	1	2	3	4	T
ESS	14	30	13	38	95
SYD	32	16	20	18	86

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
31:47		N. Hind Goal	95 - 86
28:55		C. Warner Goal	89 - 86
26:11		K. Langford Goal	89 - 80
20:54		M. Redman Goal	83 - 80
15:54		J. Stringer Goal	77 - 80
12:29		J. Stringer Goal	71 - 80
11:44		N. Hind Behind	65 - 80
8:17		C. Mills Goal	64 - 80
5:02		C. Warner Goal	64 - 74
3:25		Z. Merrett Goal	64 - 68
2:02		Rushed	58 - 68
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
27:05		W. Hayward Goal	57 - 68
25:23		I. Heeney Goal	57 - 62
20:40		I. Heeney Behind	57 - 56
16:59		Rushed	57 - 55
16:04		C. Warner Behind	57 - 54
12:26		L. Franklin Behind	57 - 53
9:52		B. Campbell Behind	57 - 52
8:50		J. Kelly Goal	57 - 51
8:00		T. Papley Behind	51 - 51
6:37		Z. Merrett Goal	51 - 50
4:56		M. Guelfi Behind	45 - 50
3:28		W. Hayward Behind	44 - 50
1:09		S. Reid Behind	44 - 49
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
27:13		S. Reid Goal	44 - 48
24:59		L. McDonald Behind	44 - 42
23:20		Rushed	44 - 41
20:30		P. Wright Goal	44 - 40
15:52		B. Hobbs Goal	38 - 40
14:19		P. Wright Goal	32 - 40
12:11		H. Jones Goal	26 - 40
8:32		S. Durham Goal	20 - 40
6:23		S. Reid Behind	14 - 40
5:30		T. Papley Behind	14 - 39
1:39		L. Franklin Goal	14 - 38
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
29:45		T. Papley Behind	14 - 32
27:23		Z. Merrett Goal	14 - 31
23:04		B. Campbell Behind	8 - 31
21:40		S. Reid Goal	8 - 30
19:13		I. Heeney Goal	8 - 24
17:14		Rushed	8 - 18
14:00		P. Wright Behind	7 - 18
9:18		L. Franklin Goal	6 - 18
7:36		D. Heppell Goal	6 - 12
6:25		C. Warner Goal	0 - 12
1:28		T. Papley 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