Game Information
Optus Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- WCE 309
- 356 NMFC
-
Kicks
- WCE 175
- 216 NMFC
-
Handballs
- WCE 134
- 140 NMFC
-
Free Kicks
- WCE 23
- 26 NMFC
-
Clearances
- WCE 30
- 48 NMFC
-
Inside 50
- WCE 58
- 43 NMFC
-
Tackles
- WCE 62
- 87 NMFC
-
Hit-Outs
- WCE 48
- 34 NMFC
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
2
J. Waterman3 Goals
20
N. Larkey5 Goals
Disposals
6
E. Yeo23 Disposals
16
Z. Fisher36 Disposals
Contested Possessions
6
E. Yeo16 Contested Possessions
6
G. Wardlaw15 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 36:42 |  | J. McGovern Behind | 65 - 74 |
| 34:29 |  | P. Curtis Goal | 64 - 74 |
| 33:06 | | J. Simpkin Goal | 64 - 68 |
| 28:22 | | C. Zurhaar Behind | 64 - 62 |
| 25:59 | | J. Waterman Goal | 64 - 61 |
| 20:19 | | E. Yeo Goal | 58 - 61 |
| 15:57 | | A. Witherden Goal | 52 - 61 |
| 13:44 | | Rushed | 46 - 61 |
| 11:21 | | R. Maric Behind | 46 - 60 |
| 10:07 | | J. Waterman Goal | 45 - 60 |
| 6:53 | | M. Flynn Goal | 39 - 60 |
| 4:03 | | J. Waterman Goal | 33 - 60 |
| 1:45 | | J. Simpkin Goal | 27 - 60 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 28:51 | | D. Sheed Behind | 27 - 54 |
| 28:05 | | J. Cripps Behind | 26 - 54 |
| 25:20 | | H. Sheezel Goal | 25 - 54 |
| 23:37 | | Rushed | 25 - 48 |
| 21:22 | | E. Yeo Behind | 24 - 48 |
| 18:49 | | J. Hutchinson Behind | 23 - 48 |
| 15:29 | | C. Comben Behind | 22 - 48 |
| 13:13 | | N. Larkey Goal | 22 - 47 |
| 9:05 | | N. Larkey Goal | 22 - 41 |
| 7:10 | | N. Larkey Goal | 22 - 35 |
| 1:13 | | J. Waterman Behind | 22 - 29 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 29:49 | | N. Larkey Goal | 21 - 29 |
| 27:42 | | J. Cripps Behind | 21 - 23 |
| 26:34 | | J. Culley Behind | 20 - 23 |
| 23:19 | | C. Zurhaar Goal | 19 - 23 |
| 21:32 | | Rushed | 19 - 17 |
| 19:57 | | E. Ford Behind | 18 - 17 |
| 18:26 | | N. Larkey Goal | 18 - 16 |
| 15:52 | | Rushed | 18 - 10 |
| 13:31 | | J. Cripps Behind | 17 - 10 |
| 10:24 | | J. Cripps Goal | 16 - 10 |
| 7:16 | | J. Stephenson Goal | 10 - 10 |
| 6:24 | | Rushed | 10 - 4 |
| 2:29 | | C. Zurhaar Behind | 10 - 3 |
| 1:01 | | L. Davies-Uniacke Behind | 10 - 2 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 28:34 | | J. Darling Behind | 10 - 1 |
| 26:24 | | J. Darling Goal | 9 - 1 |
| 17:12 | | J. Waterman Behind | 3 - 1 |
| 13:27 | | B. Scott Behind | 2 - 1 |
| 5:19 | | J. Darling Behind | 2 - 0 |
| 2:11 | | 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 |