Game Information
Adelaide Oval
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- MELB 354
- 448 ESS
-
Kicks
- MELB 201
- 244 ESS
-
Handballs
- MELB 153
- 204 ESS
-
Free Kicks
- MELB 17
- 13 ESS
-
Clearances
- MELB 45
- 41 ESS
-
Inside 50
- MELB 51
- 43 ESS
-
Tackles
- MELB 54
- 57 ESS
-
Hit-Outs
- MELB 58
- 34 ESS
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
36
K. Pickett2 Goals
29
J. Menzie4 Goals
Disposals
3
C. Petracca27 Disposals
7
Z. Merrett37 Disposals
Contested Possessions
11
M. Gawn17 Contested Possessions
7
Z. Merrett14 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 32:19 |  | J. Menzie Goal | 57 - 96 |
| 31:06 | | M. Redman Goal | 57 - 90 |
| 22:02 | | N. Caddy Goal | 57 - 84 |
| 20:34 | | Rushed | 57 - 78 |
| 17:30 |  | T. Sparrow Goal | 57 - 77 |
| 14:34 | | B. Hobbs Goal | 51 - 77 |
| 6:22 | | C. Petracca Behind | 51 - 71 |
| 4:08 | | J. Gresham Goal | 50 - 71 |
| 1:32 | | T. Rivers Behind | 50 - 65 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 31:13 | | N. Martin Goal | 49 - 65 |
| 29:19 | | H. Sharp Goal | 49 - 59 |
| 25:48 | | X. Duursma Goal | 43 - 59 |
| 23:23 | | C. Oliver Behind | 43 - 53 |
| 22:15 | | K. Pickett Goal | 42 - 53 |
| 17:34 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 36 - 53 |
| 11:58 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 30 - 53 |
| 7:54 | | H. Petty Goal | 24 - 53 |
| 5:51 | | Z. Merrett Behind | 18 - 53 |
| 3:50 | | C. Petracca Behind | 18 - 52 |
| 1:18 | | A. Perkins Goal | 17 - 52 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 29:23 | | C. Windsor Behind | 17 - 46 |
| 23:37 | | J. Menzie Goal | 16 - 46 |
| 20:47 | | D. Shiel Goal | 16 - 40 |
| 11:19 | | N. Caddy Goal | 16 - 34 |
| 8:18 | | J. Menzie Goal | 16 - 28 |
| 3:31 | | E. Langdon Goal | 16 - 22 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 27:43 | | X. Lindsay Behind | 10 - 22 |
| 25:50 | | J. Viney Behind | 9 - 22 |
| 24:13 | | Rushed | 8 - 22 |
| 18:27 | | Rushed | 7 - 22 |
| 16:54 | | B. Hobbs Goal | 7 - 21 |
| 15:10 | | Rushed | 7 - 15 |
| 13:07 | | B. Hobbs Behind | 7 - 14 |
| 11:02 | | K. Pickett Goal | 7 - 13 |
| 8:58 | | J. Menzie Goal | 1 - 13 |
| 6:27 | | H. Jones Goal | 1 - 7 |
| 3:57 | | Rushed | 1 - 1 |
| 3:29 | | H. Jones Behind | 0 - 1 |
AFL News
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Joly: Carlton showed the same 'issues' in Sydney loss
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Voss keen to move past Carlton's off-field woes
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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
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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!
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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.
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 |