Game Information
MCG
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- ESS 397
- 379 MELB
-
Kicks
- ESS 205
- 225 MELB
-
Handballs
- ESS 192
- 154 MELB
-
Free Kicks
- ESS 11
- 15 MELB
-
Clearances
- ESS 36
- 32 MELB
-
Inside 50
- ESS 50
- 56 MELB
-
Tackles
- ESS 61
- 47 MELB
-
Hit-Outs
- ESS 23
- 40 MELB
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
20
P. Wright2 Goals
17
J. Jordon2 Goals
Disposals
7
Z. Merrett41 Disposals
10
C. Oliver34 Disposals
Contested Possessions
3
D. Parish14 Contested Possessions
10
C. Oliver15 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 19:57 |  | C. Hooker Goal | 57 - 68 |
| 17:45 |  | Rushed | 51 - 68 |
| 14:28 | | P. Wright Goal | 51 - 67 |
| 13:04 | | T. Sparrow Goal | 45 - 67 |
| 10:23 | | J. Stringer Behind | 45 - 61 |
| 4:10 | | Rushed | 44 - 61 |
| 2:50 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Behind | 44 - 60 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 27:59 | | C. Petracca Goal | 43 - 60 |
| 25:48 | | H. Jones Goal | 43 - 54 |
| 24:32 | | J. Harmes Behind | 37 - 54 |
| 22:23 | | B. Fritsch Behind | 37 - 53 |
| 21:00 | | Rushed | 37 - 52 |
| 19:01 | | D. Heppell Goal | 37 - 51 |
| 16:41 | | Rushed | 31 - 51 |
| 12:29 | | C. Petracca Goal | 30 - 51 |
| 7:53 | | J. Jordon Goal | 30 - 45 |
| 5:25 | | Rushed | 30 - 39 |
| 2:13 | | T. McDonald Goal | 29 - 39 |
| 1:25 | | J. Harmes Behind | 29 - 33 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 27:49 | | J. Jordon Goal | 29 - 32 |
| 26:20 | | B. Ham Behind | 29 - 26 |
| 25:25 | | A. Perkins Behind | 28 - 26 |
| 23:17 | | P. Wright Goal | 27 - 26 |
| 19:44 | | C. Spargo Goal | 21 - 26 |
| 18:26 | | L. Jackson Goal | 21 - 20 |
| 17:17 | | L. Jackson Behind | 21 - 14 |
| 11:37 | | T. McDonald Behind | 21 - 13 |
| 7:06 | | Rushed | 21 - 12 |
| 2:35 | | H. Jones Goal | 21 - 11 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 26:11 | | D. Smith Goal | 15 - 11 |
| 24:13 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Behind | 9 - 11 |
| 22:35 | | Rushed | 8 - 11 |
| 21:00 | | J. Stringer Goal | 8 - 10 |
| 19:57 | | J. Stringer Behind | 2 - 10 |
| 18:15 | | Rushed | 1 - 10 |
| 16:31 | | J. Harmes Goal | 1 - 9 |
| 13:01 | | L. Jackson Behind | 1 - 3 |
| 11:57 | | J. Jordon Behind | 1 - 2 |
| 6:26 | | A. Brayshaw Behind | 1 - 1 |
| 4:00 | | Z. Merrett Behind | 1 - 0 |
AFL News
![]()
AFL Round 1: Team news, fixtures, games, tips, odds -- everything you need to know
Round 1 of the 2026 AFL season gets underway Thursday night with a traditional rivalry clash between Carlton and Richmond. On Friday, Essendon will get its season underway against Hawthorn.
![]()
Joly: Carlton showed the same 'issues' in Sydney loss
Champion Data's Christian Joly says Carlton's issues from last year remain, with the Blues unable to stem the bleeding in their 53-point loss to Sydney.
![]()
Voss keen to move past Carlton's off-field woes
Carlton coach Michael Voss has declared the leaking of former captain Sam Docherty's expletive-laden criticism an example of the club continuing to "culturally defeat" itself after a poor start to the AFL season.
![]()
Judging the biggest AFL overreactions: Reaction to Docherty and Gorringe has been over the top
Is the reaction to Sam Docherty's rant been over the top? Is this the beginning of the end for Geelong? In the AFL overreactions this week, we judge the biggest takeways as legitimate or irrational.
![]()
An 'authentic' new era: McGrath ready to embrace Dons captaincy challenge
His opportunity to lead the Bombers may have come about through unusual circumstances, but Andrew McGrath says he 'lives and breathes red and black' and is ready to usher in a new era.
![]()
Expert tips, best tips for Round 1 of the AFL
Who should you be tipping in Round 1 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!
2026 AFL Standings
| POS | Team | Pts. | % | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 SYD
|
4 | 191.3 | W |
| 2 |
 SUNS
|
4 | 181.2 | W |
| 3 |
 GWS
|
4 | 128.4 | W |
| 4 |
 COLL
|
4 | 118.2 | W |
| 5 |
 WB
|
4 | 104.7 | W |
| 6 |
 BL
|
0 | 95.5 | L |
| 7 |
 STK
|
0 | 84.6 | L |
| 8 |
 HAW
|
0 | 77.9 | L |
| 9 |
 GEEL
|
0 | 55.2 | L |
| 10 |
 CARL
|
0 | 52.3 | L |
| 11 |
 FRE
|
0 | 0.0 | |
| 12 |
 MELB
|
0 | 0.0 | |
| 13 |
 WCE
|
0 | 0.0 | |
| 14 |
 NMFC
|
0 | 0.0 | |
| 15 |
 PORT
|
0 | 0.0 | |
| 16 |
 RICH
|
0 | 0.0 | |
| 17 |
 ADEL
|
0 | 0.0 | |
| 18 |
 ESS
|
0 | 0.0 |