Facts and Figures
Average Score: 75.11 points per team, which is low, when taking into account six out of 18 teams scored 84 points or more.
Average Winning Margin: 23.11 points per game, which indicates there weren’t many close games. Despite that, five out of nine games had a margin of 20 points or less!
Round 21 (In a Nutshell): In Round 21 I correctly predicted the results in four out of nine matches. Once again there were was a mix of some monotonous games and some nail biters; take a look at the games more in depth!
Friday (Game One of Nine)
Geelong Cats (65) v GWS Giants (84)
Injuries Bring Opportunity
Facts and Figures: The Giants had 18 injuries prior to the game. Incredibly, it was 25 scoring shots to 19 in favour of the Cats. Along with that the Cats had 20 more inside 50s, as well as 23 more hitouts, seven more clearances and three more centre clearances than the Giants.
Pivotal Moment: Tanner Bruhn gave the Giants a 15 point lead late in the 4th quarter.
Geelong Cats Game Changer: Jack Henry
GWS Giants Game Changer: Sam Taylor
Saturday (Game Two of Nine)
Carlton (57) v Gold Coast Suns (76)
The Suns Win a Tight Game
Facts and Figures: The Suns had three more inside 50s, six more hitouts, 12 more clearances and four more centre clearances than Carlton.
Pivotal Moment: Touk Miller of the Suns gave them a 19 point lead in the 4th quarter.
Carlton Game Changer: Nic Newman
Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: Touk Miller
Saturday (Game Three of Nine)
Richmond (88) v North Melbourne (56)
Richmond Come Back
Facts and Figures: At one stage North Melbourne led by 26 points; late in the 2nd quarter. Despite that by the end of the game, Richmond had four more inside 50s than North Melbourne. Richmond finished the game with 20 hitouts, compared with North Melbourne’s 40. Remarkably, North Melbourne had 12 more clearances and seven more centre clearances than Richmond.
Pivotal Moment: Jack Riewoldt of Richmond made the deficit 20 points at half time.
Richmond Game Changer: Liam Baker
North Melbourne Game Changer: Cameron Zurhaar
Saturday Game (Game Four of Nine)
Adelaide Crows (51) v Port Adelaide (55)
The Crows Tried, but to No Avail
Facts and Figures: Port Adelaide had 20 scoring shots compared with the Crows 16. Both teams had 48 inside 50s. The Crows finished the game with one more centre clearance, but with seven less hitouts, seven less clearances than Port Adelaide
Pivotal Moment: Charlie Dixon of Port Adelaide gave them a nine point lead in the 4th quarter.
Adelaide Crows Game Changer: Rory Laird
Port Adelaide Game Changer: Aliir Aliir
Saturday (Game Five of Nine)
St Kilda (93) v Sydney Swans (64)
St Kilda Keep Faint Finals Hopes Alive
Facts and Figures: It was 23 scoring shots to 14 in favour of St Kilda. They had ten more inside 50s than the Swans. Remarkably, the Swans had two more hitouts as well as 11 more clearances and ten more centre clearances than St Kilda.
Pivotal Moment: Jack Higgins gave St Kilda a 30 point lead near 3 quarter time.
St Kilda Game Changers: Jack Higgins, Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele
Sydney Swans Game Changer: Jordan Dawson
Sunday (Game Six of Nine)
Hawthorn (97) v Collingwood (78)
Hawthorn Win Two in a Row!
Facts and Figures: It was 22 scoring shots to 18 in favour of Hawthorn. They had three more inside 50s, as well as six more clearances than Collingwood. Despite that, Collingwood had six more hitouts and three more centre clearances than Hawthorn.
Pivotal Moment: Tom Mitchell gave Hawthorn a 31 point lead in the 4th quarter.
Hawthorn Game Changer: Tom Mitchell
Collingwood Game Changer: Jack Crisp
Sunday (Game Seven of Nine)
Western Bulldogs (84) v Essendon (97)
Peter Wright Gave the Bulldogs a Fright
Facts and Figures: It was 24 scoring shots to 22 in favour of the Bulldogs. They also had 21 more inside 50s than the Bombers. Remarkably, the Bombers had 21 more hitouts, as well as 16 more clearances and six more centre clearances.
Pivotal Moment: Peter Wright gave Essendon a four goal lead in the 4th quarter.
Western Bulldogs Game Changer: Jack Macrae
Essendon Game Changer: Peter Wright
Sunday (Game Eight of Nine)
Fremantle Dockers (54) v Brisbane Lions (118)
Dismal Dockers
Facts and Figures: It was 28 scoring shots to 14 in favour of the Lions! The Dockers had one more inside 50 and also had 16 more hitouts, as well as four more clearances than the Lions. Remarkably the Dockers had two more centre clearances. Regardless, they were uncompetitive.
Pivotal Moment: Joe Daniher gave the Lions a 45 point lead at half time.
Fremantle Dockers Game Changer: Joe Daniher
Brisbane Lions Game Changer: Travis Colyer
Monday (Game Nine of Nine)
West Coast Eagles (63) v Melbourne Demons (72)
Eagles Leave it Too Late
Facts and Figures: It was 22 scoring shots to 18 in favour of the Demons. The Eagles had one more inside 50 and four more hitouts than the Demons. Despite that, the Demons had one more clearance as well as one more centre clearance. Both teams were forced to use their sub early in the game with Shannon Hurn and Jayden Hunt getting injured.
Pivotal Moment: Kysaiah Pickett of the Demons gave them a four point lead at half time.
West Coast Eagles Game Changer: Elliot Yeo
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Luke Jackson