Facts and Figures
Average Score: 72 points per team; fairly low, given seven teams scored more than 90 points
Average Winning Margin: 25.33 points per game, which reflects the Round accurately as there were some good games and other monotonous games from a neutral spectator point of view.
Round 18 (In a Nutshell): In Round 18 I correctly predicted one out of eight matches, as there was one game that was a draw. There were plenty of stats and interesting discussion points to take out of Round 18; find out what they were.
Thursday (Game One of Nine)
Fremantle Dockers (31) v Geelong Cats (100)
Dockers Demolished!
Facts and Figures: There was 30 scoring shots to 16 scoring shots in favour of the Cats. They also had 20 more inside 50s than the Dockers. Remarkably the Dockers had ten more hitouts than the Cats. Despite that, the Cats had nine more clearances as well as four more centre clearances than the Dockers. The Dockers have only won one out of eight games against top eight teams in season 2021.
Pivotal Moment: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats gave them a lead by 15 points near quarter time.
Fremantle Dockers Game Changer: Sean Darcy
Geelong Cats Game Changer: Sam Menegola
Friday (Game Two of Nine)
Richmond (106) v Brisbane Lions (86)
Lions Outplayed in Jack’s Milestone Game
Facts and Figures: It was 26 scoring shots to 21 in favour of Richmond. They finished with eight more inside 50s, but one less hitout and six less clearances than the Lions. Remarkably, Richmond had seven more centre clearances than the Lions. It was Jack Riewoldt’s milestone and he kicked six goals.
Pivotal Moment: Tom J. Lynch gave Richmond a 17 point lead in the 4th quarter.
Richmond Game Changer: Jack Riewoldt
Brisbane Lions Game Changer: Hugh McCluggage
Saturday (Game Three of Nine)
St Kilda (61) v Port Adelaide (74)
St Kilda Finals Chances in Jeopardy
Facts and Figures: It was 24 scoring shots to 21 in Port Adelaide’s favour. St Kilda had ten more inside 50s as well as 11 more hitouts than Port Adelaide. Remarkably, Port Adelaide had five more clearances and two more centre clearances than St Kilda.
Pivotal Moment: Karl Amon of Port Adelaide made the deficit one goal midway through the 2nd quarter.
St Kilda Game Changer: Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele
Port Adelaide Game Changers: Karl Amon, Ollie Wines
Saturday Game (Game Four of Nine)
Gold Coast Suns (90) v Western Bulldogs (79)
The Suns Brave in Defeat
Facts and Figures: It was 24 scoring shots to 20 in favour of the Suns. Despite that, the Bulldogs had 11 more inside 50s, as well as ten more clearances and seven more centre clearances than the Suns.
Pivotal Moment: Jamar Ugle-Hagan of the Bulldogs gave them a 12 point lead in the 3rd quarter.
Gold Coast Suns Game Changers: Nick Holman, Touk Miller, Jeremy Sharp
Western Bulldogs Game Changers: Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter
Saturday (Game Five of Nine)
Melbourne Demons (79) v Hawthorn (79)
All Square in Tight Affair
Facts and Figures: It was 24 scoring shots to 19 in favour of the Demons; they threw it away missing scoring opportunities. The Demons had eight more inside 50s, two more hitouts as well as seven more clearances and seven more centre clearances than Hawthorn.
Pivotal Moment: Ben McEvoy of Hawthorn made the deficit 20 points midway through the 2nd quarter.
Melbourne Demons Game Changers: Christian Petracca, Bailey Fritsch
Hawthorn Game Changers: Tom Mitchell, Luke Breust
Sunday (Game Six of Nine)
North Melbourne (74) v Essendon (92)
Essendon Too Good when it Counted
Facts and Figures: North Melbourne kicked the opening two goals of the game. Despite that, it was 27 scoring shots to 19 in favour of Essendon. They also had 11 more clearances than North Melbourne.
Pivotal Moment: Jake Stringer of Essendon made the margin ten points late in the game.
North Melbourne Game Changers: Aaron Hall, Tarryn Thomas
Essendon Game Changers: Dyson Heppell, Darcy Parish, Jake Stringer
Sunday (Game Seven of Nine)
Collingwood (62) v Carlton (91)
Collingwood get the Blues!
Facts and Figures: It was 26 scoring shots to 17 in favour of Carlton. They had nine more inside 50s and 14 more clearances five more centre clearances than Collingwood.
Pivotal Moment: Matthew Kennedy made the deficit 14 points shortly after the midway point of the 3rd quarter.
Collingwood Game Changer: Chris Mayne
Carlton Game Changers: Matthew Kennedy, Harry McKay, Sam Walsh
Sunday (Game Eight of Nine)
Adelaide Crows (56) v West Coast Eagles (98)
The Crows Fail to Fire in Second Half
Facts and Figures: It was 28 scoring shots to 16 in favour of the Eagles, which tells the story. The Crows trailed by just two points at half time.
Pivotal Moment: Jamie Cripps gave the Eagles a five goal lead in the 4th quarter.
Adelaide Crows Game Changer: Brodie Smith
West Coast Eagles Game Changer: Jamie Cripps
Sunday (Game Nine of Nine)
GWS Giants (72) v Sydney Swans (98)
Giants Lose Crucial Game
Facts and Figures: The Giants managed to lose a game that they were winning by 28 points in at quarter time! Remarkably it was 23 scoring shots to 17 in favour of the Swans at full time.
Pivotal Moment: Tom Papley of the Swans snapped his 4th goal of the game to give them a 25 point lead in the 4th quarter.
GWS Giants Game Changer: Tim Taranto
Sydney Swans Game Changer: Tom Papley