Finally the 2026 AFL Premiership Season is upon us.

While Melbourne sits out Opening Round, there is still plenty of footy to enjoy with five non-MFC clashes to kick off the new season.

It all begins on Thursday night with a blockbuster at the SCG as Sydney hosts Carlton in what should be a strong early test for both sides.

On Friday night, Gold Coast gets its chance to open the season in front of a home crowd when the Suns and Christian Petracca take on Geelong at People First Stadium.

Saturday features a double-header, starting in the afternoon with Greater Western Sydney and Clayton Oliver meeting the Hawks at Engie Stadium.

That is followed on Saturday night by Brisbane Lions hosting the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, with the Lions embarking on their campaign to win the Threepeat.

Opening Round wraps up on Sunday night at the MCG, where St Kilda takes on Collingwood in the only game in town in the first week of the season.

There is no shortage of storylines across the round, so discuss all the action from the non-MFC games of Opening Round.

Who are you tipping in Opening Round?

I think I want Carlton to win. I’m only finding out now that I dislike Curnow more than I dislike Carlton 😂

Go Cats 🤮 🤮🤮🤮🤮

Go Hawks 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

Lions will win the flag so whatevs

Go Saints but I dislike them too

This should really be called “Advantage Round” 🤔

2 minutes ago, Flemo56 said:

This should really be called “Advantage Round” 🤔

Agreed, despite being a very small sample size, teams that have played in opening round have had a huge advantage in round 1, having already had a taste of a match. I think its about a 80-90% win rate for teams that played in opening round vs teams that didn't in rnd 1

2 minutes ago, Flemo56 said:

This should really be called “Advantage Round” 🤔

Hunner percent. It’s a joke and everyone knows it.

11 minutes ago, Demonland said:

No or never for the Saints then. Yet I wouldn’t be putting money on them just yet.

5 hours ago, deemoralizing67 said:

Agreed, despite being a very small sample size, teams that have played in opening round have had a huge advantage in round 1, having already had a taste of a match. I think its about a 80-90% win rate for teams that played in opening round vs teams that didn't in rnd 1

I think 6 out of 8 opening round teams have beaten non opening round teams in round 1 since the start of 2024. Mind you, 2 games were cancelled last year in opening round.

We were the beneficiaries of this in round 1 2024 where we dominated the Dogs after half time.

GWS did the reverse to us in 2025.

7 hours ago, Demonland said:

• bloods

• gc17

• dingley

• bears

• aints

32 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I think 6 out of 8 opening round teams have beaten non opening round teams in round 1 since the start of 2024. Mind you, 2 games were cancelled last year in opening round.

We were the beneficiaries of this in round 1 2024 where we dominated the Dogs after half time.

GWS did the reverse to us in 2025.

Could be something to do with the better teams playing in the opening round

5 hours ago, Flemo56 said:

This should really be called “Advantage Round” 🤔

So don’t see any big advantage

I reckon the Pies would want an extra week off so Moore and Howe can play

Go sainters

26 minutes ago, DubDee said:

So don’t see any big advantage

I reckon the Pies would want an extra week off so Moore and Howe can play

Of course there will be exceptions like that, but it is the overall stats that matter.
Is there any evidence that the better teams play in round 0 over the past x years?

If not, the stats seems to show it is an advantage. In every practice match the commentators say how useful a real hitout is for preparation for the real thing. If so, round 0 prepartion for round 1 is even better.

Edited March 3Mar 3 by sue

44 minutes ago, sue said:

Of course there will be exceptions like that, but it is the overall stats that matter.
Is there any evidence that the better teams play in round 0 over the past x years?

If not, the stats seems to show it is an advantage. In every practice match the commentators say how useful a real hitout is for preparation for the real thing. If so, round 0 prepartion for round 1 is even better.

It’s generally big teams and big games.

eg, none of the bottom 6 teams from last year playing in O round

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Could be something to do with the better teams playing in the opening round

Fair point.

28 minutes ago, DubDee said:

It’s generally big teams and big games.

eg, none of the bottom 6 teams from last year playing in O round

Thanks and I presume the same was true in earlier years. So the good teams get an extra advantage by playing first (except for those that play a round 9 team in round 1 if any?). Do the better teams really need an extra advantage? AFL is not nterested in fairness, just expanding the empire.

For death riding purposes I’ll be cheering for the cats. Once the game is over I’ll be taking a long shower

24 minutes ago, BDA said:

For death riding purposes I’ll be cheering for the cats. Once the game is over I’ll be taking a long shower

death riding from round 0

Gotta respect that commitment

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Go Swans. Carlton failure is always a win.