Facts and Figures
Average Score: 81.55 points per team, which is relatively low, when taking into account five out of 18 teams scored 100 points or more.
Average Winning Margin: 27.11 points per game, which indicates there weren’t many close games. Despite that, four out of nine games had a margin of 15 points or less!
Round 2 (In a Nutshell): In Round 2 I correctly predicted three out of nine matches. Find out what transpired in Round 2.
Thursday (Game One of Nine)
Western Bulldogs (90) v Carlton (102)
Bulldogs Fail to Take Opportunities
Facts and Figures: The game was there for the Bulldogs to win as they wrestled back momentum back in the fourth quarter, but they let themselves down with their goalkicking.
Pivotal Moment: Charlie Curnow gave Carlton a 32 point lead with just under 15 minutes to go in the second quarter.
Western Bulldogs Game Changer: Tim English
Carlton Game Changer: Harry McKay
Friday (Game Two of Nine)
Sydney Swans (107) v Geelong Cats (77)
Buddy Brilliant!
Facts and Figures: Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin kicked four goals to reach the mark of 1000 goals in his career.
Pivotal Moment: Lance Franklin’s 1000th goal gave the Swans a 38 point lead late in the game.
Sydney Swans Game Changer: Isaac Henney
Geelong Cats Game Changer: Brad Close
Saturday (Game Three of Nine)
Collingwood (100) v Adelaide Crows (58)
Collingwood New Era Continues to Flourish
Facts and Figures: The Crows had no answer for the Magpies. The Magpies thoroughly outplayed the Crows and couldn’t cope with the Magpies new game plan.
Pivotal Moment: Nathan Kreuger gave Collingwood a 23 point lead near quarter time.
Collingwood Game Changer: Jack Crisp
Adelaide Crows Game Changer: Ben Keays
Saturday Game (Game Four of Nine)
Essendon (75) v Brisbane Lions (97)
Essendon Fade Away
Facts and Figures: Essendon led by 22 points at quarter time and lost the game by 22 points; it was a 44 point turnaround.
Pivotal Moment: Lachie Neale gave the Lions a 21 point lead late in the fourth quarter.
Essendon Game Changer: Peter Wright
Brisbane Lions Game Changer: Lachie Neale
Saturday (Game Five of Nine)
Port Adelaide (56) v Hawthorn (120)
Hawthorn Obliterate Port Adelaide
Facts and Figures: Hawthorn kicked 13 goals and no behinds from set shots. Their system was superior to Port Adelaide’s.
Pivotal Moment: Mitchell Lewis gave Hawthorn a seven goal lead near three quarter time.
Port Adelaide Game Changer: Sam Powell-Pepper
Hawthorn Game Changers: Jack Gunston, Mitch Lewis
Saturday (Game Six of Nine)
Gold Coast Suns (69) v Melbourne Demons (82)
The Suns Prove the Demons are Beatable
Facts and Figures: The Suns failed to kick straight and take their chances when the game was on the line. Despite that, they have plenty of positives as they were extremely competitive.
Pivotal Moment: Luke Jackson gave the Demons a four point lead near quarter time.
Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: Touk Miller
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Christian Petracca
Sunday (Game Seven of Nine)
North Melbourne (74) v West Coast Eagles (59)
The Eagles Brave in Defeat
Facts and Figures: The Eagles made 14 enforced changes to their team in Round 2. Nick Larkey was a standout with six goals.
Pivotal Moment: Nick Larkey’s fourth goal of the game gave North Melbourne a 22 point lead with six minutes left in the second quarter.
North Melbourne Game Changer: Nick Larkey
West Coast Eagles Game Changers: Jeremy McGovern, Willie Rioli
Sunday (Game Eight of Nine)
Richmond (109) v GWS Giants (73)
Giants Have a Giant Problem
Facts and Figures: Both teams had 13 behinds, but Richmond kicked six more goals than the Giants.
Pivotal Moment: Hugo Ralphsmith kicked Richmond’s first goal of the game for Richmond, which gave them a three point lead near quarter time. Richmond had five behinds prior to that goal.
Richmond Game Changer: Jayden Short
GWS Giants Game Changer: Stephen Coniglio
Sunday (Game Nine of Nine)
Fremantle Dockers (55) v St Kilda (65)
St Kilda Claim a Brave Win
Facts and Figures: The Dockers were restricted to three goals in the second half.
Pivotal Moment: Max King gave St Kilda a 16 point lead late in the fourth quarter.
Fremantle Dockers Game Changer: Andrew Brayshaw
St Kilda Game Changer: Max King