@grayruby @Undisciplined I had an idea this morning that I should have done the pick em as a beat me challenge and have the sats build over the rounds no one beats me (being the subject matter guy) as say first round I would have held the sats so could of jackpot up for this week and keep going until someone beats me. Maybe next year

Hawthorn v Essendon, MCG Friday, March 14, 7.40pm AEDT

Last time: Essendon 17.5 (107) d Hawthorn 11.17 (83), R1 2024

What it means

Hawthorn quickly proved that it is more than just a one-season wonder after a scintillating rise through the second half of last year as it powered away from Sydney in the season-opener at the SCG. The Hawks can make another statement and at the same time put the Bombers on the back foot early with a victory over their rivals that they have not beaten since the same round four years ago.

Essendon has set out to temper expectations over summer after a couple of mediocre seasons under coach Brad Scott but could undo all that hard work with a spirited showing against the high-flying Hawthorn. The Bombers thrashed the Hawks when the two sides met at the same stage last year and have only lost once – by one point – against their old foes since 2018.

Game shapers

Dylan Shiel will get a chance to impress in a new role after a run of injury-interrupted seasons and as the Essendon midfield continues to evolve. The former Giants onballer has grasped the opportunity to add dash out of defence and break the lines more coming off half-back as the Bombers look to add more verve to their style.

James Sicily is never one to take a backwards step and will surely relish the opportunity to come up against one of the Hawks' fiercest rivals on the main stage. The Hawks skipper went a long way to setting up the season-opening win over the Swans as he ruled the airways in defence and later showed in the dying stages that he can be just as influential when thrown forward.

Let’s see who comes out on top

Geelong v Fremantle, GMHBA Stadium Saturday, March 15, 1.20pm AEDT

Last time: Geelong 10.13 (73) d Fremantle 9.8 (62), R22 2024

What it means

Geelong is all-too familiar with trying to put a preliminary final defeat behind it as it begins the following season but few will have been as hard to take as the loss in the dying stages to Brisbane last year. The Cats are well-built to climb the mountain again but a first step will be turning their home ground back into a fortress after six defeats at the venue in the past two seasons.

Fremantle has no excuses this season after narrowly missing the finals last year as it assembles a highly talented squad that should be able to entertain as much as compete with top-four hopefuls like Geelong. The Dockers can even turn to an unusually promising recent record on the Cats' home turf having won their past two matches at the venue.

Game shapers

Bailey Smith is finally closing in on a return to the elite level after tearing an ACL more than a year ago but will be doing so in fresh colours after a high-profile trade to Geelong. Smith will be eased into the Cats' engine room but in trademark fashion won't mind stepping into the spotlight even while taking time to return to his damaging best.

Josh Treacy enjoyed a breakout season in 2024 as he hit multiple career-highs and emerged as one of the most dominant key forwards in the competition. The 195cm Treacy tripled his previous season-best haul with 45 majors last year and will start this campaign taking on even more responsibility near goal with the absence of Sean Darcy likely forcing Luke Jackson to spend more time in the ruck.

Who gets the chocolates?

Highlights

Match preview for tonight’s game https://www.afl.com.au/video/1277319

Let’s go! I have to see if any of the games will be on tv in Canada. Sometimes they show them during the day on the secondary sports channels.

I feel like this would have been my sport, if we had it. I played basketball and soccer the same way those guys play football.

Highlights from a close one

Highlights

Highlights

Collingwood v Port Adelaide, MCG Saturday, March 15, 7.35pm AEDT

Last time: Collingwood 17.21 (123) d Port Adelaide 12.9 (81), R6 2024

What it means

Collingwood entered its clash with Greater Western Sydney fielding the oldest side to run out for a club's season-opener and looked more and more outpaced as the game went on. But the Magpies are a different beast when playing in front of their home fans at the MCG and showed last year that even after a lacklustre start they can quickly turn their form around.

Port Adelaide has gone all in on chasing a flag in coach Ken Hinkley's last season in charge before he hands the reins to assistant Josh Carr. After being outclassed by the Swans in a preliminary final, the Power are still to reach a decider in 12 seasons under Hinkley and will begin this campaign with clouds hovering above them after the departure of Dan Houston and pre-season injury to Zak Butters.

Game shapers

Dan Houston finally gets his chance to impress with his new club after completing a suspension that ruled him out of former side Port Adelaide's finals campaign last year. But the dashing half-back now returns just at the right time for the Magpies who were unable to match the Giants' run-and-carry in a crushing Opening Round defeat.

Jason Horne-Francis has been on a steady path to becoming one of the top players in the competition and now looks set to explode in his fourth season. The 21-year-old is a weapon when playing as a deep target in the Power forward line but is likely to turn this his strengths as a rugged midfielder around stoppages especially in the absence of Zak Butters.

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium Saturday, March 15, 7.35pm AEDT

Last time: Western Bulldogs 20.18 (138) d North Melbourne 6.6 (42), R23 2024

What it means

The injury-ravaged Western Bulldogs look vulnerable as they prepare to start the season without several key parts of their best 22. But coach Luke Beveridge is unlikely to give his side any room for excuses as he enters the season under the blowtorch and the Bulldogs aim to make a fast start against a side that won only three matches last year.

North Melbourne is out to break a horror seven-match losing streak against the Bulldogs after being defeated by an average 58 points in all of their clashes since 2020. The Kangaroos now have an opportunity to break that hoodoo and live up to the promise of a new year with an emerging side with the Bulldogs starting the season weakened by an injury crisis.

Game shapers

Sam Darcy is ready to set the competition alight as he becomes the dominant force in the Bulldogs' forward line in the absence of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign with 38 goals from 21 matches last year but showed in the pre-season that he has the bulk to add more contested grabs to his game while remaining agile enough to have an impact at ground level.

Caleb Daniel has a point to prove as he comes up against his former Bulldogs teammates after a rollercoaster season at the club. The 2016 premiership player and former All-Australian was on the outer at times last year but looks revitalised after moving to the Kangaroos in the Trade Period and will now be a key to directing the young side with his elite decision-making and kicking off half-back.

Another game on today not in the pick em

Sydney v Brisbane, SCG Saturday, March 15, 4.15pm AEDT

Last time: Brisbane 18.12 (120) d Sydney 9.6 (60), GF 2024

What it means

Sydney would have hoped to be in better nick for a rematch with the side that blew it away on the Grand Final stage. There were worrying signs as the Swans' forward line misfired and they lacked their typical threat on transition against the Hawks, but last year's runner-up will have little time to turn over recent history of sides struggling after a thumping in the decider to avoid a 0-2 start.

Brisbane has had an extra week to prepare to face Sydney after its Opening Round clash was postponed so should be fresh for the Grand Final rematch even amid a week or more of off-field worry. The Lions have lost their spearhead Joe Daniher to retirement but will start their premiership defence revitalised with the likes of highly rated father-son recruit Levi Ashcroft coming into the side.

Game shapers

Tom McCartin started life at the Swans as a young forward but went on to make his name as a top-quality key defender across the past four seasons. New Swans coach Dean Cox has obviously seen something in the 25-year-old as he has swung him forward again but McCartin will need to have more impact than the seven-disposal, one-goal effort last week if he is to lock down the position.

Eric Hipwood has largely been able to play second fiddle in the Lions' forward line with Joe Daniher playing the starring role. But with Daniher retiring on a high after the Grand Final victory last season, Hipwood now has the opportunity to be the focal point of the Lions attack and reach to match the career-high 41 goals he booted two years ago.