Game Information
Optus Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- WCE 364
- 376 ESS
-
Kicks
- WCE 218
- 236 ESS
-
Handballs
- WCE 146
- 140 ESS
-
Free Kicks
- WCE 16
- 15 ESS
-
Clearances
- WCE 37
- 38 ESS
-
Inside 50
- WCE 45
- 57 ESS
-
Tackles
- WCE 46
- 55 ESS
-
Hit-Outs
- WCE 52
- 14 ESS
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
17
J. J. Kennedy3 Goals
20
J. Stringer3 Goals
Disposals
4
D. Sheed43 Disposals
7
Z. Merrett37 Disposals
Contested Possessions
9
N. Naitanui17 Contested Possessions
3
D. Parish17 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 30:46 |  | K. Langford Behind | 71 - 87 |
| 26:06 | | A. Waterman Goal | 71 - 86 |
| 22:40 | | J. Stringer Goal | 71 - 80 |
| 21:05 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Behind | 71 - 74 |
| 16:22 | | N. Hind Behind | 71 - 73 |
| 14:21 | | C. Hooker Behind | 71 - 72 |
| 12:42 |  | J. Waterman Goal | 71 - 71 |
| 10:42 | | Rushed | 65 - 71 |
| 9:06 | | D. Parish Behind | 65 - 70 |
| 6:57 | | C. Hooker Behind | 65 - 69 |
| 0:39 | | J. Stringer Goal | 65 - 68 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 27:53 | | N. Cox Behind | 65 - 62 |
| 25:58 | | J. Stringer Goal | 65 - 61 |
| 24:36 | | E. Yeo Behind | 65 - 55 |
| 23:59 | | Josh J. Kennedy Behind | 64 - 55 |
| 20:04 | | J. Waterman Behind | 63 - 55 |
| 18:09 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal | 62 - 55 |
| 15:51 | | N. Cox Goal | 62 - 49 |
| 13:57 | | C. Hooker Goal | 62 - 43 |
| 8:56 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 62 - 37 |
| 6:51 | | J. Petruccelle Behind | 56 - 37 |
| 4:31 | | J. Cripps Behind | 55 - 37 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 33:14 | | K. Langford Goal | 54 - 37 |
| 30:43 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal | 54 - 31 |
| 25:28 | | D. Sheed Goal | 54 - 25 |
| 24:00 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 48 - 25 |
| 22:43 | | J. Stringer Behind | 42 - 25 |
| 17:32 | | J. Stringer Behind | 42 - 24 |
| 15:05 | | J. Cripps Goal | 42 - 23 |
| 12:28 | | B. Ah Chee Goal | 36 - 23 |
| 10:34 | | J. Waterman Goal | 30 - 23 |
| 8:46 | | Rushed | 24 - 23 |
| 2:23 | | W. Snelling Goal | 24 - 22 |
| 1:02 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 24 - 16 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 22:58 | | A. Waterman Behind | 18 - 16 |
| 17:43 | | C. Hooker Goal | 18 - 15 |
| 13:58 | | A. Perkins Behind | 18 - 9 |
| 12:39 | | C. Hooker Behind | 18 - 8 |
| 10:02 | | L. Ryan Goal | 18 - 7 |
| 7:49 | | H. Jones Goal | 12 - 7 |
| 5:38 | | J. Darling Goal | 12 - 1 |
| 3:05 | | Z. Merrett Behind | 6 - 1 |
| 1:48 | | J. Petruccelle Goal | 6 - 0 |
AFL News
![]()
Six Points: Dons surely win the spoon; the attacking 'behemoth' taking footy by storm
This week's Six Points feature the dismal Bombers, another week of poor fixturing, why the Brownlow Medal should be a two-horse race, and a truly wild Ben King stat.
![]()
Hird weighs in as battling Bombers confront rough start
Former Essendon coach and club great James Hird says he can't see what the Bombers are trying to do on the field in their dismal start to the AFL season.
![]()
Suns hit as star's rough conduct AFL ban upheld
Bailey Humphrey's rough conduct ban has been upheld by the AFL tribunal in a blow to Gold Coast that compounds the loss of Christian Petracca to injury.
![]()
Expert tips, best tips for Round 3 of the AFL
Who should you be tipping in Round 3 of the 2026 AFL season? Our footy experts have put their heads together to help you out. So open your ESPN Footytips app, take notes, and get ahead of the game!
![]()
On the players, not Brad Scott, to fix Bombers' issues: Kyle Langford
Essendon buckle under pressure, their defence isn't up to AFL standard and it's on the players, not coach Brad Scott, to fix it.
![]()
Lions-Saints fued 'fun' but not the focus: Ashcroft
Will Ashcroft says he doesn't expect there to be on-field fireworks after an off-field war of words between St Kilda and Brisbane in the offseason.
2026 AFL Standings
| POS | Team | Pts. | % | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 SUNS
|
12 | 191.0 | WWW |
| 2 |
 WB
|
12 | 137.2 | WWW |
| 3 |
 SYD
|
8 | 139.5 | WWL |
| 4 |
 HAW
|
8 | 118.1 | LWW |
| 5 |
 FRE
|
4 | 121.1 | LW |
| 6 |
 NMFC
|
4 | 116.3 | WL |
| 7 |
 PORT
|
4 | 109.3 | LW |
| 8 |
 ADEL
|
4 | 104.6 | WL |
| 9 |
 COLL
|
4 | 98.7 | WL |
| 10 |
 STK
|
4 | 92.3 | LLW |
| 11 |
 MELB
|
4 | 84.4 | WL |
| 12 |
 WCE
|
4 | 81.3 | LW |
| 13 |
 GWS
|
4 | 81.1 | WLL |
| 14 |
 GEEL
|
4 | 79.6 | LW |
| 15 |
 CARL
|
4 | 70.9 | LW |
| 16 |
 BL
|
0 | 77.2 | LL |
| 17 |
 RICH
|
0 | 64.5 | LL |
| 18 |
 ESS
|
0 | 55.0 | LL |