Game Information
People First Stadium
Team Stats
-
Disposals
- ESS 342
- 279 NMFC
-
Kicks
- ESS 182
- 184 NMFC
-
Handballs
- ESS 160
- 95 NMFC
-
Free Kicks
- ESS 18
- 20 NMFC
-
Clearances
- ESS 28
- 32 NMFC
-
Inside 50
- ESS 43
- 47 NMFC
-
Tackles
- ESS 66
- 53 NMFC
-
Hit-Outs
- ESS 32
- 32 NMFC
Score Worm
Game Leaders
Goals
11
D. Zaharakis3 Goals
44
C. Zurhaar2 Goals
Disposals
1
A. McGrath25 Disposals
43
A. Hall23 Disposals
Contested Possessions
3
D. Parish14 Contested Possessions
12
J. Simpkin16 Contested Possessions
Scoring Plays
| fourth Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 19:21 |  | C. Zurhaar Goal | 67 - 53 |
| 12:32 |  | J. Townsend Goal | 67 - 47 |
| 11:04 | | Rushed | 61 - 47 |
| 6:47 | | D. Smith Behind | 60 - 47 |
| third Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 24:56 | | W. Snelling Goal | 59 - 47 |
| 21:45 | | S. Higgins Goal | 53 - 47 |
| 21:05 | | C. Zurhaar Behind | 53 - 41 |
| 18:45 | | K. Langford Goal | 53 - 40 |
| 13:33 | | J. Simpkin Behind | 47 - 40 |
| 7:55 | | D. Zaharakis Goal | 47 - 39 |
| 7:08 | | C. Taylor Behind | 41 - 39 |
| 5:03 | | B. Scott Goal | 41 - 38 |
| 0:37 | | T. Thomas Behind | 41 - 32 |
| second Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 25:29 | | J. Laverde Goal | 41 - 31 |
| 23:58 | | T. Thomas Behind | 35 - 31 |
| 22:16 | | D. Zaharakis Goal | 35 - 30 |
| 18:45 | | B. Brown Goal | 29 - 30 |
| 16:58 | | B. Ham Behind | 29 - 24 |
| 14:39 | | J. Laverde Behind | 28 - 24 |
| 12:48 | | J. Laverde Behind | 27 - 24 |
| 11:21 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Goal | 26 - 24 |
| 8:49 | | A. Hall Behind | 20 - 24 |
| 7:30 | | J. Polec Behind | 20 - 23 |
| 6:56 | | J. Townsend Behind | 20 - 22 |
| 2:38 | | A. McDonald-Tipungwuti Behind | 19 - 22 |
| 0:49 | | J. Townsend Behind | 18 - 22 |
| first Quarter | |||
| Time | Team | Play | Score |
| 26:39 | | K. Langford Goal | 17 - 22 |
| 25:04 | | Rushed | 11 - 22 |
| 23:14 | | A. Hall Behind | 11 - 21 |
| 20:18 | | D. Zaharakis Behind | 11 - 20 |
| 18:53 | | C. Zurhaar Goal | 10 - 20 |
| 16:03 | | D. Zaharakis Goal | 10 - 14 |
| 14:38 | | Rushed | 4 - 14 |
| 13:55 | | J. Mahony Behind | 4 - 13 |
| 10:32 | | S. Atley Goal | 4 - 12 |
| 9:36 | | M. Hibberd Behind | 4 - 6 |
| 7:33 | | T. Goldstein Goal | 3 - 6 |
| 2:32 | | S. McKernan Behind | 3 - 0 |
| 1:30 | | D. Zaharakis Behind | 2 - 0 |
| 0:22 | | K. Langford Behind | 1 - 0 |
AFL News
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Each AFL finalist's biggest September X factor
Footy finals are often decided in moments, so who are the 'moments men' for each AFL team featuring in September? Not many players are capable of being that man for their respective sides, but we think these guys could just be that difference.
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One in three? 6%? Don't bother?! Each finalist's chance of winning the 2026 premiership
Play out the finals series 100 times, and how many times does each finalist win the premiership? Rohan Connolly has done the maths to determine each club's chance of winning the 2026 flag.
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AFL Finals: Ins and outs, fixtures, games, tips, odds -- everything you need to know
Welcome to September! The finals continue with a qualifying final. between Fremantle and Hawthorn on Thursday night, before Geelong hosts Carlton in an elimination blockbuster at the MCG.
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Expert tips, best tips for AFL Finals Week 1
Who should you be tipping in the elimination and qualifying finals? Our footy experts have put their heads together to help you out. So open your ESPNfootytips app, take notes, and get ahead of the game!
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AFL overreactions: Will Pendlebury's legacy be tarnished with a move to the Suns?
The big news this week was that Scott Pendlebury would depart Collingwood and join Gold Coast on a playing-then-coaching deal. But will this move tarnish his legacy as a Collingwood and AFL legend? Let's get to this week's big talking point.
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Finals Demons: Melbourne's goalkicking struggles exposed
On the ESPN Footy Podcast, Champion Data's Christian Joly details Melbourne's horrific run in front of goal in finals.
2026 AFL Standings
| POS | Team | Pts. | % | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 FRE
|
76 | 137.2 | WWLWL |
| 2 |
 SYD
|
72 | 136.1 | WWWWW |
| 3 |
 BL
|
64 | 121.7 | WLWWW |
| 4 |
 HAW
|
64 | 120.1 | WWLDW |
| 5 |
 GEEL
|
60 | 122.3 | WWWWW |
| 6 |
 ADEL
|
60 | 117.3 | LWWLW |
| 7 |
 MELB
|
60 | 109.6 | LWWWL |
| 8 |
 WB
|
54 | 95.4 | WLLDW |
| 9 |
 COLL
|
52 | 102.4 | WLWDL |
| 10 |
 CARL
|
50 | 101.5 | WWWDW |
| 11 |
 STK
|
40 | 102.8 | WLLWL |
| 12 |
 GWS
|
40 | 98.9 | LWLWL |
| 13 |
 SUNS
|
36 | 94.5 | LLWLW |
| 14 |
 NMFC
|
36 | 88.8 | LLWLL |
| 15 |
 PORT
|
28 | 88.1 | LLLLW |
| 16 |
 WCE
|
16 | 69.2 | LLLLL |
| 17 |
 RICH
|
12 | 62.5 | LWLLL |
| 18 |
 ESS
|
8 | 64.6 | LLLLL |