	1	2	3	4	T
NMFC	22	12	35	19	88
MELB	26	8	36	13	83

Scoring Plays

fourth Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
29:51		A. Neal-Bullen Behind	88 - 83
29:12		J. Polec Behind	88 - 82
27:58		S. Higgins Goal	87 - 82
23:04		J. Melksham Behind	81 - 82
21:49		B. Fritsch Behind	81 - 81
20:36		M. Gawn Goal	81 - 80
18:46		J. Lewis Behind	81 - 74
17:09		Rushed	81 - 73
14:40		M. Wood Goal	81 - 72
7:44		B. Brown Goal	75 - 72
6:24		Rushed	69 - 72
0:49		B. Preuss Behind	69 - 71
third Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
36:14		J. Polec Behind	69 - 70
32:38		B. Brown Behind	68 - 70
30:31		N. Larkey Goal	67 - 70
26:39		T. Garner Goal	61 - 70
22:03		J. Melksham Goal	55 - 70
19:42		B. Fritsch Goal	55 - 64
16:44		M. Gawn Goal	55 - 58
15:08		T. Garner Goal	55 - 52
12:43		M. Gawn Goal	49 - 52
10:49		B. Brown Goal	49 - 46
9:09		N. Larkey Behind	43 - 46
7:05		N. Jones Goal	42 - 46
5:17		C. Wagner Goal	42 - 40
4:42		M. Wood Behind	42 - 34
2:58		S. Higgins Goal	41 - 34
0:55		B. Brown Behind	35 - 34
second Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
21:54		J. Hunt Goal	34 - 34
15:58		B. Fritsch Behind	34 - 28
10:10		J. Melksham Behind	34 - 27
7:39		J. Ziebell Goal	34 - 26
4:55		J. Polec Goal	28 - 26
first Quarter
Time	Team	Play	Score
30:59		M. Williams Goal	22 - 26
28:52		J. Melksham Goal	16 - 26
27:58		Rushed	16 - 20
25:23		M. Gawn Behind	15 - 20
21:35		N. Hrovat Behind	15 - 19
18:16		C. Oliver Behind	14 - 19
15:32		A. Neal-Bullen Goal	14 - 18
12:22		J. Polec Goal	14 - 12
11:16		B. Brown Behind	8 - 12
9:09		B. Fritsch Goal	7 - 12
7:05		B. Fritsch Goal	7 - 6
3:45		J. Ziebell Goal	7 - 0
1:09		K. Turner Behind	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