The Carlton Blues face off against the Essendon Bombers in Round 13 of the 2025 AFL season this Sunday at the MCG.
With a 4-7 record so far in the season, Carlton needs to make quick strides to launch themselves back into the top eight. The bye week in Round 12 might have come at just the right time after suffering three losses in four weeks.
They will be optimistic as they face sides outside the top eight in the upcoming weeks, starting with Essendom and West Coast.
On the other hand, Essendon are 6-5 in the season and face rivals Carlton this weekend, a fixture they will hope to win as they are in close distance to push for a finals spot.
In Round 12, they fell short against top-four contender Brisbane last week, losing 90-72 at the Gabba. However, the clash at MCG presents them an opportunity to bounce back to winning ways.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times, and the latest lineup news.
Carlton vs. Essendon free live stream, free-to-air channel
- Live Stream: Kayo, Foxtel, 7plus
- TV Channel: Fox Footy
- Free-to-air: 7mate
Kayo Sports and Foxtel are providing both live and catch-up coverage of Sunday's match. The clash will also be available on TV in Australia via Fox Footy and free-to-air channel on Seven Mate.
Fans can stream Carlton vs. Essendon on Kayo, which is currently offering a free trial for new subscribers, so you can essentially watch this game and others this week for free. The match will also be streamed on the AFL website.
Carlton vs. Essendon start time
- Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025
- Start Time: 7:20 p.m. AEST
- Venue & Location: MCG
The AFL Round 13 game between Carlton Blues and Essendon Bombers will be played on Sunday, June 8, at the MCG in Melbourne, Victoria.
Here's how that kick-off time translates to the various Australian time zones:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Sunday, June 8 | 7:20 p.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Sunday, June 8 | 6:50 p.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Sunday, June 8 | 5:20 p.m. |
AFL 2025 fixture schedule this week
Thursday, June 5
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Livestream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Bulldogs vs. Hawthorn Hawks | Marvel Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | Seven, Fox/Kayo, Binge |
Friday, June 6
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Livestream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Crows vs. Brisbane Lions | Adelaide Oval | 7:40 p.m. | Seven, Fox/Kayo, Binge |
Saturday, June 7
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond vs. Sydney Swans | MCG | 1:20 p.m. | Fox/ Kayo |
| Geelong Cats vs. Gold Coast SUNS | GMHBA Stadium | 4:15 p.m. | Fox /Kayo |
| GWS Giants vs. Port Adelaide | Corroboree Group Manuka Oval | 7:35 p.m. | Seven, Fox/Kayo |
Sunday, June 8
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Melbourne vs. West Coast Eagles | Hands Oval | 3:20 p.m. | Fox/Kayo |
| Carlton vs. Essendon | MCG | 7:20 p.m. | Seven, Fox/Kayo |
Monday, June 9
| Fixture | Venue | Time (AEST) | TV/Livestream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne vs. Collingwood | MCG | 3:20 p.m. | Seven, Fox/Kayo, Binge |