Facts and Figures
Average Score: 79.5 points per team, which is fairly high, when taking into account four out of 18 teams scored less than 50 points.
Average Winning Margin: 23.33 points per game, which indicates there were relatively one sided games. Despite that, four games had a margin of less than 18 points, which indicates that there were plenty of close games.
Round 18 (In a Nutshell): In Round 18 I correctly predicted the results in three out of nine matches. Find out what transpired.
Friday (Game One of Nine)
Western Bulldogs (84) v St Kilda (56)
Saints Leave Run Too Late
Facts and Figures: The Bulldogs controlled the game for three quarters. The score line flattered St Kilda.
Pivotal Moment: Marcus Bontempelli gave the Bulldogs a 28 point lead late in the game.
Western Bulldogs Game Changer: Marcus Bontempelli
St Kilda Game Changer: Jack Sinclair
Saturday (Game Two of Nine)
Adelaide Crows (86) v Collingwood (91)
Collingwood Claim Close Win Once Again
Facts and Figures: Collingwood won their eighth straight game in a row. Nick Daicos was outstanding with three goals and 40 disposals in Scott Pendlebury’s 350th game.
Pivotal Moment: Nick Daicos made the deficit for Collingwood 14 points midway through the first quarter.
Adelaide Crows Game Changers: Rory Laird, Taylor Walker
Collingwood Game Changers: Nick Daicos, Scott Pendlebury
Saturday (Game Three of Nine)
GWS Giants (59) v Brisbane Lions (99)
Lions Take a Giant Leap
Facts and Figures: The Lions won the game fairly comfortably, even though they were without their number one ruckman Oscar McInerney.
Pivotal Moment: Hugh McCluggage gave the Lions a six goal lead at three quarter time.
GWS Giants Game Changer: Sam Taylor
Brisbane Lions Game Changers: Keidean Coleman, Hugh McCluggage
Saturday Game (Game Four of Nine)
North Melbourne (92) v Richmond (88)
Richmond couldn’t Kick Straight
Facts and Figures: It was 33 scoring shots to 22 in favour of Richmond, but they lost the game. Cameron Zurhaar of North Melbourne kicked six goals.
Pivotal Moment: Cameron Zurhaar gave North Melbourne a four point lead late in the game.
North Melbourne Game Changers: Jy Simpkin, Cameron Zurhaar
Richmond Game Changer: Dion Prestia
Saturday (Game Five of Nine)
Carlton (55) v Geelong Cats (85)
Geelong Outplay Carlton
Facts and Figures: It was 25 scoring shots to 15 in favour of the Cats. It was a game where the Cats were simply too good.
Pivotal Moment: Gryan Miers gave the Cats a 33 point lead early in the third quarter.
Carlton Game Changer: Sam Docherty
Geelong Cats Game Changer: Jeremy Cameron
Saturday (Game Six of Nine)
Fremantle Dockers (65) v Sydney Swans (82)
Dockers Fade Away
Facts and Figures: The Swans had too much class when the game was in the balance.
Pivotal Moment: Errol Gulden gave the Swans an 11 point lead in the fourth quarter.
Fremantle Dockers Game Changer: Luke Ryan
Sydney Swans Game Changers: Errol Gulden, Chad Warner
Sunday (Game Seven of Nine)
Hawthorn (102) v West Coast Eagles (77)
Both Teams Showed Great Endeavour, but Hawthorn were Too Clever
Facts and Figures: Hawthorn were too good in the key moments.
Pivotal Moment: Jamie Cripps made the deficit for the Eagles 14 points early in the fourth quarter.
Hawthorn Game Changer: Luke Breust
West Coast Eagles Game Changer: Tom Barrass
Sunday (Game Eight of Nine)
Melbourne Demons (83) v Port Adelaide (69)
Pickett puts on a Clinic
Facts and Figures: Kysaiah Pickett of the Demons was outstanding with six goals.
Pivotal Moment: Kysaiah Pickett gave the Demons a five point lead near half time.
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Kysaiah Pickett
Port Adelaide Game Changer: Connor Rozee
Sunday (Game Nine of Nine)
Essendon (103) v Gold Coast Suns (55)
Essendon Have Improved Out of Sight
Facts and Figures: Essendon dominated the game all day as they led from start to finish
Pivotal Moment: Harrison Jones gave Essendon a eight point lead early in the second quarter.
Essendon Game Changers: Sam Draper, Mason Redman
Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: None