	1	2	3	4	T
MELB	19	17	18	13	67
SYD	21	4	19	14	58

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
31:41		S. Wicks Behind	67 - 58
21:39		T. McDonald Goal	67 - 57
18:13		B. Fritsch Behind	61 - 57
14:51		C. Mills Goal	60 - 57
9:57		C. Spargo Goal	60 - 51
3:32		Rushed	54 - 51
0:19		C. Sinclair Goal	54 - 50
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
28:10		T. Papley Goal	54 - 44
23:38		J. Lloyd Goal	54 - 38
21:14		T. McDonald Goal	54 - 32
8:46		T. McDonald Goal	48 - 32
6:51		B. Brown Goal	42 - 32
4:42		W. Hayward Goal	36 - 32
2:58		T. Papley Behind	36 - 26
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
23:28		Rushed	36 - 25
22:41		Rushed	35 - 25
20:21		K. Pickett Behind	35 - 24
16:44		T. Papley Behind	34 - 24
11:11		C. Petracca Behind	34 - 23
10:38		M. Gawn Behind	33 - 23
9:24		Rushed	32 - 23
7:42		C. Petracca Goal	32 - 22
6:38		W. Hayward Behind	26 - 22
4:42		B. Brown Goal	26 - 21
2:47		Rushed	20 - 21
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
27:39		T. Hickey Goal	19 - 21
21:18		Rushed	19 - 15
18:59		B. Brown Goal	18 - 15
15:09		J. Melksham Goal	12 - 15
11:14		T. Papley Behind	6 - 15
9:02		Rushed	6 - 14
7:15		T. McDonald Goal	6 - 13
5:05		W. Hayward Goal	0 - 13
2:21		Rushed	0 - 7
0:46		J. McInerney Goal	0 - 6

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