Round 1 Preview

After a long summer of watching the Aussies get smashed in the Cricket finally we can sink our teeth into some serious AFL action. No one is more pumped than the crew at Die Hard Footy so we have decided to preview each and every game in Round 1 to give you the head start in your tipping year.

We’ll continue to update this post as the official teams are released so check back!

Go here for all the Round 1 Teams

Richmond ($2.05) v Carlton ($1.80)

Thursday Night – 7:40pm at the MCG

Richmond and Carlton will kick off Season 2009 in one of the most anticipated Round 1 matchups in recent memory. This match has been built up ever since the day of the pre-season draft when Richmond picked up Ben Cousins and it was known he would face former Premiership teammate Chris Judd. Putting the Judd v Cousins matchup aside this really should be a cracker as these two sides are two of the teams tipped to be big improvers in Season 2009.

Both teams will show off fresh faces with the Blues naming four rookies to make their debuts in Jeff Garlett, Sam Jacobs, Aaron Joseph, and Mitch Robinson whilst ex Demon Chris Johnson will also play his first game for the Blues. Aside from Cousins the Tigers have named Andrew Browne for his first game off the Rookie List.

In the corresponding clash last year the Blues went in with many players underdone and after holding an early 30 point lead they surrendered this and the Tigers ran home all over the top of them to win by 5 goals. Carlton have learnt their lesson and have stated they wont be taking unfit players into the match although there is an injury cloud over Brendan Fevola’s heel it should be enough to see the Blues get home in a tight one.

SB’s Tip: Carlton
TH’s Tip: Richmond
JP’s Tip: Carlton

Hawthorn ($2.80) v Geelong ($1.40)

Friday Night – 7:40pm at the MCG

In what will be a rematch of last years Grand Final, Hawthorn and Geelong will do battle on Friday night at the MCG. There has been a lot said during the week mostly from the big mouth of Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett so this game is sure to be hot early. Even though it wont make up for last years Grand Final you would imagine the Cats would be as keen as mustard to beat the Hawks and bury some of the demons.

Geelong comes into this match off the back of a perfect pre-season where they took out the NAB Cup. Hawthorn meanwhile has had a less than ideal pre-season with many of their players having injury concerns and probably not getting the games into them that they would like. Having said that they have still named a very strong side for this game and only Xavier Ellis, Stephen Gilham, Jordan Lewis, Rick Ladson and Trent Croad would be missing from their best 22.

Obviously the last time these two teams met was in last years Grand Final where the Cats really struggled going forward and the Hawks made the most of the chances they had. Expect to see Geelong come out all guns blazing and hit the undermanned Hawks hard. I expect the Cats to kick to an early lead and not let the Hawks back into the game and run out pretty comfortable winners in the end.

SB’s Tip: Geelong
TH’s Tip: Geelong
JP’s Tip: Geelong

Collingwood ($1.30) v Adelaide ($3.30)

Saturday Afternoon – 2:10pm at the MCG

Saturday’s opening match sees Collingwood take on Adelaide at the MCG. Both teams will be keen for a good start as they both look like Top 8 contenders and in Collingwood’s case maybe even a Premiership contender.

Collingwood had a great pre-season making it through to the NAB Cup Grand Final before being belted by Geelong. Adelaide will be happy with their pre-season finishing with 2 wins and 2 losses. Collingwood has pretty much a full list to pick from with only Anthony Rocca and Sean Rusling under injury clouds. Brett Burton is Adelaide’s only real injury concern with a knee injury.

The last time these two teams met was in last years Elimination Final at AAMI Stadium where Collingwood ran out comfortable 31 point winners. Collingwood have a good recent record against Adelaide which leads me to selecting them as the most likely winners. Having said that the MCG will hold no fears for the Crows and they were very competitive against Collingwood in the corresponding fixture last year before injuries got the better of them.

SB’s Tip: Collingwood
TH’s Tip: Collingwood
JP’s Tip: Collingwood

Brisbane ($1.25) v West Coast ($3.75)

Saturday Night – 6:10pm at the GABBA

SB’s Tip: Brisbane
TH’s Tip: Brisbane
JP’s Tip: Brisbane

St Kilda ($1.30) v Sydney ($3.30)

Saturday Night – 7:10pm at the Telstra Dome

SB’s Tip: St Kilda
TH’s Tip: St Kilda
JP’s Tip: St Kilda

Melbourne ($3.15) v North Melbourne ($1.33)

Sunday Afternoon – 1:10pm at the MCG

SB’s Tip: North Melbourne
TH’s Tip: North Melbourne
JP’s Tip: North Melbourne

Port Adelaide ($1.33) v Essendon ($3.15)

Sunday Afternoon – 2:40pm at the AAMI Stadium

SB’s Tip: Port Adelaide
TH’s Tip: Port Adelaide
JP’s Tip: Port Adelaide

Fremantle ($1.80) v Western Bulldogs ($1.93)

Sunday Twilight – 4:10pm at Subiaco

SB’s Tip: Western Bulldogs
TH’s Tip: Western Bulldogs
JP’s Tip: Western Bulldogs

Finally – our DHF Best Bets of the Round are…

SB’s Best Bet: A double for me – Geelong into Brisbane @ 1.77
TH’s Best Bet: Take a multi – Richmond into Geelong into Port @ 3.68
JP’s Best Bet: Back the Blues @ 1.80