Game Information
Gabba
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- BL 383
- 370 MELB
-
Kicks
- BL 215
- 228 MELB
-
Handballs
- BL 168
- 142 MELB
-
Free Kicks
- BL 12
- 13 MELB
-
Clearances
- BL 39
- 44 MELB
-
Inside 50
- BL 53
- 58 MELB
-
Tackles
- BL 39
- 41 MELB
-
Hit-Outs
- BL 17
- 53 MELB
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
27
D. Gardiner4 Goals
18
J. Melksham4 Goals
Disposals
8
W. Ashcroft30 Disposals
3
C. Petracca31 Disposals
Contested Possessions
9
L. Neale12 Contested Possessions
11
M. Gawn15 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 29:50 |  | K. Pickett Behind | 88 - 99 |
| 28:38 | | C. Petracca Behind | 88 - 98 |
| 21:07 |  | C. McKenna Goal | 88 - 97 |
| 20:22 | | X. Lindsay Behind | 82 - 97 |
| 19:10 | | E. Langdon Goal | 82 - 96 |
| 17:20 | | B. Fritsch Behind | 82 - 90 |
| 15:03 | | A. Johnson Goal | 82 - 89 |
| 14:20 | | H. Petty Behind | 82 - 83 |
| 13:04 | | K. Pickett Behind | 82 - 82 |
| 10:56 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 82 - 81 |
| 9:17 | | J. Melksham Goal | 82 - 75 |
| 5:48 | | Rushed | 82 - 69 |
| 1:31 | | K. Pickett Behind | 81 - 69 |
| 0:28 | | J. Melksham Behind | 81 - 68 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 30:38 | | D. Gardiner Goal | 81 - 67 |
| 26:12 | | J. Melksham Goal | 75 - 67 |
| 22:41 | | C. Oliver Goal | 75 - 61 |
| 20:02 | | Z. Bailey Goal | 75 - 55 |
| 18:03 | | L. Morris Behind | 69 - 55 |
| 15:59 | | D. Gardiner Goal | 68 - 55 |
| 12:07 | | H. Sharp Behind | 62 - 55 |
| 10:02 | | K. Pickett Goal | 62 - 54 |
| 9:12 | | J. Dunkley Behind | 62 - 48 |
| 5:36 | | T. Sparrow Goal | 61 - 48 |
| 1:03 | | L. Morris Goal | 61 - 42 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 28:59 | | T. Rivers Goal | 55 - 42 |
| 20:34 | | C. Cameron Behind | 55 - 36 |
| 19:22 | | E. Hipwood Behind | 54 - 36 |
| 18:07 | | D. Gardiner Goal | 53 - 36 |
| 15:27 | | T. Rivers Behind | 47 - 36 |
| 14:06 | | K. Chandler Goal | 47 - 35 |
| 10:50 | | J. Melksham Goal | 47 - 29 |
| 6:37 | | C. Ah Chee Behind | 47 - 23 |
| 2:48 | | D. Gardiner Goal | 46 - 23 |
| 1:22 | | C. Cameron Behind | 40 - 23 |
| 0:42 | | K. Pickett Behind | 39 - 23 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 31:04 | | E. Hipwood Goal | 39 - 22 |
| 30:04 | | K. Chandler Behind | 33 - 22 |
| 27:43 | | D. Zorko Behind | 33 - 21 |
| 26:14 | | L. Morris Goal | 32 - 21 |
| 24:24 | | L. Morris Goal | 26 - 21 |
| 21:51 | | Rushed | 20 - 21 |
| 18:32 | | T. McDonald Goal | 20 - 20 |
| 16:59 | | Rushed | 20 - 14 |
| 16:19 | | H. Andrews Behind | 20 - 13 |
| 12:37 | | K. Pickett Goal | 19 - 13 |
| 10:53 | | C. Ah Chee Goal | 19 - 7 |
| 9:12 | | H. McCluggage Goal | 13 - 7 |
| 7:21 | | H. Petty Behind | 7 - 7 |
| 2:38 | | J. Fletcher Goal | 7 - 6 |
| 2:21 | | W. Ashcroft Behind | 1 - 6 |
| 0:57 | | J. Melksham Goal | 0 - 6 |
AFL News
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Voss keen to move past Carlton's off-field woes
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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 |