Essendon is hosting Carlton at the MCG after Bayley Fritsch, Kysaiah Pickett and Ben Brown helped Melbourne to the top of the AFL ladder with a win over the winless Kangaroos.

Later, the Western Derby will be played in front of no fans after a hotel security guard and two of his close contacts tested positive to COVID-19 in Perth.

Follow the live scores, stats and results below.

Essendon vs Carlton

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West Coast vs Fremantle

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Brown helps keep Melbourne perfect despite scare from North

Ben Brown kicked important goals in his first game against his old club.(

AAP: James Ross

)

Melbourne has survived a scare from the winless Kangaroos to go to the top of the AFL ladder, with former North Melbourne star Ben Brown playing a pivotal role in his club debut.

The Demons snared the 16.7 (103) to 11.7 (73) win on the back of six goals from Bayley Fritsch and a three-goal effort from Kysaiah Pickett.

It takes their winning streak to seven to start the season, and moves them ahead of the Bulldogs for first place.

Brown, who joined Melbourne in the off-season after booting 130 goals in seven seasons with North, kicked two majors against his old team, but ended the game in the sheds after being opened up by a nasty head clash with Josh Walker in the final quarter.

Last-placed North shot out of the gates against their more-fancied opponents, with Tom Campbell and Shaun Atley potting goals in the opening few minutes, and they sustained Melbourne’s first fightback to take a five-point lead into quarter-time.

Brown toed home his first goal in the second quarter, but it came in the midst of a five-goal period for the Roos, who led 59-40 at half-time.

Melbourne’s comeback properly began after the long break, kicking six majors to one, including Brown’s second giving them a lead they never relinquished midway through the third term.

Ben Cunnington kicked North’s only goal of the last quarter, but James Jordon, Clayton Oliver, Fritsch and Pickett slotted to see the Demons home.

The only dampener on the win for Melbourne was a suspected torn ACL for Adam Tomlinson in the first quarter.

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