Facts and Figures
Average Score: 86.94 points per team, which is fairly high, when taking into account only three teams scored over 100 points.
Average Winning Margin: 20.56 points per game. Despite that, four games had a margin seven points or less, which indicates that there were plenty of close games.
Round 20 (In a Nutshell): In Round 20 I correctly predicted the results in five out of nine matches. Find out what transpired.
Game One of Nine
Collingwood (76) v Carlton (93)
Carlton depth pasts the test
Facts and Figures: Carlton had a few injuries, including Matthew Kennedy, Harry McKay, Jack Silvagni and Sam Walsh. Adam Cerra was injured in the third quarter. Charlie Curnow kicked six goals.
Collingwood Game Changer: Jeremy Howe
Carlton Game Changer: Charlie Curnow
Game Two of Nine
Geelong Cats (64) v Fremantle Dockers (71)
Dockers show their fight
Facts and Figures: The Cats Mark Blicavs and Tom Hawkins both suffered hamstring injuries. Even though the Cats had injuries, the Dockers showed grit and character.
Geelong Cats Game Changer: Zach Guthrie
Fremantle Dockers Game Changers: Andrew Brayshaw, Alex Pearce
Game Three of Nine
Western Bulldogs (73) v GWS Giants (78)
Giants claim club record
Facts and Figures: The Giants won their seventh game in a row, which is a club record. Both teams had 23 scoring shots. Western Bulldogs had two injuries; Alex Keath suffered concussion and Josh Bruce a knee injury. Toby Greene kicked five goals for the Giants.
Western Bulldogs Game Changers: Tim English, Tom Liberatore
GWS Giants Game Changers: Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield
Game Four of Nine
Gold Coast Suns (96) v Brisbane Lions (55)
Sublime Suns get the job done
Facts and Figures: The Suns won the fourth quarter by a 24-point margin. Despite only having one more scoring shot the Suns were clearly the better team. Suns co-captain, Touk Miller curtailed the influence of Lions co-captain, Lachie Neale. Ben King of the Suns was back in form with five goals.
Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: Touk Miller
Brisbane Lions Game Changer: Josh Dunkley
Game Five of Nine
Essendon (99) v Sydney Swans (101)
An entertaining game with plenty at stake
Facts and Figures: Essendon trailed by a 25-point margin at three quarter time and nearly won the game. Kyle Langford and Peter Wright kicked nine of their 15 goals. Unfortunately, Lance Franklin of the Swans was subbed out in the second quarter with a calf injury. Dane Rampe also suffered a calf injury.
Essendon Game Changer: Kyle Langford
Sydney Swans Game Changers: Joel Amartey, Errol Gulden
Game Six of Nine
Adelaide Crows (112) v Port Adelaide (65)
The Crows aren’t given up on playing finals
Facts and Figures: It was 32 scoring shots to 20 in favour of the Crows. Taylor Walker of the Crows kicked seven goals, while Francis Evans of Port Adelaide kicked four goals.
Adelaide Crows Game Changer: Taylor Walker
Port Adelaide Game Changer: Zak Butters
Game Seven of Nine
Hawthorn (93) v St Kilda (122)
St Kilda get pivotal win
Facts and Figures: Four of the six Hawthorn goal kickers for them were multiple goal kickers. St Kilda had five of ten goal kickers were multiple goal kickers.
Hawthorn Game Changers: Luke Breust, Will Day
St Kilda Game Changer: Brad Crouch
Game Eight of Nine
Richmond (98) v Melbourne Demons (130)
The Demons are tough to beat
Facts and Figures: It was 30 scoring shots to 23 in favour of the Demons. They are more unpredictable without Brodie Grundy playing forward.
Richmond Game Changer: Dustin Martin
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Harrison Petty
Game Nine of Nine
West Coast Eagles (72) v North Melbourne (67)
A close game in the end
Facts and Figures: The Eagles had a much needed win for their morale. Despite that, the leading goal kicker on the ground was Paul Curtis of North Melbourne who kicked four goals.
West Coast Eagles Game Changers: Jayden Hunt, Tim Kelly
North Melbourne Game Changers: Paul Curtis, Luke Davies-Uniacke