also welcome back the long awaited return of star midfielder Tom Mitchell, who missed the entire 2019 season with a leg injury. The Hawks enter the season with a fairly healthy line-up, led by Jaeger O'Meara, James Sicily and Isaac Smith.
Brisbane enter 2020 on the back of a surprising 2019 season which saw them finish second on the ladder. Led by the likes of Lachie Neale, Charlie Cameron, Harris Andrews and Dayne Zorko, the Lions boast one of the most exciting lists in the AFL and with their attacking brand of football. The Lions have a full strength line-up for this game including new recruit and ex-Hawk Grant Birchall to aid the loss of Luke Hodge to retirement. They will be looking to kick start their season with a win as they aim for bigger and better things in 2020.
Prediction:ย The Lions are a dangerous team with their tails up and the Hawks could have a tough time keeping up with the Lions speed around the ground.ย Lions by 18.
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West Coast vs Melbourne
Sunday March 22, Optus Stadium, 6:40pm AEDT
Team News:ย The Eagles look as potent as ever heading into 2020 and return a much healthier outfit with a full strength team set to face the Demons. Nic Naitanui looks set for a big year after missing much of 2019 with injury.
The Eagles bolstered their line-up even further this off-season, recruiting Tim Kelly from Geelong who will make his Eagles debut this weekend in a move that gives the Eagles arguably the best midfield in the competition. Despite missing Daniel Venables with ongoing concussion issues, the Eagles have more than enough firepower with stars all over the field such as Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, Andrew Gaff, Elliott Yeo, Luke Shuey and Jeremy McGovern.
Melbourne will be looking for an improved 2020 after a very disappointing 2019 season which saw them finish 17th on the ladder following a preliminary finals appearance the year prior. The Demons still boast the likes of Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney and Angus Brayshaw and have a team that can trouble anyone when they're on.
The Demons also bolstered their line-up in the off-season, recruiting Ed Langdon from Fremantle, Adam Tomlinson from GWS and Mitch Brown from Essendon, who are all set to make their club debuts. Toby Bedford and Kysaiah Pickett will both play their first AFL games. The Demons will be looking to make a push back up the ladder in 2020, and what better way to make a statement than knocking off one of the the premiership favourites on their home deck?
Prediction:ย The Demons have a line-up capable of anything and causing trouble to anyone, but the Eagles just have too much around the ground that should see them get over the top comfortably. Eagles by 35.
