Table of Contents
Round 1 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday, March 13, with the traditional season-opening clash between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at the MCG.
Round 0 delivered some exciting footy, with the Hawks upsetting the Swans and the Giants making a statement with an impressive win over Collingwood. Now, all eyes turn to the Tigers and Blues as they renew their fierce rivalry.
Richmond enters this season with a massive list turnover and a strong focus on youth under new coach Adem Yze. With several premiership stars departing, the Tigers are in full rebuild mode and could struggle to remain competitive. After winning just two games last season, they may find it tough to improve on that tally in 2025.
On the other hand, Carlton just scraped into the finals last year but struggled for form late in the season. While they have some injury concerns heading into this clash, they will start as heavy favorites.
Preseason form suggests a tough night ahead for Richmond, as they were comprehensively beaten by the Magpies 49-132, while the Blues gained a confidence-boosting 66-124 win over the Giants.
Can the Tigers defy expectations and make this a contest, or will the Blues assert their dominance and start 2025 with a bang?
Here is a Richmond Tigers vs Carlton Blues Prediction for Round 1 of the 2025 AFL Season.
Be sure to check back before each AFL Match for AFL Tips, AFL Predictions, AFL Picks, AFL Previews, AFL Tipping and AFL Quick Facts for each match of the 2025 AFL Season.
Richmond Tigers vs Carlton Blues
Venue – MCG
Bouncedown – 7.20pm EST
2024 Season Record
| Team | W-L-D | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 2-21-0 | 1-11 | 1-10 |
| Carlton | 13-10-0 | 6-5 | 7-5 |
2024 Season Scoring
| Team | Pts | Opp Pts | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 65.4 | 102.8 | 168.2 |
| Carlton | 93.5 | 84.9 | 178.4 |
Quick Game Facts
- The Tigers are desperate to break a brutal 10-game losing streak—can they turn things around?
- Defence has dominated Carlton’s recent games, with their last six all going UNDER the total points line.
- As underdogs, Richmond has struggled, losing eight of their last nine by 25+ points. Can they defy the odds this time?
Prediction
The Tigers are in full rebuild mode, with a lineup packed with young talent for this clash. Meanwhile, Carlton boasts an experienced side, led by tough in-and-under midfielder and dual Brownlow Medalist Patrick Cripps.
The Blues will be without star forward Charlie Curnow and defensive gun Nic Newman, but they should have no trouble securing the win. That said, early-season footy can throw up surprises, and the Tigers might stay in the contest for a couple of quarters before the Blues take control.