Game Information
Blundstone Arena
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- NMFC 371
- 385 MELB
-
Kicks
- NMFC 195
- 201 MELB
-
Handballs
- NMFC 176
- 184 MELB
-
Free Kicks
- NMFC 20
- 16 MELB
-
Clearances
- NMFC 29
- 47 MELB
-
Inside 50
- NMFC 56
- 51 MELB
-
Tackles
- NMFC 58
- 62 MELB
-
Hit-Outs
- NMFC 26
- 50 MELB
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
50
B. Brown2 Goals
31
B. Fritsch3 Goals
Disposals
4
S. Higgins34 Disposals
10
C. Oliver33 Disposals
Contested Possessions
2
M. Williams11 Contested Possessions
10
C. Oliver21 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 29:51 |  | A. Neal-Bullen Behind | 88 - 83 |
| 29:12 |  | J. Polec Behind | 88 - 82 |
| 27:58 | | S. Higgins Goal | 87 - 82 |
| 23:04 | | J. Melksham Behind | 81 - 82 |
| 21:49 | | B. Fritsch Behind | 81 - 81 |
| 20:36 | | M. Gawn Goal | 81 - 80 |
| 18:46 | | J. Lewis Behind | 81 - 74 |
| 17:09 | | Rushed | 81 - 73 |
| 14:40 | | M. Wood Goal | 81 - 72 |
| 7:44 | | B. Brown Goal | 75 - 72 |
| 6:24 | | Rushed | 69 - 72 |
| 0:49 | | B. Preuss Behind | 69 - 71 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 36:14 | | J. Polec Behind | 69 - 70 |
| 32:38 | | B. Brown Behind | 68 - 70 |
| 30:31 | | N. Larkey Goal | 67 - 70 |
| 26:39 | | T. Garner Goal | 61 - 70 |
| 22:03 | | J. Melksham Goal | 55 - 70 |
| 19:42 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 55 - 64 |
| 16:44 | | M. Gawn Goal | 55 - 58 |
| 15:08 | | T. Garner Goal | 55 - 52 |
| 12:43 | | M. Gawn Goal | 49 - 52 |
| 10:49 | | B. Brown Goal | 49 - 46 |
| 9:09 | | N. Larkey Behind | 43 - 46 |
| 7:05 | | N. Jones Goal | 42 - 46 |
| 5:17 | | C. Wagner Goal | 42 - 40 |
| 4:42 | | M. Wood Behind | 42 - 34 |
| 2:58 | | S. Higgins Goal | 41 - 34 |
| 0:55 | | B. Brown Behind | 35 - 34 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 21:54 | | J. Hunt Goal | 34 - 34 |
| 15:58 | | B. Fritsch Behind | 34 - 28 |
| 10:10 | | J. Melksham Behind | 34 - 27 |
| 7:39 | | J. Ziebell Goal | 34 - 26 |
| 4:55 | | J. Polec Goal | 28 - 26 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 30:59 | | M. Williams Goal | 22 - 26 |
| 28:52 | | J. Melksham Goal | 16 - 26 |
| 27:58 | | Rushed | 16 - 20 |
| 25:23 | | M. Gawn Behind | 15 - 20 |
| 21:35 | | N. Hrovat Behind | 15 - 19 |
| 18:16 | | C. Oliver Behind | 14 - 19 |
| 15:32 | | A. Neal-Bullen Goal | 14 - 18 |
| 12:22 | | J. Polec Goal | 14 - 12 |
| 11:16 | | B. Brown Behind | 8 - 12 |
| 9:09 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 7 - 12 |
| 7:05 | | B. Fritsch Goal | 7 - 6 |
| 3:45 | | J. Ziebell Goal | 7 - 0 |
| 1:09 | | K. Turner Behind | 1 - 0 |
AFL News
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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!
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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 |