	1	2	3	4	T
SYD	34	24	7	13	78
MELB	20	32	27	21	100

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
28:07		T. Papley Behind	78 - 100
26:28		A. Brayshaw Goal	77 - 100
22:27		J. Harmes Behind	77 - 94
20:11		N. Jones Goal	77 - 93
14:31		T. McDonald Behind	77 - 87
12:26		K. Jack Goal	77 - 86
10:27		S. Weideman Goal	71 - 86
7:13		Rushed	71 - 80
5:55		B. Ronke Goal	71 - 79
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
28:48		Rushed	65 - 79
28:02		Rushed	64 - 79
21:06		J. Hunt Goal	64 - 78
19:32		Rushed	64 - 72
12:20		J. Hunt Goal	64 - 71
9:25		J. Hunt Behind	64 - 65
7:06		C. Petracca Goal	64 - 64
4:05		O. Florent Goal	64 - 58
2:18		T. McDonald Goal	58 - 58
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
32:44		L. Franklin Behind	58 - 52
31:42		T. Papley Behind	57 - 52
28:43		J. Viney Goal	56 - 52
23:10		J. Melksham Behind	56 - 46
21:39		L. Franklin Goal	56 - 45
19:44		J. Melksham Goal	50 - 45
18:35		T. Papley Behind	50 - 39
16:14		N. Jones Goal	49 - 39
14:42		N. Jones Goal	49 - 33
12:16		I. Heeney Goal	49 - 27
8:52		S. Reid Behind	43 - 27
7:26		Rushed	42 - 27
5:45		J. Dawson Goal	42 - 26
4:24		B. Ronke Behind	36 - 26
1:36		J. Harmes Goal	35 - 26
0:22		L. Franklin Behind	35 - 20
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
30:47		J. Dawson Goal	34 - 20
28:15		O. Florent Goal	28 - 20
26:41		K. Jack Goal	22 - 20
23:45		B. Preuss Goal	16 - 20
22:03		O. Florent Behind	16 - 14
19:43		L. Franklin Behind	15 - 14
18:38		K. Jack Behind	14 - 14
16:22		T. McDonald Behind	13 - 14
14:36		Z. Jones Goal	13 - 13
9:56		C. Sinclair Goal	7 - 13
8:34		Rushed	1 - 13
7:19		B. Preuss Goal	1 - 12
5:32		C. Petracca Goal	1 - 6
3:15		Rushed	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