AFL 2024 round one LIVE updates: Neale out and Mitchell managed as teams named; Blues, Tigers underway at MCG

Alright, let us know your thoughts, footy fans: Who’s winning tonight?

Will the Blues lock away another win to start their season or will the Tigers make up for their less than ideal first game against the Suns?

Richmond were looking to get their first major of the night but a behind from Shai Bolton saw the Blues capitalise on the scoreboard for their second instead on transition.

Bolton was 20 meters out, looked a certain goal but his snap almost missed the lot. Went through for a minor.

Carlton moved the ball with speed and control with McKay finding Matthew Kennedy alone near the goal square.

Carlton lead by 10.

Well, it’s Harry McKay for the Blues with the first blood.

He kicked the match-winner for Carlton last week and is the first on the board tonight.

McKay took a mark directly in front of the big sticks and slotted it through without much issue at all.

Carlton lead by 6.

The first ball of round one is bounced.

Carlton and Richmond are away!

Let’s hope for a close game with lots of twists and turns (and no injuries!!).

Here we go.

An idea of how quickly the game moves there are seven players missing from the Carlton team that defeated Melbourne in last year’s semi-final.

It was the Blues most recent visit to the MCG yet Alex Cincotta, Sam Docherty, Marc Pittonet, Jacob Weitering, Sam Walsh, Caleb Marchbank and Jesse Motlop all sidelined.

As a comparison, the Tigers still have 14 players in tonight’s team who played in the 2020 premiership.

Gold Coast Suns v Adelaide Crows, People First Stadium, 8.10pm AEDT

Gold Coast

B: B.Uwland, C.Ballard, S.Collins.

HB: C.Budarick, W.Powell, A.Sexton.

C: B.Fiorini, T.Miller, B.Ellis.

HF: B.Ainsworth, B.Humphrey, T.Berry.

F: B.King, J.Lukosius, M.Rosas.

R: J.Witts, N.Anderson, M.Rowell.

Bench: S.Flanders, N.Holman, D.Swallow, L.Casboult, D.Macpherson.

Emerge: R.Atkins, W.Graham, N.Moyle.

Adelaide

B: J.Worrell, J.Butts, B.Smith.

HB: W.Milera, J.Borlase, M.Michalanney.

C: L.Sholl, J.Dawson, C.Jones.

HF: B.Keays, I.Rankine, J.Rachele.

F: C.Burgess, D.Fogarty, L.Gollant.

R: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, S.Berry.

Bench: L.Pedlar, M.Crouch, L.Murphy, J.Soligo, M.Hinge.

Emerge: E.Himmelberg, E.McHenry, M.Keane.

The MCG is rumbling.

Both teams have run out to a thunderous applause, followed by some fireworks and a lot of flag waving.

You can feel the anticipation in the air (and smell the residue from the fireworks, which boy, does that linger).

Five minutes until first bounce!

GWS Giants v North Melbourne, Engie Stadium, Saturday 4.35pm AEDT

GWS Giants

B: H.Himmelberg, S.Taylor, C.Idun.

HB: L.Whitfield, J.Buckley, L.Ash.

C: X.O’Halloran, J.Kelly, F.Callaghan.

HF: B.Daniels, J.Riccardi, T.Bedford.

F: T.Greene, J.Hogan, C.Brown.

R: K.Briggs, S.Coniglio, T.Green.

Bench: J.Wehr, H.Thomas, N.Haynes, A.Cadman, H.Perryman.

Emerge: J.Peatling, T.McMullin, L.Keeffe.

North Melbourne

B: J.Goater, A.Corr, K.Dawson.

HB: Z.Fisher, T.Pink, D.Tucker.

C: D.Stephens, L.Davies-Uniacke, B.Scott.

HF: C.Zurhaar, C.Coleman-Jones, C.McKercher.

F: P.Curtis, N.Larkey, Z.Duursma.

R: T.Xerri, G.Wardlaw, H.Sheezel.

Bench: C.Lazzaro, T.Powell, J.Stephenson, L.Shiels, E.Ford.

Emerge: B.Nyuon, R.Hansen Jr, M.Bergman.

There are hopes tonight will see upwards of 90,000 people fill the MCG. And with Carlton up and about, it’s not out of the question.

Right now, the stands are being awash with navy blue, while a good amount of yellow and black can be seen dotted throughout.

What do we think team? How many people will we see flood the iconic ground?

Collingwood v Sydney, MCG, Friday, 7.40pm AEDT

Collingwood

B: B.Maynard, D.Moore, C.Dean.

HB: S.Pendlebury, I.Quaynor, J.Howe.

C: S.Sidebottom, N.Daicos, J.Daicos.

HF: J.Crisp, A.Johnson, B.Mihocek.

F: P.Lipinski, J.Elliott, B.McCreery.

R: D.Cameron, J.De Goey, L.Schultz.

Bench: F.Macrae, B.Hill, W.Hoskin-Elliott, O.Markov, M.Cox.

Emerge: T.Mitchell, J.Noble, B.Frampton.

Sydney

B: L.Melican, T.McCartin, D.Rampe.

HB: O.Florent, N.Blakey, J.Lloyd.

C: M.Roberts, Ch.Warner, E.Gulden.

HF: R.Fox, L.McDonald, I.Heeney.

F: T.Papley, H.McLean, W.Hayward.

R: B.Grundy, J.Jordon, J.Rowbottom.

Bench: H.Cunningham, B.Campbell, J.McInerney, J.Amartey, S.Wicks.

Emerge: C.Mitchell, P.Ladhams, Co.Warne.

Port Adelaide v West Coast at Adelaide Oval, Sunday 4pm AEDT

Port Adelaide
B: R.Burton, E.Ratugolea, B.Zerk-Thatcher.
HB: L.Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston.
C: M.Bergman, C.Rozee, T.Boak.
HF: D.Byrne-Jones, T.Marshall, J.Horne-Francis.
F: J.McEntee, C.Dixon, W.Rioli.
R: I.Soldo, O.Wines, Z.Butters.
Bench: K.Farrell, J.Mead, F.Evans, D.Williams, J.Burgoyne, W.Drew, J.Finlayson, J.Sweet.

West Coast
B: A.Witherdenm, T.Barrass, B.Hough.
HB: L.Duggan, J.McGovern, T.Cole.
C: J.Hunt, E.Yeo, A.Gaff.
HF: N.Long, J.Darling, J.Petruccelle.
F: J.Waterman, O.Allen, J.Cripps.
R: B.Williams, T.Kelly, H.Reid.
Bench: R.Ginbey, T.Brockman, L.Edwards, C.Chesser, J.Jones, C.Jamieson, R.Maric, T.Dewar.