Game Information
People First Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- SUNS 347
- 397 MELB
-
Kicks
- SUNS 220
- 214 MELB
-
Handballs
- SUNS 127
- 183 MELB
-
Free Kicks
- SUNS 16
- 16 MELB
-
Clearances
- SUNS 37
- 51 MELB
-
Inside 50
- SUNS 42
- 66 MELB
-
Tackles
- SUNS 61
- 99 MELB
-
Hit-Outs
- SUNS 55
- 52 MELB
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
12
B. Ainsworth2 Goals
25
T. McDonald3 Goals
Disposals
24
D. Swallow35 Disposals
10
C. Oliver38 Disposals
Contested Possessions
24
D. Swallow22 Contested Possessions
10
C. Oliver22 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 32:20 |  | T. McDonald Behind | 60 - 61 |
| 31:03 | | M. Hore Goal | 60 - 60 |
| 29:40 |  | N. Holman Goal | 60 - 54 |
| 24:50 | | J. Harmes Behind | 54 - 54 |
| 21:56 | | J. Corbett Goal | 54 - 53 |
| 13:01 | | W. Powell Goal | 48 - 53 |
| 10:54 | | T. McDonald Goal | 42 - 53 |
| 8:57 | | N. Holman Goal | 42 - 47 |
| 8:21 | | S. Frost Behind | 36 - 47 |
| 5:58 | | J. Hunt Behind | 36 - 46 |
| 0:50 | | C. Petracca Goal | 36 - 45 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 29:25 | | A. Sexton Behind | 36 - 39 |
| 29:02 | | Rushed | 35 - 39 |
| 24:24 | | Rushed | 34 - 39 |
| 22:27 | | D. Swallow Behind | 34 - 38 |
| 19:42 | | J. Hunt Goal | 33 - 38 |
| 14:08 | | J. Viney Behind | 33 - 32 |
| 9:57 | | B. Ainsworth Goal | 33 - 31 |
| 8:26 | | D. Macpherson Goal | 27 - 31 |
| 5:33 | | Rushed | 21 - 31 |
| 3:34 | | C. Petracca Behind | 21 - 30 |
| 2:20 | | T. McDonald Goal | 21 - 29 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 22:02 | | J. Melksham Behind | 21 - 23 |
| 11:06 | | Rushed | 21 - 22 |
| 10:20 | | J. Lockhart Behind | 21 - 21 |
| 6:43 | | B. Ainsworth Behind | 21 - 20 |
| 3:24 | | B. Ainsworth Goal | 20 - 20 |
| 2:16 | | A. Sexton Behind | 14 - 20 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 24:36 | | S. Lemmens Goal | 13 - 20 |
| 22:57 | | T. McDonald Goal | 7 - 20 |
| 22:35 | | A. Miles Behind | 7 - 14 |
| 20:20 | | J. Harmes Goal | 6 - 14 |
| 15:09 | | J. Melksham Goal | 6 - 8 |
| 3:58 | | P. Wright Goal | 6 - 2 |
| 2:25 | | C. Petracca Behind | 0 - 2 |
| 1:00 | | J. Melksham Behind | 0 - 1 |
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.
![]()
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 |