Bombers to face Suns in opening round

Peter Ryan
Essendon face a tough start to their 2025 campaign, expected to meet the Suns on the Gold Coast in opening round before playing the emerging Hawks at the MCG in round one.

Gold Coast beat Essendon on both occasions in 2024, including leaving the Bombers devastated with their round 23 loss when they kicked 1.9 in the final quarter and lost by a point to a Mac Andrew goal after the siren.

The Suns also proved hard to toss at home, winning nine straight there before losing their final two matches on the Gold Coast.

The big-drawing Bombers had a quiet off-season as they stabilise their list after making several acquisitions during last year’s trade period.

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The Bombers and the Hawks are both expected to be additions to opening round, which kicks off the 2025 season in the northern states, according to three competition sources who remained anonymous ahead of the fixture release. Hawthorn are likely to meet Sydney at the SCG for just the second time under Sam Mitchell. The Hawks were thrashed on the previous occasion as Mitchell blooded a young group that progressed to finals this season.

Geelong will face the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, with their Thursday night clash to begin opening round. The Cats will also open Gather Round against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in round five, giving them a long break before they meet Hawthorn at the MCG in their traditional Easter Monday clash.

Collingwood are also expected to play the Giants in opening round in 2025, as they did this season.

The Magpies have lost their past four encounters against the Giants at Giants Stadium. However, the fixture was a sellout in 2024 and the biggest crowd for a non-derby at the venue. Collingwood play Sydney at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night in Gather Round.

Carlton, Melbourne and Richmond were the other three Victorian teams involved in the inaugural opening round this year but will not take part in 2025.

Petracca ready for Demons camp

Jon Pierik
Melbourne expect Christian Petracca to resume full training with the team in a fortnight, while a forgotten Magpie impressed on the track as several AFL clubs officially began pre-season training on Monday.

The Demons and Magpies were two clubs whose first to fourth-year players took to the field for a pre-Christmas block of training, although the sessions are open to senior players depending on their overall summer program.

The Demons are determined to start a fresh chapter after a tumultuous 2024. This year, they finished 14th, dealt with a number of off-field issues, completed two major post-season reviews and last week reached a settlement with former club president Glen Bartlett.

Part of the fresh start includes ushering through more young talent, as per one of the recommendations of the Demons’ football department review.

Emerging forward Jacob van Rooyen and Melbourne’s top draftee of last year, Caleb Windsor, were in excellent condition on Monday. They were among those to confidently navigate a series of football and athletic drills at Gosch’s Paddock, the Demons’ training looking like the high-performance program they said they would have when releasing their review.

Coach Simon Goodwin, heading into his ninth season, was relaxed but focused, and had a warm embrace with Nathan Jones, the former skipper now returning as midfield coach.

Vice-captain Jack Viney and fellow premiership players Tom McDonald, Harrison Petty and Jake Bowey were also on hand to provide leadership despite not having to officially resume for another fortnight as per league rules.

Petracca and fellow midfield star Clayton Oliver were absent. Oliver, who recommitted to the Demons after seeking a trade to Geelong, is dealing with a family issue, while Petracca is well on the mend after a harrowing 2024 campaign featuring major surgery. Petracca has completed an off-season training program in Austria through his sponsor Red Bull.

Demons football boss Alan Richardson said the 2021 Norm Smith medallist was expected to join in full training when the senior players officially resumed in a fortnight at the club’s pre-season camp in the Victorian country town of Bright.

However, he said the Demons would continue to be guided by their medical staff.

Rebounding half-back Christian Salem, restricted to 17 games last season, and forward Bayley Fritsch began training an hour before the main group, and continued to complete their own running programs when teammates took to the field. Former St Kilda ruckman Tom Campbell also completed his own running drills.

Collingwood midfielder Tom Mitchell ran smoothly at training, and has fully recovered from surgery on a plantar fascia issue that all but ended his season. Mitchell managed only six games last season, having also had his appendix removed.

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The 2018 Brownlow medallist joined in running and ball work, the 2023 premiership player and ball magnet keen to have a major impact in his third season in black and white. He will be one of 12 players aged 30 or older that the Magpies will have on their list by July next year.

Former Giant Harry Perryman was a fresh face in a small group of Magpies who took to the track. Perryman, who had been an unrestricted free agent, hopes to spend time in the midfield, having largely been used across half-back in his 129 games for the Giants. Prized recruit Dan Houston did not take to the field.

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