At the start of every season, there would seem to be three AFL match-ups that are cast in stone - Carlton and Richmond to open the season, Collingwood and Essendon on Anzac Day and Melbourne and Collingwood on the Queen's Birthday holiday.

We have no issue with the Pies and the Bombers on April 25 (David Zaharakis anyone?) and the second Monday in June is too far away to contemplate, but we're starting to have serious doubts that the Blues and the Tigers deserve the right to open the season.

There is so much anticipation and excitement ahead of the season opener and on Thursday night at the MCG in pristine conditions, once again we were treated to a stinker. That was the third season in a row where the Blues and Tigers staged the first game of the season and it fizzled as contest not long after it started.

The first quarter was entertaining enough, but the problem was that Carlton had already established a comfortable lead. In such trying conditions, it was always going to take a mighty effort for the Tigers to mount any sort of realistic comeback and like a lot of things - such as hitting a target from a few metres away - it was a task that was beyond them.

The Channel Ten cameras had plenty of fun in the first quarter with their cutaways to the faces of tortured Richmond supporters as Carlton slammed on the first five goals of the game, but their despair was nothing compared to last year. Only the most delusional Richmond supporters believe much will come of this year apart from blooding the kids and for most of them who walked through the gates, the highlight of the night was always going to be the pre-game farewell to their beloved Matthew Richardson.

Carlton's big question coming into the game was going to be who would kick the goals now that Brendan Fevola has departed. Not even the coaches could offer an answer in the lead-up. So it was with great excitement for the Blues that within the first few minutes key forwards Jarrad Waite, Lachie Henderson and Setanta O'hAilpin had each booted a goal.

Setanta finished with three and Waite two, but it was small forwards Eddie Betts and Chris Yarran who also booted three that impressed the most for the Blues. Yarran was drafted with huge wraps in 2008 but hopelessly unfit in his first season. He was lively throughout on Thursday night, but we'd like to see him against better company, starting with the Lions in round two.

Stand-in skipper Andrew Carazzo did well with 40 touches, while Heath Scotland, Kade Simpson and Brock McLean were part of a midfield that did far better than Richmond's. McLean's NAB Cup debut for the Blues was a shocker, so he'll be leased that his debut in the real stuff was far more accomplished.

But there's not a whole lot more that the Blues can take from this one. Four points in the bank, some handy early percentage and no real injuries. But we'll wait for the next few weeks against Brisbane, Essendon, Adelaide, Geelong, Collingwood and St Kilda before we know how good the Blues are.

And whether they deserve the honour of opening the season in 2011.