	1	2	3	4	T
MELB	23	9	34	33	99
ESS	4	19	30	17	70

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
31:44		B. Fritsch Behind	99 - 70
29:59		S. Weideman Goal	98 - 70
27:44		Rushed	92 - 70
26:04		B. Fritsch Goal	92 - 69
23:52		E. Langdon Goal	86 - 69
21:59		P. Wright Behind	80 - 69
20:15		P. Wright Goal	80 - 68
17:54		A. Perkins Goal	80 - 62
16:38		B. Fritsch Goal	80 - 56
13:15		C. Petracca Behind	74 - 56
11:09		C. Spargo Goal	73 - 56
8:43		B. Ham Behind	67 - 56
7:11		E. Langdon Behind	67 - 55
5:17		Rushed	66 - 55
3:26		M. Guelfi Behind	66 - 54
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
29:53		B. Fritsch Behind	66 - 53
28:37		M. Gawn Behind	65 - 53
27:19		C. Petracca Goal	64 - 53
25:51		S. Weideman Goal	58 - 53
24:03		J. Stringer Goal	52 - 53
21:01		J. Stringer Goal	52 - 47
16:32		S. Weideman Goal	52 - 41
14:23		J. Harmes Goal	46 - 41
9:42		J. Harmes Goal	40 - 41
8:42		T. McDonald Behind	34 - 41
5:58		P. Wright Goal	33 - 41
4:49		Rushed	33 - 35
3:41		P. Wright Goal	32 - 35
1:59		T. Wanganeen Goal	32 - 29
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
24:26		A. McGrath Goal	32 - 23
16:57		T. Sparrow Goal	32 - 17
12:48		S. Weideman Behind	26 - 17
11:31		P. Wright Goal	25 - 17
9:56		T. Cutler Goal	25 - 11
7:24		T. McDonald Behind	25 - 5
3:12		L. Jackson Behind	24 - 5
1:05		T. Wanganeen Behind	23 - 5
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
25:58		J. Viney Goal	23 - 4
24:04		M. Guelfi Behind	17 - 4
22:35		T. McDonald Goal	17 - 3
19:28		J. Harmes Behind	11 - 3
16:48		S. Weideman Behind	10 - 3
14:10		Rushed	9 - 3
12:28		C. Petracca Behind	9 - 2
8:35		J. Laverde Behind	8 - 2
6:35		S. Weideman Goal	8 - 1
5:27		S. Weideman Behind	2 - 1
4:22		C. Oliver Behind	1 - 1
2:25		J. Caldwell Behind	0 - 1

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