Twitter reacts to the opening game of the 2017 AFL season

March 24, 2017 12:43 pm.by Dominic Ciconte

AFL Twitter chat

THERE’S nothing like the hope, excitement and optimism of a new AFL season.

Before a ball has been kicked in anger, before the first roar of the crowd, before the first soul-sapping disappointment and hair-pulling frustration – it’s a wonderful time of the year.

While the AFL didn’t kick off its new season with its best – or even average – clubs on centre stage, the country was just happy to see the MCG in its prime, hosting football again.

Carlton and Richmond – two clubs most pundits agree will fill in the bottom half of the ladder in 2017 – duked it out in front of 73,000-plus fans and it was the Tigers who came up trumps, escaping a first round disaster thanks to a powerful display from new Brownlow Medal hype machine, Dustin Martin.

BettingSite.com.au let’s the Twitter world tell the story of the AFL’s return.

We start with the anticipation and the pure joy from footy people, going back to the mecca – where the AFL season starts and ends – the MCG.

Mass starts 7:20pm @MCG. Tonight’s sermon: what to do when your fig tree doesn’t blossom … and hasn’t since 1980 #AFLBluesTigers #afl ??

— AFL Jesus (@AFLJesus) March 22, 2017

This place..! ??#AFLBluesTigers #AFL pic.twitter.com/FCdaLTsNRN

— Lachlan Cunningham (@LachlanTC) March 23, 2017

Great night of footy #AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/L0BDSyMfkm

— Zachary Tempany (@Tempaaaany) March 23, 2017

While Carlton were able to stay in the contest for large parts of the game, the chasm in talent became too wide and Richmond blew the young Blues out in the final term, winning by 43 points, 20.12 (132) to 14.5 (89).

The win would have come as an enormous relief to the Tigers, who went into the match as overwhelming favourite.

The hero of the hour was Dustin Martin, who compiled 33 disposals, four goals and one 76-metre torpedo that brought back memories of the sensational 70’s.

After his dominant display, Martin’s Brownlow odds plummeted from $14 to $8 at Crownbet.com.au.

The Twitter love for the tattoo’d Tiger who’s known to be overly-aggressive with chopsticks was enormous.

Dusty’s Brownlow odds…#AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/xeEwrZJ6mT

— William Hill Aus (@WillHillAus) March 23, 2017

1 vote – D Martin
2 votes – D Martin
3 votes – D Martin #AFLBluesTigers

— Jackson Ryan (@dctrjack) March 23, 2017

Dusty’s kick ? #aflbluestigers https://t.co/smfidN6Bgg

— Afl Memes (@bestaflmemes) March 23, 2017

Where there’s a hero, there has to be a villain.

Unfortunately for Carlton, it was the alarmingly-well-paid Dale Thomas.

Thomas, entering the final year of his four-year contract with Carlton, came under fire from Blues fans who feel they haven’t quite got value from the former Collingwood premiership player.

His 17-disposal game attracted a new level of frustration from Carlton fans who are already worried about the 28-year-old activating a fifth year to stay at the club on big money again next season.

Dale Thomas on $750,00 a year….at Roughly 85kgs that makes the spud $8823.53/kg Carlton got a bargain there ? #woolworths #AFLBluesTigers

— Robbie Drummond (@1RobbieDrummond) March 23, 2017

Carlton
In: Vescio
Out: Thomas#AFLBluesTigers

— Not that Lazlow (@Lazlow) March 23, 2017

And we introduce to you, new Richmond social media hero, Jason Castagna.

Get used to a lifetime supply of George Costanza Seinfeld memes over the next 20 or so weeks.

Great game – Can’t Stand Ya!!!!!! #AFLBluesTigers @Richmond_FC pic.twitter.com/IciZt8a8yH

— Francis Leach (@SaintFrankly) March 23, 2017

Now, it wouldn’t be a Richmond round 1 victory without fans getting ahead of themselves.

We’ve compiled our favourite takedowns after the match.

The last team to score 20.12.132 in round 1 of an #AFL season (Crows 1997) went on to win the flag that year, and the next. #AFLBluesTigers

— Gigs (@AndrewGigacz) March 23, 2017

So that’s it then. Premiership(Tigers) & Brownlow(Martin) decided for the year. What am I going to do with all my weekends? #AFLBluesTigers

— Ms Clooney (@hotpies4) March 23, 2017

Congratulations to Dustin Martin on winning the Brownlow according to the commentators. #AFLBluesTigers

— Titus O’Reily (@TitusOReily) March 23, 2017

Everyone wrote Carlton off before the season began…who’s laughing now? #AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/mwz1xLziYC

— AFL Crystal Ball (@afl_ball) March 23, 2017

The awkward moment when you very publicly mock someone and then they rip you a new one. #AFLBluesTigers https://t.co/TULRXDWUq9

— Amanda (@atrafic) March 23, 2017

Carlton is fake news. Rebuild a disaster. Sad! #AFLBluesTigers

— Ares Mars (@AresMarsFlack) March 23, 2017

Richmond supporters tonight.#AFLBluesTigers pic.twitter.com/XFOKp5Hkqd

— Luke Martin (@lukemartin83) March 23, 2017

Tonight just proved the old footy saying, no Rhys Palmer, no Carlton.#AFLBluesTigers

— Freo: Pope ⚓ (@FreoPope) March 23, 2017

To finish off, we ask the question:

What’s better than playing well in front of a big crowd in an important round 1 victory?

Getting that Powerade bottle to glide like a magician.

That moment you realize they’re still kids… ? #AFLBluesTigers #RioliGlide pic.twitter.com/zPWb3dPMOW

— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) March 23, 2017