Game Information
MCG
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- MELB 423
- 326 RICH
-
Kicks
- MELB 245
- 198 RICH
-
Handballs
- MELB 178
- 128 RICH
-
Free Kicks
- MELB 26
- 19 RICH
-
Clearances
- MELB 38
- 38 RICH
-
Inside 50
- MELB 46
- 43 RICH
-
Tackles
- MELB 72
- 42 RICH
-
Hit-Outs
- MELB 44
- 36 RICH
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
31
B. Fritsch2 Goals
19
T. Lynch3 Goals
Disposals
3
C. Salem34 Disposals
27
T. Dow28 Disposals
Contested Possessions
10
C. Oliver15 Contested Possessions
14
T. Taranto11 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 31:58 |  | B. Fritsch Behind | 83 - 63 |
| 29:50 |  | T. Nankervis Goal | 82 - 63 |
| 26:58 | | T. Taranto Goal | 82 - 57 |
| 25:05 | | T. Lynch Goal | 82 - 51 |
| 24:03 | | Rushed | 82 - 45 |
| 20:13 | | T. Lynch Goal | 82 - 44 |
| 14:30 | | M. Gawn Behind | 82 - 38 |
| 9:59 | | B. Fritsch Behind | 81 - 38 |
| 5:22 | | K. Pickett Behind | 80 - 38 |
| 2:23 | | K. Chandler Goal | 79 - 38 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 32:53 | | J. Faull Behind | 73 - 38 |
| 31:02 | | Rushed | 73 - 37 |
| 29:03 | | T. Lynch Behind | 72 - 37 |
| 27:21 | | C. Petracca Goal | 72 - 36 |
| 26:20 | | K. Pickett Behind | 66 - 36 |
| 22:48 | | K. Tholstrup Goal | 65 - 36 |
| 20:20 | | Rushed | 59 - 36 |
| 17:47 | | T. Sparrow Goal | 58 - 36 |
| 13:19 | | T. Lynch Goal | 52 - 36 |
| 9:27 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 52 - 30 |
| 7:55 | | C. Petracca Goal | 46 - 30 |
| 0:59 | | K. Pickett Goal | 40 - 30 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 23:48 | | H. Petty Goal | 34 - 30 |
| 21:37 | | R. Mansell Goal | 28 - 30 |
| 18:40 | | S. Campbell Behind | 28 - 24 |
| 17:05 | | K. McIntosh Behind | 28 - 23 |
| 12:02 | | H. Petty Goal | 28 - 22 |
| 11:35 | | Rushed | 22 - 22 |
| 7:03 | | S. Green Goal | 21 - 22 |
| 3:23 | | H. Petty Behind | 21 - 16 |
| 1:16 | | T. Lynch Behind | 20 - 16 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 30:47 | | T. Taranto Goal | 20 - 15 |
| 27:11 | | S. Lalor Goal | 20 - 9 |
| 25:30 | | J. Hopper Behind | 20 - 3 |
| 23:37 | | K. Chandler Goal | 20 - 2 |
| 22:28 | | Rushed | 14 - 2 |
| 17:09 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 14 - 1 |
| 10:42 | | T. Lynch Behind | 8 - 1 |
| 8:04 | | E. Langdon Goal | 8 - 0 |
| 4:01 | | H. Langford Behind | 2 - 0 |
| 1:55 | | T. Rivers 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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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 |