AFL round one Richmond vs Carlton live updates — blog, scores and stats from the MCG

The Blues are ahead by 25 points, but the Tigers showed fight in the backend of the second quarter.

They snared three consecutive goals, although they will need to maintain the momentum early in the third term.

The Tigers now trail by 24 points on the back of a third straight goal.

Toby Nankervis kicked his second for the match, giving the Tigers hope they can make further inroads on the scoreboard against the Blues.

Jack Ross backs up Tom Lynch’s goal with one of his own as we edge towards half-time.

There was some great work from Sam Lalor in the build-up to Ross’s major with the top draft pick having two touches amid traffic.

Inside the 50, Lalor got the ball to Ross, who snapped from long-range to cut back the Blues’ lead.

Tom Lynch marks in front of goal and slots a major as the Tigers desperately try to stay in the contest.

It would be a morale-boosting moment for Lynch, who was restricted to just eight matches during the past two seasons because of injury.

Sam Walsh joins the Blues’ goal-kickers list to extend his side’s lead to 41 points.

Following a stoppage inside the Tigers’ defensive 50, Patrick Cripps offloaded a handball to Walsh, who snapped his goal much to the delight of Blues supporters.

It took until midway through the second quarter for the first goal of the term, kicked by the Blues’ Lachie Cowan.

Cowan backed himself with a long-range effort just inside the arc and his effort had enough legs to go through for a major.

Lucas Camporeale is looking more at ease as the match progresses.

Inside the attacking 50, the young Blue tried to make the most of an opportunity when he sent the ball towards goal, only for the Tigers to rush through a behind.

It’s still early days, but neither side has troubled the scorers inside the opening five minutes of the second quarter.

At one stage, the Tigers launched a promising movement inside 50, but they couldn’t find the target of Tom Lynch and the Blues gained possession.

We’re back on at the MCG, with the Blues leading the Tigers by 27 points.

Can the Tigers lift in the second quarter?

Or will the Blues build on their dominance?

Let’s find out.

It was all the Blues in the opening term with a dominant display against the Tigers.

The Blues could be further ahead on the scoreboard with some inaccurate kicking on goal letting them down.

Plenty to do for the Tigers but a long way to go in this contest.

The Blues aren’t done on the scoreboard just yet, with Francis Evans kicking a crumbing goal in his club debut.

The ball was sent long into the Blues’ attacking 50, before spilling to the ground where Evans pounced.

Blues up by 27 points.

The Tigers wake from their slumber to kick their opening goal.

Toby Nankervis nailed a set-shot after the Tigers patiently moved the ball forward.

The lead-up play to Nankervis’s goal gave a glimpse of Sam Lalor’s enormous potential, with the top draft pick taking a sensational mark.

The Blues lead by 21 points.

It wasn’t pretty but it didn’t need to be, as Zac Williams extends the Blues’ lead to 27 points.

He grubbered the ball through the sticks to register the Blues’ fourth goal of the match.

It’s been all the Blues as we edge closer to the quarter-time break.

This time it’s Brodie Kemp who splits the posts from a set-shot to push the Blues out to a 21-point advantage.

The Blues are applying scoreboard pressure midway through the second quarter, with Matthew Cottrell kicking their second goal of the evening.

Jesse Motlop had possession outside the attacking 50 and shaped to kick for goal before instead chipping the ball to Cottrell.

Cottrell didn’t look like missing and the Blues move out to a 14-point lead.

The Blues record the first major of the match with Blake Acres on target.

It was great work from Acres, who took an intercept mark as the Tigers looked to clear the ball inside the defensive 50.

Acres made no mistake from the set-shot to give the Blues the early advantage.

Thanks for following our coverage JP! Hope you enjoy the match.

Promising signs for the Tigers after moving the ball inside the attacking 50.

Jacob Bauer took an excellent mark on the lead, but went left with his shot on goal and came away with a behind.

Both sides have had attacking opportunities in the opening few minutes.

The Tigers went forward immediately but the Blues forced a turnover and sent play to the opposite end of the field.

No goal to the Blues but they picked up a rushed behind to claim the first score of the contest.