Game Information
Blundstone Arena
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- NMFC 352
- 404 MELB
-
Kicks
- NMFC 192
- 208 MELB
-
Handballs
- NMFC 160
- 196 MELB
-
Free Kicks
- NMFC 10
- 19 MELB
-
Clearances
- NMFC 40
- 40 MELB
-
Inside 50
- NMFC 45
- 69 MELB
-
Tackles
- NMFC 64
- 54 MELB
-
Hit-Outs
- NMFC 47
- 37 MELB
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
40
E. Ford3 Goals
28
A. Neal-Bullen3 Goals
Disposals
7
J. Ziebell32 Disposals
10
A. Brayshaw37 Disposals
Contested Possessions
9
L. Davies-Uniacke17 Contested Possessions
3
C. Petracca16 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 23:38 |  | P. Curtis Behind | 71 - 103 |
| 22:29 |  | K. Chandler Goal | 70 - 103 |
| 20:19 | | Rushed | 70 - 97 |
| 14:12 | | A. Neal-Bullen Behind | 70 - 96 |
| 12:23 | | C. Petracca Behind | 70 - 95 |
| 9:11 | | C. Taylor Goal | 70 - 94 |
| 7:13 | | C. Petracca Behind | 64 - 94 |
| 5:36 | | Rushed | 64 - 93 |
| 4:15 | | J. van Rooyen Behind | 64 - 92 |
| 0:16 | | J. Stephenson Behind | 64 - 91 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 30:06 | | J. Melksham Behind | 63 - 91 |
| 28:14 | | A. Neal-Bullen Goal | 63 - 90 |
| 26:04 | | J. van Rooyen Goal | 63 - 84 |
| 24:32 | | J. Simpkin Goal | 63 - 78 |
| 20:25 | | A. Neal-Bullen Goal | 57 - 78 |
| 19:08 | | C. Petracca Goal | 57 - 72 |
| 16:30 | | W. Phillips Behind | 57 - 66 |
| 12:47 | | C. Petracca Goal | 56 - 66 |
| 10:17 | | H. Petty Goal | 56 - 60 |
| 6:01 | | Rushed | 56 - 54 |
| 3:28 | | Rushed | 56 - 53 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 33:00 | | J. van Rooyen Goal | 56 - 52 |
| 30:41 | | K. Pickett Goal | 56 - 46 |
| 29:40 | | Rushed | 56 - 40 |
| 26:43 | | K. Chandler Goal | 56 - 39 |
| 25:01 | | T. Goldstein Goal | 56 - 33 |
| 21:49 | | N. Larkey Behind | 50 - 33 |
| 20:02 | | K. Chandler Goal | 49 - 33 |
| 17:32 | | A. Neal-Bullen Goal | 49 - 27 |
| 15:54 | | P. Curtis Goal | 49 - 21 |
| 14:38 | | J. Stephenson Behind | 43 - 21 |
| 14:38 | | J. Stephenson Behind | 43 - 21 |
| 12:13 | | H. Petty Goal | 42 - 21 |
| 8:21 | | K. Pickett Goal | 42 - 15 |
| 5:35 | | R. Hansen Jr Behind | 42 - 9 |
| 1:06 | | N. Larkey Goal | 41 - 9 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 34:15 | | C. Petracca Behind | 35 - 9 |
| 31:15 | | E. Ford Goal | 35 - 8 |
| 30:44 | | N. Larkey Behind | 29 - 8 |
| 26:03 | | J. van Rooyen Behind | 28 - 8 |
| 21:50 | | B. Scott Goal | 28 - 7 |
| 17:30 | | E. Ford Goal | 22 - 7 |
| 15:26 | | E. Ford Goal | 16 - 7 |
| 12:51 | | T. Goldstein Goal | 10 - 7 |
| 12:26 | | Rushed | 4 - 7 |
| 8:17 | | T. Sparrow Behind | 3 - 7 |
| 7:11 | | K. Pickett Goal | 3 - 6 |
| 6:10 | | L. Davies-Uniacke Behind | 3 - 0 |
| 5:02 | | B. Scott Behind | 2 - 0 |
| 0:37 | | P. Curtis 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 |