Carlton explodes for 12 goals in the first half against Brisbane as GWS picks up a hard-fought road win against Port Adelaide.
Earlier on Saturday, Sydney recorded a comeback 16.11 (107) to 13.10 (88) win against St Kilda at Docklands Stadium, but lost Will Edwards to a horror injury.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn survived a stiff test against North Melbourne before running out 14.15 (99) to 12.11 (83) winners in Tasmania.
In a curtain-raiser for the AFLW season, Australia recorded a 13.13 (91) to 6.5 (41) win against Ireland at North Sydney Oval as Jasmine Garner was named the Player of the Match.
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Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:57pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 12:57pm
AFL round 21, AFLW Australia vs Ireland — Saturday live scoreboardAFLAFLW
AFLAFLWFINAL: AUSTRALIA 13.13 (91) – IRELAND 6.5 (41)
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:47pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:47pm
3QT: Carlton 18.9 (117) leads Brisbane 11.9 (75)
Ollie Florent kicked one of Carlton’s six goals in the third quarter to put the Blues in the driver’s seat against the Lions. (Getty Images)
Give Josh Fraser the Carlton job now!
Honestly, it would be madness at this point to go with anyone else, especially with these results he’s pulling out.
The Blues have been absolutely sensational tonight, and the dual reigning premiers have not had any answers.
They hammer home another six goals in that quarter to turn an 18-point half-time lead into a 42-point three-quarter time lead.
The scoreline in that quarter read 6.2 to 2.2 Carlton’s way and this result appears to be a formality now.
What a boon this is for Carlton’s wildcard hopes and what a blow it is for Brisbane’s hopes of a top-two finish.
George Hewett and Lachie Neale tied for leading ball-winners with 23 touches apiece, and they’ve also combined for 13 clearances, with Hewett grabbing six while Neale has seven.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:47pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:47pm
McGovern with a remarkable goal off the ground!
This is the type of night Carlton is having!
Mitch McGovern plays the role of the rover at a boundary throw-in, and he chases a loose ball while completely blanketed by Eric Hipwood.
The ball sits up nicely and McGovern sticks out his left boot and makes decent enough contact to get it to creep through the goals.
Carlton out to a game-high 42-point lead now. Incredible.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:38pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:38pm
Hewett with the quick response for Carlton!
The Blues continue to rain goals on the Lions at Docklands!
George Hewett snaps one home on his left boot after a good quick handball from Matt Cottrell and that’s goal number 17 for Carlton.
Those 17 goals have come with six minutes left in the third quarter. Quite remarkable scoring from the Blues tonight.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:36pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:36pm
Cameron sneaks one home from close range
Geez, Brisbane’s kicking from set shots tonight sure is shoddy!
Charlie Cameron takes a brilliant mark just metres out from goal, and he’s snapping on the left foot from the tight angle and almost blows it.
Cameron’s got 2.2 for the night and Brisbane trims the margin to 30 points.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:35pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:35pm
McKay goals from inside the square as pressure pays off
Carlton’s forward 50 pressure has been absolutely manic tonight and it leads to another goal!
Conor McKenna is trapped by Lewis Young and a Blues player nearby takes the advantage and snaps towards goal where Harry McKay takes a mark on the goal line.
The Blues are leading the clearance count 8-2 for the quarter, including a 4-0 smashing out centre bounces.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:33pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:33pm
Rayner fails to strike after dumping tackle free
Cam Rayner misses a set shot from virtually directly in front to leave the Lions 2.6 on set shots tonight. That’s compared to Carlton’s mark of 9.2.
It’ll be interesting to see how the MRO looks at that tackle from Harry Dean on Rayner because there was definitely potential for injury there even though Rayner is fine to continue.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:29pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:29pm
Lohmann fails to back up his trash talk
There are Bronx cheers from Carlton’s fans as Kai Lohmann misses a set shot that he probably should’ve kicked.
A little bit of feeling between these two teams right now.
Lohmann got right in the face of Matt Cottrell after Cottrell gave away a free kick inside defensive 50.
The Lions are desperately looking for anything to get themselves activated tonight.
Sam Walsh finds himself topless in the midst of all that argy bargy.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:25pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:25pm
Florent unloads from long range to keep Blues in control
There’s no signs of slowing down from Carlton tonight!
Ollie Florent finds himself in acres of space outside 50 and runs a few metres inside and slots it.
Florent’s also up to 17 touches now and he’s also got four score involvements and three intercepts.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:22pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:22pm
Rayner responds after Carlton’s fast start to the third term
Cam Rayner with a much-needed goal to keep the Lions within striking distance.
Rayner’s goal comes after Talor Byrne and Ben Ainsworth struck in quick succession in the opening few minutes of the third term.
Chris Fagan won’t be happy with how his side came out of the break with the Blues recording 12 of the first 13 disposals in the third quarter.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:09pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:09pm
FT: GWS Giants 10.15 (75) defeat Port Adelaide 9.9 (63)
Jason Horne-Francis and Port Adelaide’s desperate comeback attempt from GWS fell short. (Getty Images)
It wasn’t pretty but that is a HUGE win for the Giants!
The Giants were held goalless for the final quarter, but the Power weren’t fully able to capitalise, kicking just 1.4 for themselves.
That means the Giants move up to 36 premiership points, keeping in touch with the wildcard teams, although they’re still on the outside looking in from 12th on the ladder.
Lachie Whitfield finishes with an equal game-high 29 touches, tied with Port’s Jason Horne-Francis, who was also brilliant once again, with seven clearances as well.
Jake Stringer, who is still unsigned for next season, finishes with 3.3 from 15 touches, while Stephen Coniglio also added three goals.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:07pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:07pm
Time running out now for Port Adelaide
We’re into the final two minutes here and GWS is clinging to a two-goal lead.
Port has had 17 inside 50s to seven in this final term, but it’s yielded just one goal. That’s not a winning equation.
Xavier Bamert and Mitch Georgiades with two misses over the last few minutes.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:02pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 9:02pm
Five minutes to go in Adelaide as Power push
It’s turned into a proper war of attrition at the Adelaide Oval as we tick into the final five minutes.
Port has kicked 1.2 for the quarter, GWS 0.5.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:58pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:58pm
HT: Carlton 12.7 (79) leads Brisbane 9.7 (61)
Harry Dean provided one of the moments of the first half with his first AFL goal in the second quarter. (Getty Images)
It’s been an absolute track meet at Docklands as Carlton takes a three-goal lead into the main break.
The Blues led by as many as 36 points at one point in that quarter, but the Lions appear to have steadied going into the half.
Will Ashcroft with some inspirational stuff, kicking two majors while also running down Jagga Smith in the middle of the ground in that final minute.
Smith has put together a quite brilliant half of football. He leads all players with 17 touches and also has five clearances and an equal game-high eight score involvements.
Lachie Neale is Brisbane’s leading ball-winner with 16 disposals and he’s also picked up six clearances.
The Lions will need more of that from their Brownlow Medal-winning champion in the second half to continue this comeback.
What a game.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:55pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:55pm
Georgiades has the first goal of the final quarter
Port right back in this one at the Adelaide Oval folks!
Mitch Georgiades picks up a ground ball and snaps beautifully on the right foot from 45m out to get the huge first goal of the final term.
The margin down to 13 points with 10 minutes left, plenty of time for the comeback here.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:54pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:54pm
Ashcroft snaps home another one before half-time
Here come the reigning premiers!
Will Ashcroft snaps one home from close range under heavy, heavy pressure to trim the margin to 19 points with 42 seconds left in the second quarter.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:53pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:53pm
Ashcroft makes it two straight goals for Brisbane
Will Ashcroft rams one home from a handball from Lachie Neale and the Lions aren’t going away!
Another bad turnover from the Blues as an inbound kick is chopped off at a horrible spot on the ground.
Ashcroft has 13 touches and four score involvements go along with that goal.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:49pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:49pm
Cameron with a brilliant finish from the pocket
And this is exactly why you cannot count out Brisbane here.
Charlie Cameron drills a beautiful goal from the pocket for a much-needed goal for the Lions.
They wouldn’t be too concerned with their own scoring feats, it’s the inability to stop them from going in at the other end that is the main problem.
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:47pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:47pm
Dean snaps home the first goal of his AFL career!
ABSOLUTE SCENES AT DOCKLANDS!
Jagga Smith with another score involvement as he dishes off a handball under pressure and Harry Dean snaps this one home on the left boot!
It’s absolute bedlam at Docklands Stadium as Dean is mobbed by his teammates and Josh Fraser can’t do anything but laugh in the coaches box.
The Blues are up by six goals on the dual reigning premiers! Who’d have thought?!
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:44pm
Sat 1 Aug 2026 at 8:44pm
Smith with the quick answer to Lohmann’s goal
Jagga Smith kicks Carlton’s 11th goal of the half to continue a monster first half!
A good shepherd in the square from Brodie Kemp, who stopped Eric Hipwood from spoiling the ball before it could sail through the goals.
Smith’s goal cancels out Kai Lohmann’s earlier goal which had snapped a run of six straight goals for the Blues.
The Lions haven’t been cut open like this since the Giants hammered them by 86 points earlier this season.
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