Fresh off a King’s Birthday win over the Pies, Melbourne looks to crack the top four with an MCG clash against Essendon.
Later, North Melbourne will try to rebound after a 124-point thumping by Fremantle when they face West Coast in Perth.
Tonight, Port Adelaide will have a tough task, playing second-placed Sydney at Adelaide Oval.
Follow all the action in our live blog.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:33pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:33pm
AFL Saturday ScoreboardSat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:55pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:55pmSat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:55pm
A miss from Nate Caddy
That was nearly another one!
The Demons are not looking as dominant, and the pressure is really coming from Essendon as they get a bit of belief.
Nate Caddy had a set shot there, but his kick from 50 drifts wide to the left.
The margin is back to 22, with more than a quarter and a half to go. This is good play from Essendon!
Over to you, Demons.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:53pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:53pm
Surge from Essendon as gap narrows
Where is this coming from?
The Bombers are in again – they feed it inside 50, there is a scramble, the ball is handballed out from El Achkar, and then fed to Sullivan Robey, and he kicks the goal as he is being tackled.
He thumps the ground in celebration, and Essendon has three goals on the spin.
The lead is back to 23.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:51pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:51pm
Bombers get back-to-back goals
Essendon has got more energy here, and they are being rewarded. A kick forward brings a mark to Ben McKay, and the big man whirls and kicks a low, quick kick to hit Hussien El Achkar in the pocket.
El Achkar kicks the goal! The Bombers fans are excited, their team has two in a row.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:48pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:48pm
Essendon gets a goal from Nik Cox
The Bombers are finding more ways forward here, and they force some pressure in a contest with Mason Redman spoiling a defensive mark, the left side of 50.
The ball spills to Nik Cox, who kicks one from 45m out.
That’s a team-lifter!
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:46pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:46pm
Melbourne defence withstands early attacks from Essendon
The Bombers have come out hard in the third quarter, winning an early centre clearance and putting Melbourne under pressure.
But the Demons defence has stood up, and Essendon has not managed the quick goal to start the half.
At the other end, the Demons forced a rushed behind.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:33pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:33pm
HT statsCentre clearances: 7-5 MelbContested possessions: 80-56 MelbUncontested possessions: 130-127 Ess
The stats don’t really lie, here. Melbourne has had the better of the first half, and they have actually improved their contested game in the second quarter. The Dees won contested ball 45-27 in that term.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:24pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:24pm
HT: Melbourne 9.10 (64) leads Essendon 3.5 (23)
The siren sounds, and Essendon will be glad of a chance to reset after a torrid first half.
They have tried, but their lack of composure under pressure has hurt them. It’s not so much the number of turnovers as the amount of times Melbourne has been able to punish them on the way back.
Kozzy Pickett is in his usual – that is to say, rare – form, and Max Gawn has been dominating in the ruck and adding a couple of goals himself.
The 41-point margin does not flatter Melbourne – the question is how can the Bombers hit back after the break? Stick with us and we’ll find out.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:20pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:20pm
Pickett has three and Melbourne clears out
The Dees are purring here, and once again they take advantage of a Bombers turnover.
Extra pressure brings the error and it gets to Kysaiah Pickett who grabs it, steadies and kicks the goal.
The lead is out to 40 points, deep in time on.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:15pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:15pm
Injury problems for Essendon as Archie Roberts does a shoulder
When things aren’t going your way…
Essendon’s Archie Roberts has come down badly after a contest where he tried to tackle Kysaiah Pickett – and he is holding his shoulder. He’s in a lot of pain here, it looks like it has popped out.
That’s awful luck for the young Bomber. He’s coming off.
He’s been one of Essendon’s best this season, and he will be missed for the rest of the day.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:13pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:13pm
Trent Rivers kicks one from distance!
I don’t want to keep repeating myself, but the Bombers’ turnovers are just deadly for them.
They’ve done it again a couple of times there, and a clearing kick has been chopped off on the wing.
Ed Langdon found Trent Rivers near 50 in the left forward pocket. And the Demon unloaded a big kick which somehow went through despite a few Bombers on the goal-line.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:09pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:09pm
Nate Caddy gets one back for Essendon
That was better from the Bombers!
Nate Caddy has looked dangerous so far, he just hasn’t got his hands on it enough.
That time the Bombers went long to the pocket, and Caddy came in from the side to take a big juggled mark at the second attempt.
Not the easiest angle, but his curling kick went through.
That’s Essendon’s third goal of the day. Clearly, they need a few more – but that’s a start.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:07pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:07pm
Demons forward dominance continues
The Bombers are trying to stick in here, but it’s very hard when the opposition is having as many looks at it as Melbourne are.
The inside 50s count halfway through the second quarter is: Melbourne 27, Essendon 11.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:01pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 2:01pm
Big goal from Max Gawn
The Demons are cranking it up here.
They go forward and force a stoppage near 50 on the right.
Max Gawn gets a free for being blocked by Nick Bryan.
It’s outside 50, and he doesn’t look too confident. But he’s absolutely brained that!
It goes through, and the Demons are over the moon for the big man. The lead is out to 30 points.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:58pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:58pm
Pickett kicks another for the Demons
The Bombers had been lifting their intensity, but sadly for them they are still giving away turnovers, and the Demons are still making them pay.
They shift it through the corridor and it’s Kozzy Pickett who benefits, kicking his second and Melbourne’s sixth.
That’s not the start Essendon wanted.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:55pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:55pm
The rain is falling at the MCG
The skies have opened and the rain is falling at the MCG, which will make any lead harder to peg back.
The second quarter is under way and the Bombers have lifted their intensity, but there hasn’t been any scoring in the first couple of minutes.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:51pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:51pm
QT statsCentre clearances: 4-3 MelbContested possessions: 35-29 MelbUncontested possessions: 74-67 EssSat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:46pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:46pm
QT: Melbourne 5.4 (34) leads Essendon 2.4 (16)
Kysaiah Pickett has kicked one of five Demons goals in the first term (Getty Images/AFL Photos)
The siren sounds, after a nice late goal for the Bombers to Ben McKay.
They will be not too unhappy with a 17-point margin at quarter time after that first term.
Melbourne have had way too many forward entries for Essendon’s liking, and the Bombers’ turnover numbers are not sustainable if they want to stay in this contest.
But they have had moments where they have managed to cut through the Demons. A bit more of that would make things interesting.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:41pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:41pm
Harrison Petty gets the quick reply for Melbourne
The Bombers have had to work really hard to get their first goal, and then the Demons have just put one on in a minute or two.
Harrison Petty had the set shot from inside 50, and he kicked straight to restore a lead of close to four goals.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:38pm
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:38pm
Will Setterfield replies for Essendon
Well, that was definitely needed!
The Bombers finally put some pressure on in forward 50, they forced a stoppage, the ball was scrambled out to Will Setterfield, and his snap was true.
The Bombers are on the board, they still trail by three goals.
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