Adam Cooney has named the top 7 matches he is looking forward to in 2023.
It comes after the AFL released the first 15 rounds of the fixture over the weekend.
“I’ve pored over every single game and analysed every one of them and I’ve come up with seven,” he said on SEN’s Sportsday SA.
“I don’t have the Grand Final rematch (between Geelong and Sydney) in there, I don’t have the Easter Monday (Geelong v Hawthorn) in, I don’t have Rankine (and Adelaide) versus the Suns in there.”
See Cooney’s list below:
7. Carlton v Collingwood (Round 10)
“We know what happened, the fireworks in Round 23 last season.
“I think these will be two seriously good sides in season 2023.
“That will be a massive, massive crowd at the MCG, 90,000-plus. It’ll be huge.”
6. Horne-Francis and Port Adelaide v North Melbourne (Round 9)
“Unfortunately this one is at Blundstone Arena so that takes a little bit of jam out of the donut.
“But I think it will be a pretty fiery encounter. I think there’s a little bit of bad blood between the two.
“A few North Melbourne players have slyly voiced their disapproval of Jason Horne-Francis leaving.
“I think that will be a fiery clash.”
5. Dreamtime at the ‘G - Richmond v Essendon (Round 10)
“It’s a terrific game.
“Hopefully it’s a good encounter with Essendon and Richmond. They’re two sides that we don’t know what we’re going to get with them in the next year.
“It’s always a cracking game. There’ll be 85,000-plus there and the atmosphere is always awesome at night.”
4. The Showdown - Adelaide and Port Adelaide (Rounds 3 & TBC)
“Just about the only rivalry that’s really fiercely contested over a long period of time left in the AFL.
“The Western Derby is similar but there’s a bit more spice in Showdowns.
“They’re always epic encounters. There was a good one last year with Jordan Dawson (and his after-the-siren goal).”
3. King’s Birthday - Melbourne and Collingwood (Round 13)
“With Brodie Grundy facing his old side for the first time at the MCG.
“Always an amazing game.”
2. ANZAC Day - Essendon and Collingwood (Round 6)
“Easily the best home and away game of the year.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in one of those with the Bombers.
“That’s the best game, but the one I’m looking forward to most is…”
1. The season opener - Richmond v Carlton (Round 1)
“The season opener with Richmond and Carlton.
“They got the choccies last season, the Blues. First time for a very long time they’ve beaten Richmond in the season opener.
“I put it at number one because it is the first game of the AFL season and it kicks off a massive year.”