Game Information
Optus Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- WCE 374
- 306 NMFC
-
Kicks
- WCE 206
- 185 NMFC
-
Handballs
- WCE 168
- 121 NMFC
-
Free Kicks
- WCE 15
- 19 NMFC
-
Clearances
- WCE 33
- 46 NMFC
-
Inside 50
- WCE 60
- 46 NMFC
-
Tackles
- WCE 71
- 67 NMFC
-
Hit-Outs
- WCE 33
- 55 NMFC
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
4
O. Allen2 Goals
25
P. Curtis4 Goals
Disposals
11
T. Kelly26 Disposals
3
H. Sheezel31 Disposals
Contested Possessions
11
T. Kelly19 Contested Possessions
17
T. Goldstein14 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 25:31 |  | Rushed | 72 - 67 |
| 23:29 | | H. Sheezel Behind | 72 - 66 |
| 22:17 | | L. Davies-Uniacke Goal | 72 - 65 |
| 12:46 | | N. Larkey Goal | 72 - 59 |
| 9:03 | | T. Xerri Goal | 72 - 53 |
| 7:04 | | Rushed | 72 - 47 |
| 4:00 | | N. Larkey Goal | 72 - 46 |
| 1:16 |  | E. Hewett Behind | 72 - 40 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 28:32 | | J. Hunt Behind | 71 - 40 |
| 25:51 | | T. Kelly Behind | 70 - 40 |
| 21:39 | | E. Hewett Goal | 69 - 40 |
| 16:48 | | N. Long Behind | 63 - 40 |
| 11:36 | | N. Long Goal | 62 - 40 |
| 10:11 | | J. Darling Goal | 56 - 40 |
| 7:47 | | O. Allen Behind | 50 - 40 |
| 4:02 | | E. Hewett Behind | 49 - 40 |
| 2:23 | | O. Allen Behind | 48 - 40 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 32:17 | | O. Allen Goal | 47 - 40 |
| 30:07 | | P. Curtis Goal | 41 - 40 |
| 27:42 | | J. Williams Behind | 41 - 34 |
| 22:18 | | J. Williams Behind | 40 - 34 |
| 20:45 | | N. Larkey Behind | 39 - 34 |
| 18:55 | | P. Curtis Goal | 39 - 33 |
| 15:17 | | T. Xerri Goal | 39 - 27 |
| 13:32 | | X. O'Neill Behind | 39 - 21 |
| 11:38 | | P. Curtis Goal | 38 - 21 |
| 9:54 | | R. Hansen Jr Behind | 38 - 15 |
| 8:32 | | P. Curtis Goal | 38 - 14 |
| 5:49 | | P. Curtis Behind | 38 - 8 |
| 3:24 | | J. Petruccelle Goal | 38 - 7 |
| 1:38 | | J. Cripps Goal | 32 - 7 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 25:56 | | J. Hunt Goal | 26 - 7 |
| 22:58 | | N. Larkey Behind | 20 - 7 |
| 19:07 | | O. Allen Goal | 20 - 6 |
| 14:52 | | X. O'Neill Goal | 14 - 6 |
| 12:41 | | J. Cripps Goal | 8 - 6 |
| 5:46 | | K. Turner Goal | 2 - 6 |
| 3:32 | | J. Petruccelle Behind | 2 - 0 |
| 1:24 | | Rushed | 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.
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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.
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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 |