AFL

It's the first draw between the sides since 1972. Watch every match of every round of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo?

Scoring was even harder to come by in the second term, with both teams scoring just one goal for the quarter. “Richmond want high transition, they want the ball to be moving up and down the field … but build the uncontested marks and then allow the forward to get back inside 50 so you have even numbers inside 50. But the Tigers’ decision to drop down a gear in the third term paid big dividends. The numbers were staggering. But early on Thursday night, the Tigers over-possessed the footy. This was personified in the second quarter, where Richmond had 47 handballs but just 10 inside 50s. You go when you have confidence and have good representation.” He showed ample class particularly in the third term and finished with 18 disposals. Then they were able to execute going inside 50.” It was the first opening-round draw since 2011. In fact Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis declared: “It even felt like Richmond were playing too quick for Richmond.”

Follow along for all the major moments and post game reactions as Carlton and Richmond open the AFL season.

It is a big like and we have gone to work on sort aspects of our game. Once again against Carlton we get down in clearances and it was 50/50 and we were happy with that aspect of our game and midfield did a terrific job. He’s one of the guys we expect to get better and better along the way. It looked somewhat of a different profile to what we normally won games by. We got through, and we were able to pull the lever on the sub which was good. We have been solid at the offensive side of the game and defence we have been OK and clearances hasn’t been a strength. but we have to make sure that we pick the right side to make us win. The fact of the matter is they have to make decisions. Once again we want the player to take the responsibility with the way that they shoot at goal. The polish is one thing that we can take and improve. I thought that we kept them to a really manageable score and couldn’t capitalise when we needed to. Taranto and Hopper will help us there, and if we can get the ball in the front half that, ideally, promotes a Richmond-style of game.

IT ENDED as it started. For the first time since the 1972 semi final, Richmond and Carlton shared the spoils in a dramatic draw. Quarter one.

While Curnow was well-held in the opening half, he shone when the game was there for the taking, kicking three of Carlton's four second-half majors. At the other end of the ground, there were signs that the dynamic partnership of Curnow and McKay would once again flourish in Navy Blue. Of all the scenarios that Carlton, Richmond and football fans drew up, that wasn't one of them, with shared points in the season opener. The Blues' best moments in the term came in the air, with the likes of McKay and Jacob Weitering flying for the Sherrin. A huge grab and two quick goals from Charlie Curnow put the Blues’ noses back in front, but as the physicality rose, so too did the Tigers' time in their forward half. It was a hot start from the Blues, answering the Tigers’ first goal instantly through the boot of Zac Fisher.

The AFL season has opened with high drama as Richmond and Carlton were left deadlocked when the final siren went. less than 2 min read. March 16, 2023 - 10: ...

but we probably didn’t make the most of our opportunities tonight.” The result left the footy world in awe after Richmond found something extra in the tank to come back from seven points down in the final dying minutes. Carlton and Richmond have drawn for the first time in 51 years in a stunning blockbuster to start the 2023 AFL season.

Thank you for joining me tonight for an opening match that will be talked about for years to come. The football wasn't always of the highest standard, ...

Q2: 7 mins remaining: Richmond 2.4 (16) v 3.4 (22) Carlton: The Blues have been committed in defence. Q3: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 5.4 (34) v 4.6 (30) Carlton: Three in a row in the blink of an eye and the Tigers lead! Q2: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 2.4 (16) v 4.4 (28) Carlton: Jack Martin slows the game down to kick for goal from 60m. Q3: 17 mins remaining: Richmond 3.4 (22) v 4.6 (30) Carlton: From a stoppage on the left wing McIntosh dumps the ball inside 50 where Riewoldt is too strong one-on-one. Q3: 16 mins remaining: Richmond 4.4 (28) v 4.6 (30) Carlton: Just like the first quarter the ball is locked in Carlton’s defensive 50. Q3: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 7.6 (48) v 6.9 (45) Carlton: Lynch has three, Richmond have three in a row, and six for the quarter! Q3: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 5.4 (34) v 5.6 (36) Carlton: Another deep entry from McIntosh but Newman intercepts and the Blues can slow the game down and caress the ball forward, eventually into the mitts of the leading McKay… Q4: 19 mins remaining: Richmond 7.8 (50) v 6.9 (45) Carlton: The Blues win the centre clearance but Grimes plucks the inside-50 out of the sky. Q3: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 5.4 (34) v 6.6 (42) Carlton: Shai Bolton has been so influential tonight and he wins a centre clearance here that sets the Tigers on the front foot. Q4: 1 mins remaining: Richmond 7.10 (52) v 8.10 (58) Carlton: The Tigers push but McGovern is first to the ball. Q3: 2 mins remaining: Richmond 7.8 (50) v 6.9 (45) Carlton: “No Richmond ruck” was the call from the umpire but De Koning still managed to miss the mark and cough up possession. Q4: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 7.8 (50) v 7.9 (51) Carlton: Another entry for the Blues, this one just evading Silvagni, but Carlton lock the ball in and Richmond can clear only as far as Docherty…

AFL great Peter “Spida” Everitt has laughed off a social media post which appeared to suggest the 48-year-old had died.

Everitt continued: “At least if it was true, I have the chance to go to my own wake. “Yesterday, there was one going around and it said ‘Today’s kids will never known what it was like growing up with this man in the world’. of me,” Everitt said.

Debate is again raging about whether the AFL should decide drawn matches with extra time, after the Richmond-Carlton season opener ended all square.

“I was happy with that one but we had a couple of other stinkers along the way.” “I haven’t given it a second thought but I must admit I wouldn’t mind the extra three or four minutes each way,” Voss told reporters after Thursday night’s draw. It was Voss’s second draw as a coach but first with the Blues, following a 2009 tie when he was at the helm of the Brisbane Lions against Essendon.

GWS ruckman Braydon Preuss and midfielder Xavier O'Halloran will miss the start of the AFL season through injury....

"Preuss is continuing to be assessed by the club's medical team with a timeline on his return to be confirmed following the consultations," the Giants said in a statement. The Giants have named Harry Himmelberg to return to the forward line after he was trialled in defence last season. Preuss faces an indefinite period out of action following the re-emergence of back pain related to a previous complaint and is consulting a surgeon.

Seven footy guru Daisy Pearce was right onto the moment a footy star got away with murder in a baffling start to the 2023 season. 2 min read.

The Blues led 4.5 (29) to 2.4 (16) at the major break. The frenetic start simmered into a slog with just six goals kicked in the first half. Richmond showed impressive attack on the ball to force the Blues into a staggering 16 forward half turnovers in the first quarter of football — something not seen since the 2021 season. The superstar forward committed a cardinal sin early in the first quarter of the season-opener against Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night when his aim was a mile off when returning the Sherrin to a Richmond player. The Blues had coughed up the ball on the centre wing when Marlion Pickett was awarded a free kick as the ball rolled to Curnow. Seven footy guru Daisy Pearce was right onto the moment a footy star got away with murder in a baffling start to the 2023 season.