	1	2	3	4	T
ESS	17	24	18	8	67
NMFC	22	9	16	6	53

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
19:21		C. Zurhaar Goal	67 - 53
12:32		J. Townsend Goal	67 - 47
11:04		Rushed	61 - 47
6:47		D. Smith Behind	60 - 47
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
24:56		W. Snelling Goal	59 - 47
21:45		S. Higgins Goal	53 - 47
21:05		C. Zurhaar Behind	53 - 41
18:45		K. Langford Goal	53 - 40
13:33		J. Simpkin Behind	47 - 40
7:55		D. Zaharakis Goal	47 - 39
7:08		C. Taylor Behind	41 - 39
5:03		B. Scott Goal	41 - 38
0:37		T. Thomas Behind	41 - 32
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
25:29		J. Laverde Goal	41 - 31
23:58		T. Thomas Behind	35 - 31
22:16		D. Zaharakis Goal	35 - 30
18:45		B. Brown Goal	29 - 30
16:58		B. Ham Behind	29 - 24
14:39		J. Laverde Behind	28 - 24
12:48		J. Laverde Behind	27 - 24
11:21		A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal	26 - 24
8:49		A. Hall Behind	20 - 24
7:30		J. Polec Behind	20 - 23
6:56		J. Townsend Behind	20 - 22
2:38		A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Behind	19 - 22
0:49		J. Townsend Behind	18 - 22
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
26:39		K. Langford Goal	17 - 22
25:04		Rushed	11 - 22
23:14		A. Hall Behind	11 - 21
20:18		D. Zaharakis Behind	11 - 20
18:53		C. Zurhaar Goal	10 - 20
16:03		D. Zaharakis Goal	10 - 14
14:38		Rushed	4 - 14
13:55		J. Mahony Behind	4 - 13
10:32		S. Atley Goal	4 - 12
9:36		M. Hibberd Behind	4 - 6
7:33		T. Goldstein Goal	3 - 6
2:32		S. McKernan Behind	3 - 0
1:30		D. Zaharakis Behind	2 - 0
0:22		K. Langford Behind	1 - 0

Game Information

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

AFL Round 1: Team news, fixtures, games, tips, odds -- everything you need to know

Joly: Carlton showed the same 'issues' in Sydney loss

Voss keen to move past Carlton's off-field woes

Judging the biggest AFL overreactions: Reaction to Docherty and Gorringe has been over the top

An 'authentic' new era: McGrath ready to embrace Dons captaincy challenge

Expert tips, best tips for Round 1 of the AFL