LUKE WEST: Well Bourkey, the footy is back at last and for me, the wait was well worth it.
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The Bombers knock over Sydney to go 2-0 and neither Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond or Hawthorn win.
Good to have the AFL back on the TV. What did you make of the viewing experience?
ADAM BOURKE: The Essendon-Sydney result took the gloss off a great weekend of footy.
Loved what the Gold Coast Suns did in toppling West Coast, but my favourite win of the weekend was St Kilda on Sunday night.
The Saints play attractive footy and you can't help but respect Brett Ratten.
His interview on SEN on Monday was brilliant. He lauded Bendigo boy Jarryn Geary for his leadership and selflessness after he played a new role on the weekend - defensive forward on Dogs' star Jason Johannisen.
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LW: Great win for the Saints, who had plenty of time to dwell on their squandered opportunity against North Melbourne back in round one, but Jarryn just can't seem to take a trick.
After enduring the horrible compartment syndrome and broken leg setbacks last year, he now has to miss a big game this week against the Magpies with a hamstring. Just hope Jarryn gets a decent crack at it this year with his body because there looks to be a bit to like about the Saints off the back of their productive trade period.
Collingwood v St Kilda at the MCG twilight Saturday probably looks the pick of the games in round three this weekend.
AB: Should be a cracker. The Saints, quite rightfully, will fancy their chances against a Collingwood side that lacked potency inside forward 50 against the Tigers.
Not convinced that Jaidyn Stephenson will solve the Magpies' scoring issues, so it will be interesting to see what they serve up this week.
The Bulldogs versus Giants clash on Friday night has plenty riding on it. It was great to see Jye Caldwell play well for the Giants albeit in a loss to North Melbourne last week. The former Pioneers and Golden Square midfielder was the Giants best player in the first half.
LW: I wouldn't be too keen on being a Bulldogs supporter at the moment. Whacked by the Giants by 10 goals in an elimination final last year, wait six months and then cop a 52-pointer off Collingwood in round one, and then wait another three months to get rolled by 39 by the Saints.
The Bulldogs and Giants have built a rivalry in recent years and it should be a desperate Friday night clash given both are coming off losses last week and in a shortened season you can't afford to be dropping behind the eight-ball early.
I still like the Giants to be a major player at the pointy end of the season and will back them in to consign the Dogs to a 0-3 start.
Who's your certainty this week and best roughie?
AB: Geelong is the obvious certainty, but I won't go down that path. Port Adelaide is a good thing to beat the Dockers and Melbourne is the outsider in betting against the Bombers. Give me the Dees.
LW: The Dees over the Bombers... turn it up.
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