5m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:59am
Scorching finish from Caleb Windsor!
Brilliant finish from young Windsor, a beauty of a drop punt across his body while running towards the boundary line. That’s a stoppage goal, some poor defending from the Tigers there.
The game is moving into Melbourne’s hands now, the ball living at that end at the moment.
10m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:54am
Kade Chandler goals and scores are level
The game has settled down a little after a frenetic start. The Tigers are looking to play a little keep-ball, but the Demons are still trying to go quick.
Chandler was a little lucky to receive the free kick on the arc of 50, and his set shot was lovely. All square.
16m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:48am
Steely Green gets on the end of a fine Richmond move!
Noah Balta is giving Max Gawn a bath in these early minutes! In the ruck and now around the ground, as it was his mark on the wing and quick play-on which opened up the field for the Tigers.
Lynch took a mark inside 50, dished off to Green in the goalsquare and let the Tigers commence celebrations.
20m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:44am
Matt Jefferson gets the answering goal for Melbourne
Geez, that was incredibly easy for Melbourne. Goalsquare to goalsquare in the blink of an eye. A long kick, a mark, a couple of handballs, one more long kick and a free in the square. That’s all it took.
Jefferson cashes in to get the Dees on the board.
22m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:42am
Jonty Faull has the opener for Richmond!
Sam Cumming’s first kick in the AFL was a deep entry inside 50 which found Jonty Faull in the pocket! Not quite a first kick, first goal but good enough.
The Tigers make the hot start through a couple of young fellas.
24m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:40am
We are underway at the MCG
Here’s one. Noah Balta starts in the ruck against Max Gawn to begin this game. And I reckon he just about won the first hit out too.
We are off and running in this one.
35m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:29am
The players officially enter the ground together
After the national anthems of New Zealand and Australia, the two teams unite to run through a single banner. The floodlights are switched back on, signalling the evening’s switch from ceremony to business.
The bounce (ball-up, whatever) is only 10 minutes away.
52m agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:12am
The all-action Dees
(Getty Images)
Back in preseason, Steven King promised that his Demons would play aggressive, attacking, entertaining footy in 2026. I believe the Harlem Globetrotters were referenced at some point.
So far through six rounds they have made good on their promise. There have been few more watchable teams in the league this year than Melbourne. Having two Picketts in the side certainly helps, but this is a whole-team commitment to bold footy and it’s paying off in the win column.
A big win tonight would raise expectations further. Suddenly finals – or at least a wildcard spot – certainly seems within the reach of this side. They’ve got a great mix of experience and youth and are playing with freedom. A dangerous combination.
1h agoFri 24 Apr 2026 at 9:01am
Debutants make for an exciting Richmond night
(Getty Images)
It’s always a treat to see young players take their first steps into an AFL career, and it’s particularly exciting tonight as one of these guys is a very highly-rated early draft pick.
Sam Cumming was the overall seventh pick in the draft last year and Richmond’s first. Of the players who entered the draft not already tied to a club via an academy or father-son, Cumming was the third taken behind Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler. He is a top, top talent.
And I expect he’ll take to the AFL like a duck to water. If not for a preseason shoulder injury Cumming would have debuted in round one, but that setback means we have had to wait. Some big games for the Tigers’ VFL side have proven he is ready and so we will see him running through the Richmond midfield and forward line for the first time tonight.
Tom Burton is the other debutant, and he had to go the long way around to get on Richmond’s list. He was not taken in the national or rookie drafts, but earned a spot at the Tigers having been invited to train as an SSP option through preseason. He’s small but tough, a quick and hard working player who vice-captained the Vic Metro side last year. Draft history matters for little now, he’s an AFL player like the rest of them.
Oh and the guy in the middle is Mick Malthouse. You’ve probably heard of him.