Facts and Figures
Average Score: 95.39 points per team, which is understandable as eight of the 18 teams scored at least 100 points.
Average Winning Margin: 37 points per game, as five of nine games had a margin of at least 44 points.
Points of Interest
Maurice Rioli of Richmond played his 50th AFL game.
Blake Hardwick of Hawthorn played his 200th AFL game.
Oskar Baker of Western Bulldogs played his 50th AFL game.
Ed Richards of Western Bulldogs played his 150th AFL game.
James O’Donnell of Western Bulldogs played his 50th AFL game.
Scott Pendlebury has now played the second most games in VFL, AFL history.
Daniel McStay of Collingwood played his 200th AFL game.
Matt Roberts of Sydney Swans played his 50th AFL game.
Christian Salem of Melbourne Demons played his 200th AFL game.
Fremantle Dockers scored their highest score in a first quarter against Geelong Cats, scoring 52 points, but the Dockers lost.
Highlights
It was a good round for key forwards, as the following players kicked at least five goals: Jack Gunston, Aaron Naughton, Shannon Neale, Joel Amartey, Jacob van Rooyen and Ben King.
Jagga Smith of Carlton had 16 disposals and seven score involvements in the first quarter!
Western Bulldogs were exceptional in a 81-point win against GWS Giants; the Bulldogs played like the Harlem Globetrotters.
Ryan Lester of Brisbane Lions kept Charlie Curnow of Sydney Swans goalless, even though the Swans won comfortably.
Steven King coached well in his first game as coach for Melbourne Demons against St Kilda.
Christian Petracca of Gold Coast Suns kicked three goals in the first quarter.
Game One of Nine
Carlton (75) v Richmond (71)
Facts and Figures: Jayden Short of Richmond kicked an extraordinary goal from outside 50 in the fourth quarter. Sam Lalor of Richmond kicked a couple of quality goals. Tom Lynch of Richmond kicked two goals and seven behinds, which probably cost them the four points.
Carlton Game Changer: Jagga Smith
Richmond Game Changer: Sam Lalor
Game Two of Nine
Essendon (83) v Hawthorn (145)
Facts and Figures: It was boys against men, in a one-sided game; eight Hawthorn players had at least ten score involvements! The margin would have been more if not for Ben McKay of Essendon who had the most intercept possessions of any player in the game, with ten.
Essendon Game Changer: Ben McKay
Hawthorn Game Changer: Jack Gunston
Game Three of Nine
Western Bulldogs (134) v GWS Giants (53)
Facts and Figures: Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli kicked two goals in the first quarter. Sam Davidson of Western Bulldogs kicked two goals in the second quarter.
Western Bulldogs Game Changer: Marcus Bontempelli
GWS Giants Game Changer: Finn Callaghan
Game Four of Nine
Geelong Cats (110) v Fremantle Dockers (100)
Facts and Figures: Shaun Mannagh of Geelong Cats kicked the first three goals of the second quarter and Jeremy Cameron kicked three goals in the first half. Geelong Cats came back to win from a 35-point deficit.
Geelong Cats Game Changer: Shaun Mannagh
Fremantle Dockers Game Changer: Luke Jackson
Game Five of Nine
Sydney Swans (104) v Brisbane Lions (60)
Facts and Figures: Charlie Cameron kicked the Brisbane Lions first goal of the game, after the quarter time siren. Charlie Curnow failed to kick a goal and Sydney Swans still won comfortably.
Sydney Swans Game Changer: Joel Amartey
Brisbane Lions Game Changer: Ryan Lester
Game Six of Nine
Collingwood (79) v Adelaide Crows (93)
Facts and Figures: Collingwood went goalless in the first quarter. Jack Crisp kicked the first goal for Collingwood, which came early in the second quarter. Collingwood weren’t at the races for most of the game.
Collingwood Game Changer: Dan Houston
Adelaide Crows Game Changer: Wayne Milera
Game Seven of Nine
North Melbourne (113) v Port Adelaide (67)
Facts and Figures: Charlie Comben of North Melbourne kicked a pivotal goal from outside 50 in the second quarter that gave them momentum. Comben had six score involvements and 14 intercept possessions.
North Melbourne Game Changer: Charlie Comben
Port Adelaide Game Changer: Connor Rozee
Game Eight of Nine
Melbourne Demons (120) v St Kilda (107)
Facts and Figures: Jacob van Rooyen of Melbourne Demons kicked six goals. Max Gawn had a great fourth quarter as he outworked Tom De Koning.
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Max Gawn
St Kilda Game Changer: Max Hall
Game Nine of Nine
Gold Coast Suns (131) v West Coast Eagles (72)
Facts and Figures: Gold Coast Suns dominated in every area of the game in the first half. Milan Murdock was a positive for West Coast Eagles, as he kicked two of their three goals in the first half and had 13 disposals, as was former Brisbane Lions player Devon Robertson who had nine tackles in the first half. Elliot Yeo kicked the first two goals of the third quarter.
Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: Jarrod Witts
West Coast Eagles Game Changer: Devon Robertson