Game Information
Optus Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- WCE 349
- 403 MELB
-
Kicks
- WCE 208
- 222 MELB
-
Handballs
- WCE 141
- 181 MELB
-
Free Kicks
- WCE 25
- 18 MELB
-
Clearances
- WCE 27
- 37 MELB
-
Inside 50
- WCE 35
- 59 MELB
-
Tackles
- WCE 61
- 52 MELB
-
Hit-Outs
- WCE 19
- 47 MELB
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
27
J. Darling1 Goals
25
T. McDonald4 Goals
Disposals
11
T. Kelly32 Disposals
10
C. Oliver29 Disposals
Contested Possessions
11
T. Kelly13 Contested Possessions
7
J. Viney13 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 33:03 |  | P. Naish Behind | 38 - 112 |
| 30:57 |  | K. Chandler Behind | 37 - 112 |
| 29:54 | | T. McDonald Goal | 37 - 111 |
| 28:22 | | K. Pickett Behind | 37 - 105 |
| 25:59 | | K. Pickett Goal | 37 - 104 |
| 24:22 | | J. McGovern Goal | 37 - 98 |
| 20:16 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 31 - 98 |
| 19:04 | | S. Petrevski-Seton Behind | 31 - 92 |
| 17:14 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 30 - 92 |
| 15:06 | | M. Gawn Behind | 30 - 86 |
| 12:36 | | A. Neal-Bullen Goal | 30 - 85 |
| 10:52 | | C. Spargo Goal | 30 - 79 |
| 8:53 | | J. Darling Goal | 30 - 73 |
| 7:02 | | T. McDonald Goal | 24 - 73 |
| 3:43 | | T. Kelly Behind | 24 - 67 |
| 1:04 | | Rushed | 23 - 67 |
| 0:19 | | Rushed | 22 - 67 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 26:58 | | T. McDonald Goal | 22 - 66 |
| 25:12 | | C. Petracca Behind | 22 - 60 |
| 23:10 | | C. Petracca Behind | 22 - 59 |
| 17:30 | | Bailey J. Williams Goal | 22 - 58 |
| 12:46 | | C. Petracca Goal | 16 - 58 |
| 8:30 | | B. Fritsch Behind | 16 - 52 |
| 6:58 | | J. Darling Behind | 16 - 51 |
| 5:05 | | J. Cripps Goal | 15 - 51 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 24:53 | | C. Petracca Behind | 9 - 51 |
| 21:35 | | C. Petracca Behind | 9 - 50 |
| 20:05 | | T. McDonald Behind | 9 - 49 |
| 14:02 | | Rushed | 9 - 48 |
| 12:09 | | L. Foley Behind | 9 - 47 |
| 8:05 | | B. Brown Goal | 8 - 47 |
| 4:10 | | G. Clark Behind | 8 - 41 |
| 2:56 | | Rushed | 7 - 41 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 26:23 | | C. Spargo Behind | 6 - 41 |
| 25:09 | | B. Brown Goal | 6 - 40 |
| 23:38 | | C. Oliver Behind | 6 - 34 |
| 19:06 | | K. Pickett Goal | 6 - 33 |
| 16:47 | | L. Jackson Behind | 6 - 27 |
| 14:08 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 6 - 26 |
| 11:46 | | K. Pickett Goal | 6 - 20 |
| 9:40 | | C. Petracca Goal | 6 - 14 |
| 7:53 | | J. Harmes Behind | 6 - 8 |
| 6:35 | | T. McDonald Goal | 6 - 7 |
| 5:30 | | K. Pickett Behind | 6 - 1 |
| 3:19 | | J. Waterman Goal | 6 - 0 |
AFL News
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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.
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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 |