Carlton Blues Face Richmond Tigers in AFL Round 1 Clash

The 2026 AFL Premiership Season kicks off on Thursday night with a traditional rivalry game between the Carlton Blues and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Carlton will be looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat in Round 1 last week, while Richmond aims to start their rebuild with a strong performance.

Team Lineups and Key Changes

Carlton has made several changes to their side following their 63-point loss to Sydney. Ashton Moir and Liam Reidy have been dropped, and Adam Saad is sidelined due to a hamstring strain. Lachie Cowan, Matt Carroll, and Hudson O’Keeffe will come into the team, with O’Keeffe taking Reidy’s spot as the second ruck.

Carlton Team:

• B: L.Cowan, J.Weitering, H.Dean
• HB: M.McGovern, L.Young, O.Florent
• C: C.Chesser, P.Cripps (C), O.Hollands
• HF: W.Hayward, H.McKay, B.Ainsworth
• F: J.Smith, B.Kemp, L.Fogarty
• FOLL: M.Pittonet, G.Hewett, S.Walsh
• I/C: Z.Williams, C.Lord, E.Hollands, M.Carroll, H.O’Keeffe
• EMG: T.Byrne, J.Boyd, A.Moir

Richmond will hand an AFL debut to Sam Grlj, their Pick 8 selection from the 2025 draft. Noah Balta is available after recovering from a minor hamstring complaint, but Nick Vlastuin is unavailable due to ankle issues. Tom Brown and Luke Trainor have been named as emergencies.

Richmond Team:

• B: N.Balta, B.Miller, N.Broad
• HB: S.Banks, S.Grlj, J.Short
• C: H.Ralphsmith, S.Lalor, K.McAuliffe
• HF: S.Campbell, M.Rioli, R.Mansell
• F: J.Faull, T.Lynch, H.Armstrong
• FOLL: T.Nankervis (C), T.Taranto, J.Ross
• I/C: J.Trezise, J.Gibcus, J.Hopper, S.Green, C.Gray
• EMG: T.Brown, L.Trainor, T.Sonsie

Match Details

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Time: 7:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

How to Watch

Fans in the UK can watch the match on TNT Sports and through discovery+ & Watch AFL. Viewers in the USA can access the game on Watch AFL and select Fox Sports channels.

Pressure on Carlton Coach Michael Voss

Carlton coach Michael Voss is under pressure after a disappointing start to the season. Following a similar slow start in 2025, Voss will be eager to secure a win quickly, with Sam Walsh expected to lead the charge.

Richmond’s Rebuild

Richmond is undergoing a rebuild after finishing 17th in the 2025 season. The team will be looking for their fresh recruits to integrate quickly, but Carlton is favored to win this matchup.

Round 1 Fixture (Partial)

• Carlton v Richmond: Thursday, March 12, 7:30pm at the MCG
• Essendon v Hawthorn: Friday, March 13, 7:40pm at the MCG
• Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants: Saturday, March 14, 1:15pm at Marvel Stadium
• Geelong v Fremantle: Saturday, March 14, 4:15pm at GMHBA Stadium
• Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions: Saturday, March 14, 7:10pm at the SCG
• Collingwood v Adelaide Crows: Saturday, March 14, 7:35pm at the MCG
• North Melbourne v Port Adelaide: Sunday, March 15, 1:10pm at Marvel Stadium
• Melbourne v St Kilda: Sunday, March 15, 3:15pm at the MCG
• Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles: Sunday, March 15, 6:10pm at People First Stadium