Round 1 of the 2026 AFL season gets underway with a classic season opener, as the Carlton Blues host the Richmond Tigers at the MCG.
Carlton come into the match looking to bounce back after a tough start to the year. The Blues suffered a heavy defeat to the Sydney Swans in Round 0, going down 132–69. Despite the final margin, Carlton actually showed some promising patches during the game, putting together a couple of solid quarters before Sydney pulled away late.
For Richmond, this will be their first real hit out of the new season. The Tigers weren’t overly impressive in their preseason loss to Melbourne, but preseason form doesn’t always tell the full story. They’ll also take confidence from last year’s season opener, where they knocked off Carlton 82–69 in a strong early-season performance.
With both sides eager to start their campaign on the right foot, the traditional season opener should deliver plenty of intensity.
Here is a Carlton vs Richmond Prediction for Round 1, Thursday March 12th 2026.
Carlton Blues vs Richmond Tigers
Venue – MCG
Start Time – 7.30pm EST
2026 Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 |
| Richmond | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
2026 Season Scoring
| Team | Pts | Opp Pts | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton | 69 | 132 | 201 |
| Richmond | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Quick Match Facts
- Richmond have been reliable on Thursday nights, covering the line in each of their last five games played on that day.
- Slow starts have also been a trend for the Tigers, conceding the first goal in each of their last six Thursday matches.
- Low-scoring games have been common for Carlton at the MCG, with 12 of their last 13 matches at the ground finishing under the total points line.
- George Hewett has been a ball-winning machine when Carlton start favourites, recording 31 or more disposals in each of the Blues’ last four games in that role.
- Toby Nankervis continues to find plenty of the footy at the MCG, collecting 15+ disposals in 14 of his last 16 appearances at the ground.
Prediction
Prediction – Carlton (Win)