IT MIGHT still be five months away, and it might well degenerate into a lopsided clash between the vengeful premiership favourite and the reigning wooden spooner, but the annual season opener between old rivals Richmond and Carlton will be compulsory viewing for a variety of reasons.
The much-anticipated event has always been a must-watch encounter for footy-starved fans and it promises to be an even bigger occasion next year given it will feature several momentous player milestones.
A bumper opening round for individual landmarks will kick off in style at the MCG where three champions of the game are set to be honoured for reaching significant game tallies.
Former Blues skipper Marc Murphy and Tigers star spearhead Jack Riewoldt are scheduled to play their 250th games, while Richmond's champion key defender Alex Rance is to make his 200th appearance.
The Tigers won't like being reminded, but if they hadn't been upset by Collingwood in this year's preliminary final their joint vice-captains Riewoldt and Rance would have had the rare treat of achieving their milestones in the Grand Final.
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The round one blockbuster is also likely to be the stage for the unveiling of Richmond's boom recruit Tom Lynch, the former Gold Coast co-captain who signed a lucrative seven-year deal to join the Tigers as a free agent. The star key forward, who is recovering from knee surgery, recently spoke of his excitement about the prospect of playing in attack alongside milestone man Riewoldt.
The marquee clash will also present the Blues with the opportunity to showcase their own recruits in former Adelaide swingman Mitch McGovern and ex-Collingwood forward Alex Fasolo – both of whom are expected to provide desperately needed scoring options – along with ex-Sydney defender Nic Newman and former Greater Western Sydney midfielder Will Setterfield.
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In the same round, Port Adelaide champion Robbie Gray is due to play his 200th game, West Coast premiership hero Josh Kennedy will notch his 200th club game for the Eagles (after 22 with Carlton), and Melbourne's gun ruckman Max Gawn and North Melbourne's star forward Ben Brown will both hit the ton, as will Power-turned-Hawks player Jarman Impey.
On the goalfront, Geelong power forward Tom Hawkins needs just two goals to reach 500. The 'Tomahawk' is sixth among current players, trailing Sydney superstar Lance Franklin (917), Riewoldt (607), Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead (563), Adelaide small forward Eddie Betts (563) and West Coast sharpshooter Josh Kennedy (562).
Among a bevy of notable players who could play their first games with their new clubs in round one are returned Collingwood star Dayne Beams, former Giants gun Dylan Shiel at Essendon, ex-Suns key defender Steven May at Melbourne, former Demon forward Jesse Hogan and ex-Giant Rory Lobb at Fremantle, former Freo champion Lachie Neale with Brisbane, pacy left-footers in former Port Adelaide star Chad Wingard and ex-Giant Tom Scully at Hawthorn, Sydney premiership star Dan Hannebery at St Kilda, ex-Hawk Ryan Burton and West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett at Port, former Power runner Jared Polec at North Melbourne, and Bulldogs premiership player Luke Dahlhaus and ex-Swan speedster Gary Rohan at Geelong.
As for milestone games, the 300 club is expected to be expanded in 2019 by Adelaide freak Eddie Betts (295 games), Fremantle's reliable David Mundy (294), Franklin (290), Giants backman Heath Shaw (282) and possibly Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury (277).
Those in line to reach 250 games include Port Adelaide trio Justin Westhoff (248), Travis Boak (243) and Brad Ebert (235), Sydney's Kieren Jack (248), Eagles premiership captain Shannon Hurn (248), Hawthorn's Grant Birchall (245), Carlton's Dale Thomas (238), Geelong pair Harry Taylor (237) and Tom Hawkins (232), Adelaide's Richard Douglas (237), Richmond premiership player Shane Edwards (231) and Gold Coast's Michael Rischitelli (236), who was delisted but who will be redrafted as a rookie.
Potential round one milestones
250th game
Marc Murphy (Carl)
Jack Riewoldt (Rich) *
200th game
Alex Rance (Rich)
Robbie Gray (PA)
100th game
Max Gawn (Melb)
Ben Brown (NM)
Jarman Impey (PA/Haw)
500th goal
Tom Hawkins (Geel) – 498
* Riewoldt has now played the most games wearing No.8, this year passing Collingwood veteran Daniel Wells, who played 243 games in that guernsey for North Melbourne. Other current players who hold guernsey records are Geelong captain Joel Selwood (No. 14 – 272), Brisbane veteran Luke Hodge (No. 15 at Hawthorn – 305), Fremantle's David Mundy (No. 16 – 294), Western Bulldog Dale Morris (No. 38 – 252), Geelong's Mark Blicavs (No. 46 – 133).
