Footy’s Back: Here’s All the Action You Can Expect in Saturday’s Games

Did anyone predict a draw to start the season?

With two games now completed, the 2023 AFL Season is well and truly underway.

It couldn’t have started in a more incredible way, with Richmond and Carlton playing to a stunning draw on Thursday and Collingwood taking out a huge 22-point win over the reigning premiers on Friday.

So, let’s go through the four games scheduled for Saturday.

All times are local.

North Melbourne v West Coast, 1:45pm, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne.

Coming up first, it’s the two teams who sat at the bottom of the ladder throughout 2022.

Both teams are wanting more this year, and with North boasting a new coach in Alistair Clarkson and the Eagles putting together a fine pre-season, this is the game where it starts.

Clarkson’s made some interesting choices, especially in omitting veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein.

Three players are debuting for North Melbourne, in Logue, Shiels and the draft favourite Sheezel.

Meanwhile, the Eagles have put together a strong side, featuring the returns of Oscar Allen and Tom Cole and a massive four debutants in Long, Chesser, Hunt and Ginbey.

After the team meeting today, skip had some special news to reveal 👀 pic.twitter.com/9bFj8liXgu

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) March 14, 2023

With a North Melbourne home game, they’re the favourites, but with West Coast ready to fire, they’ll be set to challenge for the win.

Port Adelaide v Brisbane, 5:35pm, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide.

Brisbane are set to be premiership favourites this year, and the side they’ve selected certainly holds up.

Brisbane are gonna put on display their huge recruits – in the midfield it’ll be Will Ashcroft, Josh Dunkley and Connor McKenna, with Gunston debuting in the forward line.

For Port, it’s a home game, and an important one. Port started 2022 with five straight losses, and they don’t want a repeat.

But without Travis Boak, it’s a big ask.

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, 7:25pm, MCG, Melbourne.

It's the 3000th match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and we couldn't be more pumped. 

The 2021 Grand Final rematch is gonna be a highlight of the day, with both of these sides picking up one win over the other last year.

We previewed this one in our new segment, Around the Grounds in 30 Seconds.

Melbourne will be missing defender Steven May, and the Bulldogs will be playing a tall forward line with Darcy, Naughton, Lobb and Ugle-Hagan.

Gold Coast v Sydney, 7:00pm, Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast.

Can Sydney recover from the horror loss in last year’s GF? Only time will tell.

They’ll travel to the Gold Coast today to take on a side that wants to make finals for the first time ever.

There aren’t many changes to these sides, with Sam Reid the only notable absentee for the Swans.

For Gold Coast, the prodigal son in Ben King will return to the forward line.

That’s Saturday for you – check back in tomorrow for our preview on the three Sunday games.

Header image: AFL.