Round 1 of the Australian Football League is set to break records for attendances and ratings with a crackling start to the season scheduled, beginning with the traditional Carlton vs. Richmond opener.While neither the Tigers nor the Blues made the finals last year, the recent tradition of this being the first match of the season has reignited a rivalry that was built on six Grand Final clashes, including four between 1969 and 1982.With 80,000 fans expected to attend the match, there is massive betting interest,with the Tigers starting $1.44(AUD)their shortest price in this fixture this decadewhile the Blues are $2.86, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, having lost four straight against the Tigers and having not won this match since 2012.The oddsmakers favour both of these teams to miss the eight again this year, so this is probably their biggest game of the campaign.Twenty-four hours later, Western Bulldogs begin their Premiership defence against Collingwood, also at the MCG.The Dogs produced an epic September last year, winning their four finals at odds of $3.86, $2.46, $3.04 and $2.60 to produce their first premiership since 1954. AFL fairytales don't get better than that.They go into a match as favourites for the first time since their Round 23 match last year. The oddsmakers have them at $1.46, similar odds to when they beat Collingwood narrowly late in the season last year.Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley faces a do-or-die season for his coaching career, with a finals appearance a must if he is to stay in his job. The Pies are $2.80 and are given a 16.5-point start in a match that should feature plenty of attacking football.Sydney begin their quest for redemption after their Grand Final loss of last year with a relatively straightforward assignment at home against Port Adelaide, The Swans are the shortest-priced favourite for the round at $1.25, with the Power at $4.10.St Kilda and Melbourne are two teams expected to challenge for the eight this year after just missing out in 2016. They play each other at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, where the Demons have won just once in 25 matches.In fact, they have lost an extraordinary 14 straight matches against the Saints, and as a result, they are $2 outsiders for this one, with St Kilda at $1.85.Saturday night sees the promise of another MCG epic, with two players returning from long layoffs to captain their sides for the first time. Dyson Heppell will captain Essendon having sat out last year as part of the banned group of players following the 2013 peptides scandal, while Jarryd Roughead will lead Hawthorn having overcome a serious melanoma scare last year. Remarkably, they are both from the same town.While hopes are high for an Essendon revival this year, they go into this match as $2.35 outsiders, with the Hawks at $1.61.Gold Coast are $1.36 to beat Brisbane Lions ($3.20) in their Q-clash at Metricon Stadium, while West Coast ($1.40) are expected to win their opening-round match against North Melbourne ($3) on Sunday.Adelaide might be the value for the round at $2.35 in their home match against the premiership favourites, Greater Western Sydney Giants, who are $1.61 to beat the Crows.The final match sees Geelong head across the Nullarbor to take on Fremantle. The Cats are $1.48 favourites, but plenty of experts think they'll struggle this year, and there has been support for the Dockers, who are $2.70.
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