	1	2	3	4	T
SUNS	26	19	15	36	96
ESS	9	20	39	38	106

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
34:33		J. Stringer Goal	96 - 106
33:23		C. Hooker Goal	96 - 100
29:41		C. Burgess Goal	96 - 94
29:08		Rushed	90 - 94
27:47		D. Swallow Goal	90 - 93
22:47		S. Day Goal	84 - 93
19:50		J. Stringer Goal	78 - 93
18:12		B. King Goal	78 - 87
16:37		A. McGrath Behind	72 - 87
11:37		A. McGrath Goal	72 - 86
10:03		S. McKernan Goal	72 - 80
8:09		K. Langford Goal	72 - 74
5:49		B. King Goal	72 - 68
2:14		B. King Goal	66 - 68
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
30:09		S. McKernan Goal	60 - 68
28:51		J. Stringer Goal	60 - 62
23:26		D. Shiel Goal	60 - 56
21:46		D. Parish Goal	60 - 50
20:38		M. Rischitelli Behind	60 - 44
18:22		T. Miller Behind	59 - 44
15:35		M. Brown Goal	58 - 44
13:52		M. Brown Goal	58 - 38
12:40		Rushed	58 - 32
10:17		B. Fiorini Goal	58 - 31
9:28		T. Miller Behind	52 - 31
7:44		S. McKernan Behind	51 - 31
1:21		T. Miller Goal	51 - 30
0:29		Rushed	45 - 30
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
24:52		B. King Goal	45 - 29
22:59		J. Stringer Behind	39 - 29
17:05		J. Stringer Goal	39 - 28
15:53		D. Swallow Behind	39 - 22
14:43		A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Behind	38 - 22
9:19		M. Brown Goal	38 - 21
7:28		S. Day Goal	38 - 15
5:35		S. McKernan Goal	32 - 15
2:30		P. Wright Goal	32 - 9
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
25:46		Rushed	26 - 9
19:19		A. Sexton Goal	26 - 8
17:34		P. Wright Goal	20 - 8
16:23		S. Day Goal	14 - 8
12:59		J. Stringer Behind	8 - 8
11:07		J. Laverde Behind	8 - 7
9:39		A. Miles Behind	8 - 6
6:40		B. Fiorini Goal	7 - 6
5:27		M. Rischitelli Behind	1 - 6
3:00		S. McKernan 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