Game Information
Optus Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- WCE 317
- 364 MELB
-
Kicks
- WCE 183
- 210 MELB
-
Handballs
- WCE 134
- 154 MELB
-
Free Kicks
- WCE 22
- 23 MELB
-
Clearances
- WCE 26
- 49 MELB
-
Inside 50
- WCE 43
- 59 MELB
-
Tackles
- WCE 58
- 56 MELB
-
Hit-Outs
- WCE 27
- 49 MELB
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
2
J. Waterman3 Goals
10
D. Turner3 Goals
Disposals
23
R. Maric26 Disposals
11
M. Gawn35 Disposals
Contested Possessions
4
O. Allen10 Contested Possessions
11
M. Gawn22 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 33:16 |  | T. Brockman Behind | 76 - 108 |
| 32:38 | | T. Brockman Behind | 75 - 108 |
| 29:08 |  | E. Langdon Goal | 74 - 108 |
| 27:28 | | E. Hewett Goal | 74 - 102 |
| 25:25 | | C. Spargo Goal | 68 - 102 |
| 21:39 | | J. Cripps Goal | 68 - 96 |
| 19:52 | | J. Waterman Goal | 62 - 96 |
| 17:46 | | M. Gawn Goal | 56 - 96 |
| 15:23 | | J. Waterman Goal | 56 - 90 |
| 12:53 | | M. Owies Behind | 50 - 90 |
| 11:40 | | H. Sharp Goal | 49 - 90 |
| 9:38 | | E. Hewett Goal | 49 - 84 |
| 7:53 | | D. Turner Goal | 43 - 84 |
| 5:34 | | D. Turner Goal | 43 - 78 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 31:26 | | B. Fritsch Behind | 43 - 72 |
| 28:44 | | K. Pickett Goal | 43 - 71 |
| 26:56 | | J. Viney Goal | 43 - 65 |
| 25:39 | | H. Sharp Behind | 43 - 59 |
| 23:32 | | H. Langford Behind | 43 - 58 |
| 21:21 | | D. Turner Goal | 43 - 57 |
| 19:21 | | K. Chandler Goal | 43 - 51 |
| 16:54 | | K. Tholstrup Behind | 43 - 45 |
| 13:00 | | K. Tholstrup Behind | 43 - 44 |
| 10:48 | | J. Waterman Goal | 43 - 43 |
| 8:57 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 37 - 43 |
| 7:15 | | E. Langdon Goal | 37 - 37 |
| 3:35 | | C. Windsor Goal | 37 - 31 |
| 1:07 | | J. Cripps Goal | 37 - 25 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 30:41 | | A. Reid Behind | 31 - 25 |
| 28:52 | | T. Brockman Goal | 30 - 25 |
| 26:48 | | J. Hunt Goal | 24 - 25 |
| 19:44 | | E. Hewett Goal | 18 - 25 |
| 19:02 | | C. Spargo Behind | 12 - 25 |
| 17:21 | | J. Williams Goal | 12 - 24 |
| 12:09 | | C. Petracca Behind | 6 - 24 |
| 9:42 | | M. Gawn Behind | 6 - 23 |
| 6:26 | | J. Hunt Behind | 6 - 22 |
| 4:30 | | K. Chandler Behind | 5 - 22 |
| 2:50 | | J. Melksham Goal | 5 - 21 |
| 2:02 | | K. Pickett Behind | 5 - 15 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 30:17 | | B. Hough Behind | 5 - 14 |
| 23:12 | | K. Tholstrup Behind | 4 - 14 |
| 22:06 | | J. Waterman Behind | 4 - 13 |
| 19:27 | | Rushed | 3 - 13 |
| 18:43 | | J. Williams Behind | 3 - 12 |
| 12:41 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 2 - 12 |
| 9:26 | | J. Waterman Behind | 2 - 6 |
| 4:07 | | H. Reid Behind | 1 - 6 |
| 1:41 | | C. Petracca Goal | 0 - 6 |
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 |