FOOTBALL
AFL EXPORTS
By TOM HAYES
ALL 18 clubs were in action during Round 1 of the 2025 AFL premiership season, which saw many more locals take the field.
Round 1 became the highest-attended round of football of all time, with 431,505 fans attending matches, with it being just the fifth time in history that more than 400,000 fans attended a single round. Three of those five rounds over 400,000 are Round 1 rounds.
Results throughout the week caught many by surprise, with upset winners and drawn out margins, not much could have been predicted to that extent.
Nonetheless, it’s a long season ahead, with many more twists and turns still to come.
Hawthorn 111 def Essendon 85
HAWTHORN was hopeful of welcoming Morwell’s Changkuoth Jiath back into the best 23, but returning from another injury, he was instead named as an emergency.
The Hawks prevailed anyway against Essendon, winning 17.9 (111) to 12.13 (85) at the MCG on Friday night (March 14). Hawthorn essentially led for the whole game despite a small period during the opening quarter.
Jiath will hope to get another chance when the Hawks play Carlton tomorrow (Thursday, March 20) at the MCG. He hasn’t played since the start of August last year.
Collingwood 136 def Port Adelaide 45
THE following evening, Collingwood embarrassed Port Adelaide and the start of the Ken Hinkley farewell tour, winning 21.10 (136) to 6.9 (45).
It was purely a party at the MCG, as the Magpies went from strength to strength to dismantle the Power in heated conditions.
Leading by 21 points at the first break, that soon became 34 at the main change as the intensity shifted.
The Magpies were quick out of the gates again, piling on seven goals to one in the third term to open up a 70-point three quarter time lead. Collingwood finished the Power off in style, nearing the triple digit mark, smashing them to the tune of 91 points when the final siren sounded.
Traralgon’s Tim Membrey appears to be digging life at Collingwood, kicking four majors, including three in the space of eight minutes during the first quarter. He also had 17 disposals, 10 marks, and two goal assists.
Morwell’s Tew Jiath remains out of Collingwood best side. It remains unknown whether he will be able to break into it, after the Magpies seemingly got stronger in the off-season.
Melbourne 74 def by GWS 77
SUNDAY afternoon football between Melbourne and GWS saw the Demons introduce six debutants, but lost narrowly 11.11 (77) to 11.8 (74).
Unfortunately, Morwell’s Ricky Mentha wasn’t one of them, however, Leongatha’s Xavier Lindsay did earn his first game.
The Demons took GWS all the way, the same GWS side that took Collingwood apart the round before.
But it ended in heartbreak for Melbourne, who squandered a chance to go eight points ahead in the final minute, only for GWS to go coast-to-coast and go up by three points themselves with just seconds remaining.
Lindsay was one of the more impressive players for Melbourne, collecting 22 touches, making six tackles, and added two clearances on debut.
West Coast 49 def by Gold Coast 136
THERE was a hive of local action in the west when West Coast hosted Gold Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday (March 16) night.
The Eagles wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the Suns’ poor away form of last year, going down heavily, 20.16 (136) to 7.7 (49).
Traralgon’s Andrew McQualter took charge of the Eagles for the first time, officially. It was also his first, official, time as a head coach.
He was Richmond’s caretaker coach during the 2023 season, after Damien Hardwick parted ways with the club, who eventually landed at the Suns.
Things looked positive for West Coast for about half of the first quarter, kicking two goals. But those two goals would be their only ones scored for the entire first half.
The Suns went up by 16 points at quarter time, extending out to 45 points at the main change.
West Coast managed to add to their score during the third quarter, but most of the time, Gold Coast would reply straight away, and then some, as they shot out to a 60-point three quarter time advantage.
The Suns blasted six goals to two in the final term to record the biggest win in the club’s history, 87 points, surpassing the previous record – 86 points against Hawthorn in 2017.
Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth was handy for the Suns, grabbing 18 disposals, five marks, and a goal assist, while Moe’s Bailey Humphrey was just as impressive gaining midfield minutes with 20 touches, four marks, five clearance, and five goal assists.
Moe and Fish Creek’s Sam Flanders was not included in the squad, following a back complaint. He is a chance to be ready for selection ahead of the Suns’ next match in Round 3, after the Round 2 bye. Heyfield’s Asher Eastham also missed out on selection.
For the Eagles, Inverloch’s Archer Reid was granted his debut by McQualter. He too was handy with six disposals, three tackles, and three clearances.
Post match, McQualter shared his thoughts.
“We’re bitterly disappointed, we expected better, unfortunately we didn’t get it right,” he said.
“The beauty of footy… you get an opportunity, you go away and watch this tape, and I’m confident in a few days I’ll have pretty clear answers on how we can improve quickly. I’ve never watched a tape and not had answers.”
West Coast have a tough task ahead, with Brisbane Lions this coming Sunday (March 23) at the Gabba.
Western Bulldogs 113 def North Melbourne 97
MORE Gippsland debutants took to the field during the clash between Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday (March 15) night.
The Bulldogs, despite the abnormal amount of casualties on the injury list, still prevailed 17.11 (113) to 14.13 (97) over the Kangaroos.
Former Sale resident Sam Davidson was given a change for the Dogs, following an impressive preseason. He managed 10 disposals, four tackles, and a goal on debut.
Davidson lived in Sale briefly playing for Sale City while on placement studying for his medical degree.
Also starting his career was former Lowanna student Jacob Konstanty. The forward moved to North Melbourne this offseason from Sydney, who drafted him in 2022.
With more opportunity at the Roos, Konstanty was given his debut straight away, getting 10 touches, six tackles, and a goal assist for his troubles.
