Round 5 of the 2021 AFL season kicks off on Thursday night with the Saints hosting the Tigers in what is a highly anticipated 'Maddie's Match'. It’s great to be back on this esteemed column, but even better than that it’s great to have footy back. Granted they were missing some of their best players in Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw and Jack Viney, while key forwards Ben Brown and Sam Weideman remain sidelined through injury, but it was a concern. 7:25PM: Richmond $1.35 v Carlton $3.20 Match preview; Friday, March 19 The Verdict % is calculated, it tells you which team the majority of experts think will win. 20-Mar-21. Written by Dylan Leach. Bulldogs’ burning question: Are they finally properly prepared to curtail Brodie Grundy? On Saturday, we turn our attention to two sides who fancy their chances of taking the next step in Melbourne and Fremantle. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, the 2021 AFL season gets underway tonight! Add in Callum Mills, Ollie Florent, James Rowbottom and Dylan Stephens and you’ve got the core of a stunning list ready to surge … in a few years. But it would be one heck of an effort to knock over the Giants on Sunday now. This virus going around has died the hype down. Cripps has been colossal around stoppages for years, throwing himself into contests to win the hard ball for the betterment of his team. Cats’ burning question: How much impact can Shaun Higgins and Isaac Smith have? Martin could help the Dogs break their four-game losing streak against Collingwood. Geelong flexing their muscle over Adelaide shouldn’t require much explanation, nor should Brisbane getting the job done against Sydney later that night. How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 4.30pm, with Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Nick Riewoldt, Mark Ricciuto and Eddie Betts. Elsewhere, reigning minor premiers Port Adelaide face off against North Melbourne on Saturday, before the Eagles and the Suns wrap up Round 1 at Optus Stadium. Following a truncated offseason, the 2021 AFL season gets underway on Thursday, March 18, with Richmond and Carlton kicking things off at the MCG. Tigers by exactly 19 points. There was the predictability of games such as Port Adelaide winning an easy game against likely cellar dweller North Melbourne. Every club’s burning question ahead of Round 1, as well as the Fox Footy Podcast ‘Cups’, tips and commentators for every Fox Footy game in our ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch. Triple All-Australian Nick Dal Santo told foxfooty.com.au last month: “Their conservative brand of football, in my opinion, did them no favours at all. St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt introduced a new term into the footy vernacular this week: The Striker – a position requires a powerful, physical player who can dominate one-on-one and be deployed forward of centre to ensure maximum damage with their possession. After a disastrous, tumultuous first half of 2020, the Crows went back to basics to finish the season, improving their contested ball game to win three of their last five games. Mind you, you’d be a brave tipster to go against the Eagles this weekend. What year is this – 2019? Richmond vs Carlton, Round 1 AFL Tips. How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 1.30pm, hosted by Sarah Jones with Mark Howard, Jonathan Brown, Jordan Lewis and Nick Dal Santo. Preview 2021 Round 1 Tips. The early signs suggest the signing of the key intercept marking defender could be a mastermind move by Port. AFL Round 1 tips, best bets, predictions and previews. The Blues have dropped ten straight to the Tigers since their famous finals win in 2013, with only two of those coming by under 20 points. The Blues will have to find something special to knock Richmond over on Thursday night. That day they unveiled a quicker, more attacking style that caught the Tigers off-guard throughout the game. After a long wait, the AFL season is back this week with the traditional season opener between the reigning champions Richmond and Carlton on Thursday night, meanwhile, Adam Treloar is set to face his former side on Friday night – read on below as we preview every AFL Round 1 game, along with providing our best bets and tips. I’ve got my scarf, old coat, I’ve got a footy game to go to. Plus the Bulldogs weapon that can finally curtail a star Pie and why the Blues must unleash Patrick Cripps as a ‘striker’. He’s used to getting tagged at North Melbourne, so he’ll be running around in Geelong colours not getting tagged.”, Fox Footy expert tipsters’ verdict: Adelaide Crows 0 — Geelong Cats 15, Saturday March 19, 7.25pm at Marvel Stadium. The Hawks are usually good for a Round 1 surprise, but I think they’re in for a reality check against a Bombers side who have a pretty decent recent record against them. Photo: Getty Images. Fox Footy expert tipsters’ verdict: West Coast Eagles 15 — Gold Coast Suns 0, *Odds are current as of 17th April 2021, 4:18am AEST. AFL Betting Tips season 2021 Round 1 last weekend provided us a snapshot of what AFL 2021 may provide. 2021 afl round 1 sunday betting tips. Magpies’ burning question: How often should they unleash Jordan De Goey in the midfield? Montagna told foxfooty.com.au last month the Kangaroos were “better placed than they’re being given credit for”, adding: “If you put their best side out there, they’ve got a nice mix of young talent and strong, experienced leaders.” They’ll want to atone for their poor pre-season showings — two big losses to St Kilda then Hawthorn — to start the season. How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 6.30pm, hosted by Garry Lyon with Jonathan Brown, Nick Riewoldt, Kath Loughnan and Tom Morris. Hawks’ burning question: How much can we read into their summer form? I’m backing the Saints to do great things this year, but the hodge-podge 22 they’ll be forced to field thanks to a truly atrocious injury list means they’ll fall victim to a hungry Giants team eager to bounce back in this one. 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