Essendon v Melbourne, Round 5 2026
2026 AFLRound 5
| Club | QT | HT | 3QT | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESS | 3.5 23 | 6.8 44 | 12.9 81 | 17.11 113 |
| MEL | 3.1 19 | 8.2 50 | 9.5 59 | 10.8 68 |
Adelaide OvalRain, 18°Lead changes 4
Recap
Essendon too strong for Melbourne
Essendon 17.11 (113) beat Melbourne 10.8 (68) at Adelaide Oval in Round 5, a 45-point win after trailing by 19.
Nate Caddy kicked two goals for Essendon and Thomas Edwards two; Kysaiah Pickett kicked two for Melbourne.
Archie Roberts led the way with 42 disposals, a goal, 15 marks and 11 intercepts.
A run of seven straight goals across the third and last quarters stretched the lead from 5 to 46.
Essendon won the clearances 40–32 and won the contested ball 142–115.
In context
- AFL debut for Sullivan Robey.
- Milestone: Jake Melksham’s 250th game.
- A career-high 42 disposals for Archie Roberts (previous best 37).
Best on ground
Essendon · #21 · 88% game time
- 42
- D
- 1
- G
- 15
- M
- 0
- T
2 clearances · 3 inside 50s · AFL Fantasy 164
Brownlow votes2026 count
Score worm
Essendon aheadMelbourne aheadGoalFour or more goals in a row
- 4 goals in a row to MelbourneQ1 28:27 – Q2 12:39
- Essendon down by 19Q2 21:56
- 5 goals in a row to EssendonQ2 25:15 – Q3 15:13
- 7 goals in a row to EssendonQ3 24:40 – Q4 13:40
- Essendon lead by 46Q4 13:40
EssendonGoals
- N. Caddy 2.3
- T. Edwards 2.1
- A. May 2.1
- X. Duursma 2
- I. Kako 2
- J. Gresham 1.1
- A. Day-Wicks 1
- S. Durham 1
- Z. Merrett 1
- A. Roberts 1
- E. Tsatas 1
- P. Wright 1
MelbourneGoals
- K. Pickett 2.1
- H. Sharp 1.1
- K. Chandler 1
- B. Fritsch 1
- M. Gawn 1
- H. Langford 1
- B. Mihocek 1
- L. Pickett 1
- T. Sparrow 1
- Field umpires
- Nick Jankovskis, Mathew Nicholls, Peter Bailes, Jordan Fry
EssendonFinal team
Interchange
EmergenciesN. Cox, Z. Johnson, S. El-Hawli
In
- +Jordan Ridley
- +Nate Caddy
- +Elijah Tsatas
- +Sullivan Robey
Out
- −Matt Guelfi · Omitted
- −Archie Perkins · Omitted
- −Zak Johnson · Omitted
- −Saad El-Hawli · Omitted
Milestones
- Sullivan Robey · Debut game
First game for the club
- Sullivan Robey · Rowville (Vic)/Eastern Ranges U18
MelbourneFinal team
How the FanCrew rating works
FanCrew rating: Champion Data rating points and AFL Fantasy points together, on a 0–10 scale against every AFL game since 2001 (Fantasy points alone before 2012). 6.5 is a typical game, 8.5 and up a standout. Players need 15% game time to be rated.
Essendon won the clearances 40–32 and won the contested ball 142–115.
ESSAttackMEL
- Inside 50s 52
- Scoring shots 10.818
- Accuracy 56%
54
2817.11
61%
The ball
- Disposals 332
- Contested possessions 115
- Clearances 32
- Marks 78
- Tackles 54
- Free kicks 15
- Biggest lead 19
441
142
40
139
45
15
46
Disposals
Goals
Marks
Tackles
Essendon17.11113
| Player | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21A. Roberts | 42 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 164 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 0 | |
| 7Z. Merrett | 31 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 109 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 0 | |
| 20P. Wright | 18 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 108 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 14 | |
| 3D. Parish | 34 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 106 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 0 | |
| 28X. DuursmaInt | 21 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 95 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 0 | |
| 4K. Langford | 27 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 103 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 0 | |
| 14J. Ridley | 26 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 106 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |
| 32B. McKay | 23 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 98 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10I. Kako | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2J. Farrow | 22 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 102 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |
| 25J. Prior | 17 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 89 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| 5E. TsatasInt | 29 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 12 | 17 | 3 | 0 | |
| 44A. Day-Wicks | 15 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | |
| 22S. Durham | 16 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 68 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 0 | |
| 31Z. ReidInt | 18 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6J. Caldwell | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 57 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 0 | |
| 11J. Gresham | 13 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 58 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
| 30N. Caddy | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| 45T. Edwards | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 61 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1A. McGrath | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 44 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | |
| 46L. Blakiston | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | |
| 26A. MayInt | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9S. RobeyInt | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | |
| Team | 441 | 17 | 8 | 139 | 45 | 40 | 1852 | 272 | 169 | 54 | 21 |
Melbourne10.868
| Player | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11M. Gawn | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 108 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 34 | |
| 36K. Pickett | 28 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 124 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 0 | |
| 9J. Steele | 28 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 102 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 0 | |
| 32T. SparrowInt | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 78 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | |
| 30H. Sharp | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| 4H. LangfordInt | 17 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 70 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | |
| 10D. Turner | 17 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 74 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | |
| 25T. McDonald | 15 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 74 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| 12K. Tholstrup | 22 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 66 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 0 | |
| 8J. Lever | 18 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 84 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 31B. Fritsch | 13 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 53 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
| 37K. Chandler | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 51 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | |
| 15E. Langdon | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 0 | |
| 5X. Lindsay | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
| 22B. HowesInt | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 58 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3C. Salem | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 33L. PickettInt | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 28B. Mihocek | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 6C. Windsor | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 35H. PettyInt | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| 13J. Culley | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2J. van Rooyen | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18J. Melksham | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Team | 332 | 10 | 6 | 78 | 54 | 32 | 1386 | 197 | 135 | 52 | 39 |
Bold marks each side's best in a column; tap a heading to sort. RTG is the FanCrew rating, AF is AFL Fantasy points.
First quarterESS 3.5 (23) · MEL 3.1 (19)
- 2:54RushedEssendonESS0.1 (1) – 0.0 (0)
- 5:16RushedEssendonESS0.2 (2) – 0.0 (0)
- 6:44GoalT. EdwardsESS1.2 (8) – 0.0 (0)
- 8:43GoalB. FritschMEL1.2 (8) – 1.0 (6)
- 10:43GoalL. PickettMELLead change1.2 (8) – 2.0 (12)
- 13:38BehindN. CaddyESS1.3 (9) – 2.0 (12)
- 15:33GoalX. DuursmaESSLead change2.3 (15) – 2.0 (12)
- 17:31BehindH. SharpMEL2.3 (15) – 2.1 (13)
- 19:16BehindN. CaddyESS2.4 (16) – 2.1 (13)
- 20:25BehindT. EdwardsESS2.5 (17) – 2.1 (13)
- 24:38GoalE. TsatasESS3.5 (23) – 2.1 (13)
- 28:27GoalH. SharpMEL3.5 (23) – 3.1 (19)
Second quarterESS 3.3 (21) · MEL 5.1 (31)
- 6:25GoalM. GawnMELLead change3.5 (23) – 4.1 (25)
- 9:29GoalK. PickettMEL3.5 (23) – 5.1 (31)
- 12:39GoalT. SparrowMEL3.5 (23) – 6.1 (37)
- 16:07GoalA. MayESS4.5 (29) – 6.1 (37)
- 18:48GoalK. ChandlerMEL4.5 (29) – 7.1 (43)
- 20:45RushedEssendonESS4.6 (30) – 7.1 (43)
- 21:56GoalB. MihocekMEL4.6 (30) – 8.1 (49)
- 23:38BehindA. MayESS4.7 (31) – 8.1 (49)
- 25:15GoalS. DurhamESS5.7 (37) – 8.1 (49)
- 27:24BehindJ. FarrowESS5.8 (38) – 8.1 (49)
- 29:37BehindJ. van RooyenMEL5.8 (38) – 8.2 (50)
- 30:08GoalI. KakoESS6.8 (44) – 8.2 (50)
Third quarterESS 6.1 (37) · MEL 1.3 (9)
- 3:50GoalA. Day-WicksESSLevel7.8 (50) – 8.2 (50)
- 8:17BehindH. PettyMEL7.8 (50) – 8.3 (51)
- 10:11BehindJ. SteeleMEL7.8 (50) – 8.4 (52)
- 11:46GoalA. RobertsESSLead change8.8 (56) – 8.4 (52)
- 13:08BehindJ. GreshamESS8.9 (57) – 8.4 (52)
- 15:13GoalN. CaddyESS9.9 (63) – 8.4 (52)
- 19:21GoalK. PickettMEL9.9 (63) – 9.4 (58)
- 24:40GoalI. KakoESS10.9 (69) – 9.4 (58)
- 26:35GoalJ. GreshamESS11.9 (75) – 9.4 (58)
- 27:59GoalT. EdwardsESS12.9 (81) – 9.4 (58)
- 29:07RushedMelbourneMEL12.9 (81) – 9.5 (59)
Last quarterESS 5.2 (32) · MEL 1.3 (9)
- 6:19BehindK. PickettMEL12.9 (81) – 9.6 (60)
- 6:58BehindK. LangfordESS12.10 (82) – 9.6 (60)
- 8:00GoalZ. MerrettESS13.10 (88) – 9.6 (60)
- 9:47GoalA. MayESS14.10 (94) – 9.6 (60)
- 11:49GoalN. CaddyESS15.10 (100) – 9.6 (60)
- 13:40GoalX. DuursmaESS16.10 (106) – 9.6 (60)
- 17:06GoalH. LangfordMEL16.10 (106) – 10.6 (66)
- 18:45BehindJ. van RooyenMEL16.10 (106) – 10.7 (67)
- 21:13BehindN. CaddyESS16.11 (107) – 10.7 (67)
- 25:45GoalP. WrightESS17.11 (113) – 10.7 (67)
- 29:16RushedMelbourneMEL17.11 (113) – 10.8 (68)