Game Information
MCG
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- MELB 352
- 369 ESS
-
Kicks
- MELB 203
- 222 ESS
-
Handballs
- MELB 149
- 147 ESS
-
Free Kicks
- MELB 23
- 28 ESS
-
Clearances
- MELB 43
- 43 ESS
-
Inside 50
- MELB 63
- 53 ESS
-
Tackles
- MELB 59
- 68 ESS
-
Hit-Outs
- MELB 45
- 34 ESS
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
22
J. Harmes3 Goals
27
S. McKernan4 Goals
Disposals
10
A. Brayshaw34 Disposals
11
D. Zaharakis31 Disposals
Contested Possessions
10
C. Oliver17 Contested Possessions
11
D. Zaharakis16 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 35:24 |  | O. Fantasia Goal | 112 - 130 |
| 33:48 |  | A. Brayshaw Goal | 112 - 124 |
| 31:56 | | J. Harmes Goal | 106 - 124 |
| 30:48 | | J. Stringer Goal | 100 - 124 |
| 27:44 | | J. Melksham Goal | 100 - 118 |
| 25:46 | | D. Parish Goal | 94 - 118 |
| 23:45 | | J. Harmes Goal | 94 - 112 |
| 21:30 | | A. McGrath Goal | 88 - 112 |
| 19:56 | | D. Parish Behind | 88 - 106 |
| 17:10 | | J. Stringer Behind | 88 - 105 |
| 11:30 | | J. Hunt Goal | 88 - 104 |
| 7:52 | | Rushed | 82 - 104 |
| 6:42 | | S. McKernan Goal | 82 - 103 |
| 5:04 | | K. Kolodjashnij Goal | 82 - 97 |
| 3:45 | | D. Parish Behind | 76 - 97 |
| 1:54 | | J. Harmes Behind | 76 - 96 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 28:15 | | S. Weideman Goal | 75 - 96 |
| 25:23 | | J. Hunt Goal | 69 - 96 |
| 22:53 | | D. Smith Goal | 63 - 96 |
| 21:33 | | J. Harmes Behind | 63 - 90 |
| 19:27 | | D. Smith Goal | 62 - 90 |
| 18:16 | | D. Zaharakis Goal | 62 - 84 |
| 13:43 | | J. Hunt Behind | 62 - 78 |
| 11:21 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal | 61 - 78 |
| 8:00 | | M. Baguley Goal | 61 - 72 |
| 6:09 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal | 61 - 66 |
| 0:30 | | J. Stringer Goal | 61 - 60 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 29:06 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal | 61 - 54 |
| 25:31 | | M. Gawn Goal | 61 - 48 |
| 21:37 | | S. Weideman Goal | 55 - 48 |
| 19:21 | | J. Harmes Goal | 49 - 48 |
| 14:13 | | J. Hunt Goal | 43 - 48 |
| 11:32 | | J. Lockhart Goal | 37 - 48 |
| 8:56 | | C. Petracca Goal | 31 - 48 |
| 7:57 | | S. McKernan Goal | 25 - 48 |
| 6:16 | | D. Shiel Behind | 25 - 42 |
| 5:11 | | Z. Clarke Behind | 25 - 41 |
| 2:23 | | C. Wagner Goal | 25 - 40 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 32:09 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal | 19 - 40 |
| 31:44 | | S. McKernan Behind | 19 - 34 |
| 29:20 | | Rushed | 19 - 33 |
| 27:36 | | D. Shiel Behind | 18 - 33 |
| 26:24 | | S. McKernan Goal | 18 - 32 |
| 24:46 | | A. Neal-Bullen Goal | 18 - 26 |
| 22:58 | | J. Stringer Goal | 12 - 26 |
| 20:34 | | J. Lockhart Goal | 12 - 20 |
| 19:52 | | D. Heppell Behind | 6 - 20 |
| 18:20 | | J. Stringer Goal | 6 - 19 |
| 11:18 | | D. Parish Behind | 6 - 13 |
| 9:34 | | O. Fantasia Goal | 6 - 12 |
| 4:53 | | J. Melksham Goal | 6 - 6 |
| 1:08 | | S. McKernan 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.
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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 |