AFL’s new rules debut in Richmond’s win over Carlton at MCG, and some pros and cons are already on display

In the end, the AFL’s promoted return to normality was somewhat overstated.

Sure, it was footy back at the MCG, and with a substantial crowd in the house to boot. But this wasn’t footy as we remembered it from a pre-COVID era — this was something new entirely.

This was AFL footy in the days of injury subs, strict interchange caps and umpires bellowing “stand!”. It was a version of the game that saw Carlton hang on until around about time-on in the last quarter before giving way to Richmond, instead of some time in the third.

It was thrilling and controversial in the same measure, a triumph and a complete failure all at once.

The opening game of the 2021 men’s season was a perfect storm of talking points for the AFL as everything the…