	1	2	3	4	T
ESS	20	14	16	4	54
CARL	25	33	20	2	80

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
23:41		D. Heppell Behind	54 - 80
23:13		M. Guelfi Behind	53 - 80
13:53		Rushed	52 - 80
12:30		J. Silvagni Behind	52 - 79
5:35		P. Wright Behind	52 - 78
2:26		Rushed	51 - 78
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
24:36		D. Heppell Goal	50 - 78
18:38		Z. Merrett Behind	44 - 78
16:58		Rushed	43 - 78
16:25		A. Perkins Behind	42 - 78
15:45		H. Jones Behind	41 - 78
13:34		M. Owies Goal	40 - 78
10:41		B. Hobbs Goal	40 - 72
9:46		C. Durdin Behind	34 - 72
8:33		C. Durdin Behind	34 - 71
5:40		Z. Fisher Goal	34 - 70
3:22		C. Curnow Goal	34 - 64
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
30:07		Rushed	34 - 58
27:43		H. McKay Goal	34 - 57
24:58		Rushed	34 - 51
22:42		M. Cottrell Goal	33 - 51
20:36		P. Wright Behind	33 - 45
18:51		S. Draper Goal	32 - 45
14:42		P. Cripps Goal	26 - 45
13:03		H. McKay Behind	26 - 39
10:49		J. Silvagni Goal	26 - 38
6:57		H. Jones Goal	26 - 32
2:29		H. McKay Goal	20 - 32
1:14		C. Curnow Behind	20 - 26
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
29:32		C. Curnow Goal	20 - 25
21:35		D. Shiel Goal	20 - 19
19:05		S. Draper Goal	14 - 19
16:51		H. Jones Goal	8 - 19
14:58		M. Owies Goal	2 - 19
11:50		H. McKay Goal	2 - 13
10:28		M. Redman Behind	2 - 7
8:59		Z. Fisher Behind	1 - 7
6:43		J. Stringer Behind	1 - 6
1:13		J. Martin 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