Game Information
Optus Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- WCE 319
- 335 ESS
-
Kicks
- WCE 224
- 203 ESS
-
Handballs
- WCE 95
- 132 ESS
-
Free Kicks
- WCE 14
- 13 ESS
-
Clearances
- WCE 30
- 37 ESS
-
Inside 50
- WCE 42
- 58 ESS
-
Tackles
- WCE 43
- 45 ESS
-
Hit-Outs
- WCE 26
- 36 ESS
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
17
J. J. Kennedy5 Goals
20
P. Wright4 Goals
Disposals
8
J. Redden22 Disposals
7
Z. Merrett28 Disposals
Contested Possessions
13
L. Shuey13 Contested Possessions
9
D. Shiel11 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 27:31 |  | H. Jones Goal | 107 - 97 |
| 26:21 | | N. Martin Goal | 107 - 91 |
| 25:43 |  | R. Bazzo Behind | 107 - 85 |
| 21:33 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 106 - 85 |
| 20:09 | | Rushed | 100 - 85 |
| 17:02 | | H. Jones Goal | 99 - 85 |
| 15:43 | | J. Cripps Behind | 99 - 79 |
| 14:02 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 98 - 79 |
| 10:24 | | J. Stringer Goal | 92 - 79 |
| 6:01 | | W. Rioli Goal | 92 - 73 |
| 4:31 | | Rushed | 86 - 73 |
| 2:15 | | Rushed | 85 - 73 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 28:57 | | J. Darling Behind | 84 - 73 |
| 27:43 | | W. Rioli Behind | 83 - 73 |
| 25:52 | | N. Hind Behind | 82 - 73 |
| 23:32 | | A. Perkins Behind | 82 - 72 |
| 21:14 | | L. Ryan Goal | 82 - 71 |
| 20:20 | | J. Cripps Behind | 76 - 71 |
| 17:56 | | A. Perkins Behind | 75 - 71 |
| 16:21 | | A. Perkins Goal | 75 - 70 |
| 14:47 | | J. Cripps Goal | 75 - 64 |
| 10:53 | | L. Ryan Goal | 69 - 64 |
| 8:59 | | N. Martin Goal | 63 - 64 |
| 5:40 | | J. Waterman Goal | 63 - 58 |
| 2:35 | | P. Wright Goal | 57 - 58 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 31:20 | | J. Caldwell Behind | 57 - 52 |
| 30:16 | | N. Martin Behind | 57 - 51 |
| 28:11 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 57 - 50 |
| 25:15 | | P. Wright Behind | 51 - 50 |
| 23:33 | | W. Rioli Goal | 51 - 49 |
| 21:15 | | M. Guelfi Goal | 45 - 49 |
| 19:11 | | J. Darling Goal | 45 - 43 |
| 14:17 | | P. Wright Goal | 39 - 43 |
| 10:59 | | J. Cripps Goal | 39 - 37 |
| 8:39 | | W. Rioli Goal | 33 - 37 |
| 6:28 | | Rushed | 27 - 37 |
| 4:46 | | P. Wright Behind | 27 - 36 |
| 0:42 | | J. Cripps Goal | 27 - 35 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 27:53 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 21 - 35 |
| 26:18 | | P. Wright Goal | 15 - 35 |
| 24:59 | | Bailey J. Williams Behind | 15 - 29 |
| 23:41 | | J. Darling Goal | 14 - 29 |
| 22:34 | | Rushed | 8 - 29 |
| 20:26 | | P. Wright Goal | 7 - 29 |
| 18:31 | | A. Perkins Behind | 7 - 23 |
| 18:02 | | Rushed | 7 - 22 |
| 17:18 | | P. Wright Behind | 7 - 21 |
| 13:09 | | J. Stringer Goal | 7 - 20 |
| 10:20 | | M. Guelfi Goal | 7 - 14 |
| 8:00 | | Josh J. Kennedy Goal | 7 - 8 |
| 6:54 | | P. Wright Behind | 1 - 8 |
| 5:13 | | J. Stringer Goal | 1 - 7 |
| 2:59 | | N. Martin Behind | 1 - 1 |
| 1:24 | | J. Darling Behind | 1 - 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.
![]()
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 |