Which games to look forward to in Round 1

Plenty of mouthwatering clashes to headline Round 1.

WEEKEND EDITOR | December 20, 2020 - 12:50pm

Adam Treloar won't have to wait long to face his former teammates.

Treloar and the Western Bulldogs take on Collingwood in a mouth-watering clash in Round 1.

The season will kick off with the traditional matchup between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG on Thursday, March 18, but all eyes will be on the following night when the Magpies host the Bulldogs at the MCG.

Aside from the talk around Treloar vs Collingwood, this is a matchup between two sides who enter 2021 under arguably the most pressure.

For Collingwood, 2021 will be the year to determine whether their premiership window is still open or if they are in a rebuild. Nathan Buckley will be out of contract at the end of 2021 and his future could be in doubt if the Magpies struggle, particularly as his biggest supporter, Eddie McGuire, calls time on his presidential reign.

The Bulldogs also enter 2021 under pressure after a less than impressive four-year period since their 2016 flag.

How long can the Bulldogs be given leniency for having a young list when they were supposedly set to dominate the league after they won the premiership in 2016 with one of the youngest lists in history?

It is time for Luke Beveridge's men to stand up and anything less than a lengthy finals run will be considered a failure in 2021.

Richmond and Carlton once again holds anticipation because this time it appears the Blues could seriously challenge the Tigers.

Carlton made inroads in 2020 and will aim to make the finals for the first time since 2013.

Richmond has been the best team for the last four years and if the Blues are able to beat them in Round 1, it will give them the confidence to beat anyone.

Traditional rivals Essendon and Hawthorn meet at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, March 20.

2020 was a disappointing season for both clubs, who will hope for a better 2021.

These games are always mouthwatering spectacles, so be sure for plenty of entertainment when they meet in Round 1.

Melbourne vs Fremantle on a Saturday afternoon at the MCG isn't a traditional clash we would look forward to but expectations on both teams will make it one to look out for.

The Demons once again disappointed their fans in 2020 after missing out on the finals for consecutive seasons after their preliminary final appearance in 2018.

Christian Petracca had a breakout season, finishing third in the Brownlow Medal and all eyes will be on whether he can have a 2017 Dustin Martin-like impact on the Demons in 2021 and push them back into the finals.

The Dockers defied critics in 2020 to finish 12th, despite having the youngest list in the competition.

Justin Longmuir received plenty of praise for his ability to develop the Dockers young playing list while transitioning the style of football that headlined the Ross Lyon era at the club.

Realistically the Dockers are unlikely to make the finals and could potentially suffer second-year blues that many young teams experience. But because of the amount of talent at their disposal, media personalities have heaped praise on the baby Dockers, which has increased expectations around the club.

GWS and St Kilda is another clash with plenty of talking points around it. The Giants 2020 campaign was a failure after missing the finals for the first time since 2015.

Jeremy Cameron's departure signals a new era for the club who will hope they can bounce back into the premiership hunt. It is hard to see Leon Cameron keeping his job if the Giants miss out on the finals again and they will need to get off to a strong start to prove their doubters wrong.

St Kilda surprised almost everyone in 2020 by making a Semi-Final appearance. The Saints added quality to their squad in the offseason by recruiting Brad Crouch, Jack Higgins and Shaun McKernan, which could them rise up the premiership calculations in 2021.

Full Round 1 fixture

Thursday, March 18

Richmond v Carlton, MCG, 7.25pm

Friday, March 19

Collingwood v Western Bulldogs, MCG, 7.50pm

Saturday, March 20

Melbourne v Fremantle, MCG, 1.45pm

Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 4.35pm

Essendon v Hawthorn, Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm

Brisbane Lions v Sydney, Gabba, 7.45pm

Sunday, March 21

North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm