Facts and Figures
Average Score: 80.11 points per team, with four out of 18 teams kicking 100 points or more.
Average Winning Margin: 34.44 points in nine games per game. Despite that, three games had a margin of 60 points or more, which indicates that there were plenty of completely one sided games. At the other end of the spectrum there were three games with a margin of 15 points or less.
Round 22 (In a Nutshell): In Round 22 I correctly predicted the results in five out of nine matches. Find out what transpired.
Friday (Game One of Nine)
St Kilda (66) v Brisbane Lions (81)
Bad Kicking is Bad Football
Facts and Figures: Both teams had 21 scoring shots; Max King of St Kilda kicked no goals and five behinds.
Pivotal Moment: Cam Rayner gave the Lions a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
St Kilda Game Changer: Mason Wood
Brisbane Lions Game Changer: Cam Rayner
Saturday (Game Two of Nine)
Western Bulldogs (62) v GWS Giants (57)
Bulldogs Win a Low Scoring, Close Contest
Facts and Figures: Both teams had 17 scoring shots. The Giants had three more Inside 50s, but the Bulldogs had 17 more contestsed possessions.
Pivotal Moment: Bailey Dale took a key mark in the defence half near the end of the game.
Western Bulldogs Game Changer: Bailey Dale
GWS Giants Game Changer: Josh Kelly
Saturday (Game Three of Nine)
Adelaide Crows (103) v North Melbourne (74)
Facts and Figures: The scores were level at 70 points each at three quarter time. The Crows won the fourth quarter 33 points to four points for North Melbourne.
Pivotal Moment: Harry Schoenberg gave the Crows an 11-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
Adelaide Crows Game Changers: Jordan Dawson, Darcy Fogarty
North Melbourne Game Changer: Jy Simpkin
Saturday Game (Game Four of Nine)
Gold Coast Suns (59) v Geelong Cats (119)
The Cats Display Their Depth!
Facts and Figures: It was 29 scoring shots to 14 in favour of the Cats. The top two disposal winners were both Suns; Touk Miller with 36 disposals and Brandon Ellis with 32 disposals. The Cats played more as a team.
Pivotal Moment: Gryan Miers gave the Cats a 40-point lead midway through the third quarter. Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: Touk Miller
Geelong Cats Game Changers: Jeremy Cameron, Tyson Stengle
Saturday (Game Five of Nine)
Melbourne Demons (79) v Carlton (74)
Pickett Knows How to Win it!
Facts and Figures: Both teams had 24 scoring shots. Despite that, the Demons had ten more Inside 50s.
Pivotal Moment: Kysaiah Pickett gave the Demons a five-point lead late in the game.
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Angus Brayshaw
Carlton Game Changer: Sam Docherty
Saturday (Game Six of Nine)
Fremantle Dockers (71) v West Coast Eagles (47)
The Dockers Kept the Eagles in the Game
Facts and Figures: It was 26 scoring shots to 12 in favour of the Dockers. In the second half the Dockers kicked four goals and 11 behinds to the Eagles two goals and three behinds.
Pivotal Moment: Michael Walters gave the Dockers a 24-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Fremantle Dockers Game Changer: Sean Darcy
West Coast Eagles Game Changer: Tom Barrass
Sunday (Game Seven of Nine)
Richmond (128) v Hawthorn (67)
Richmond Building Momentum
Facts and Figures: It was 28 scoring shots to 22 in favour of Richmond. Tom J. Lynch was exceptional for Richmond with eight goals.
Pivotal Moment: Shai Bolton gave Richmond a five-point lead midway through the first quarter.
Richmond Game Changer: Tom J. Lynch
Hawthorn Game Changer: Jai Newcombe
Sunday (Game Eight of Nine)
Sydney Swans (77) v Collingwood (50)
The End of the 11 game Winning Streak
Facts and Figures: It was 22 scoring shots to 15 in favour of the Swans. They had too much class and polish as their system was outstanding.
Pivotal Moment: Lance Franklin gave the Swans a 34-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Sydney Swans Game Changer: Luke Parker
Collingwood Game Changer: Josh Daicos
Sunday (Game Nine of Nine)
Essendon (62) v Port Adelaide (146)
Port Adelaide Grow, While Essendon Were Too Slow
Facts and Figures: It was 31 scoring shots to 17 in Port Adelaide’s favour. Despite that, Port Adelaide only kicked eight behinds, which was the same amount that Essendon kicked, even though Port Adelaide had 14 more scoring shots than Essendon.
Pivotal Moment: Sam Powell-Pepper gave Port Adelaide a 39-point lead midway through the second quarter.
Essendon Game Changer: None
Port Adelaide Game Changer: Sam Powell-Pepper