For the third year in a row, opening round matches will be played in front of sellout crowds, generating front- and back-page articles and numerous television spots in NSW and Queensland. The round was introduced to turn the focus to AFL, as it’s called in these parts, in Queensland and NSW, before the spotlight inevitably returns to Victoria. It’s been an overwhelming success.

But there’s a sense from “down South” that Victoria is missing out. It’s not. The same number of games will be played in Victoria this season regardless of opening round. Anyway, the AFL has relented and on Sunday St Kilda will........

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