Game Information
MCG
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- MELB 387
- 382 FRE
-
Kicks
- MELB 237
- 209 FRE
-
Handballs
- MELB 150
- 173 FRE
-
Free Kicks
- MELB 22
- 20 FRE
-
Clearances
- MELB 45
- 37 FRE
-
Inside 50
- MELB 68
- 44 FRE
-
Tackles
- MELB 51
- 62 FRE
-
Hit-Outs
- MELB 46
- 33 FRE
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
38
T. Smith3 Goals
10
M. Walters3 Goals
Disposals
25
T. McDonald28 Disposals
7
N. Fyfe31 Disposals
Contested Possessions
10
C. Oliver16 Contested Possessions
7
N. Fyfe16 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 23:01 |  | T. McDonald Goal | 85 - 71 |
| 17:55 | | T. McDonald Goal | 79 - 71 |
| 15:30 | | J. Harmes Goal | 73 - 71 |
| 13:45 | | J. Lockhart Behind | 67 - 71 |
| 7:46 |  | M. Walters Goal | 66 - 71 |
| 1:03 | | M. Gawn Goal | 66 - 65 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 29:23 | | B. Matera Goal | 60 - 65 |
| 28:43 | | T. McDonald Behind | 60 - 59 |
| 25:02 | | J. Lockhart Goal | 59 - 59 |
| 23:23 | | A. Brayshaw Goal | 53 - 59 |
| 22:32 | | T. Smith Behind | 53 - 53 |
| 19:59 | | T. McDonald Goal | 52 - 53 |
| 16:10 | | D. Tucker Goal | 46 - 53 |
| 11:56 | | S. Weideman Goal | 46 - 47 |
| 10:11 | | B. Matera Goal | 40 - 47 |
| 7:51 | | N. Fyfe Behind | 40 - 41 |
| 5:18 | | T. Smith Goal | 40 - 40 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 32:21 | | B. Matera Behind | 34 - 40 |
| 29:44 | | C. Oliver Goal | 34 - 39 |
| 28:02 | | Rushed | 28 - 39 |
| 26:50 | | J. Lockhart Goal | 28 - 38 |
| 23:22 | | T. McDonald Behind | 22 - 38 |
| 19:25 | | S. Darcy Goal | 21 - 38 |
| 16:59 | | T. Smith Goal | 21 - 32 |
| 12:30 | | M. Walters Goal | 15 - 32 |
| 9:33 | | Rushed | 15 - 26 |
| 5:59 | | T. Smith Behind | 15 - 25 |
| 0:48 | | T. Smith Behind | 14 - 25 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 26:58 | | M. Walters Goal | 13 - 25 |
| 24:32 | | J. Lockhart Behind | 13 - 19 |
| 17:57 | | E. Langdon Goal | 12 - 19 |
| 15:48 | | C. Petracca Goal | 12 - 13 |
| 8:47 | | M. Walters Behind | 6 - 13 |
| 7:06 | | B. Cox Goal | 6 - 12 |
| 5:47 | | B. Matera Goal | 6 - 6 |
| 3:02 | | T. Smith Goal | 6 - 0 |
AFL News
![]()
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 |