Facts and Figures
Average Score: 87.57 points per team, even though only three out of 16 teams scored over 100 points.
Average Winning Margin: 36.38 points per game, which is understandable given Sydney Swans defeated West Coast Eagles by 128 points.
Teams that had a Bye: GWS Giants and St Kilda
Points of Interest
Nic Newman (Carlton) played his first AFL game in 573 days.
Chayce Jones (Adelaide Crows) played his 100th game.
Jordon Sweet (Port Adelaide) played his 50th game.
Tom Papley (Sydney Swans) played his 200th game.
Sydney Swans had their biggest away win in their history, with a 128-point win over West Coast Eagles.
Zeke Uwland (Gold Coast Suns) kicked the first goal of his career, as did Lachlan Gulbin.
Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs) kicked the 300th goal of his career.
Essendon lost their 17th game in a row.
Sam Mitchell coached his 100th game in the AFL.
Jarman Impey played his 150th game for Hawthorn.
Jack Martin (Geelong Cats) kicked his 150th goal of his career.
Highlights
Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions) kicked a freakish goal on his non dominant left foot from the pocket in the second quarter.
Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne) kicked an incredible goal in the fourth quarter against Carlton.
Fremantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce smothered a kick from James Peatling (Adelaide Crows) late in the game.
Maurice Rioli (Richmond) took an amazing mark in the second quarter against Port Adelaide.
Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans) took an incredible mark near quarter time and kicked four high quality goals for the game.
Christian Salem (Melbourne Demons) kicked a great snap, which made the deficit seven points at quarter time against Gold Coast Suns.
Jake Melksham (Melbourne Demons) took a spectacular mark in the third quarter.
Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats) kicked a great set shot goal from outside 50 from a tough angle in the second quarter against Hawthorn. Nick Watson (Hawthorn) kicked the next goal on his non dominant left foot.
Josh Weddle (Hawthorn) kicked an amazing goal from a set shot on a tough angle in the third quarter.
Game One of Eight
Brisbane Lions (119) v Collingwood (65)
Facts and Figures: The margin flattered Collingwood; it was 34 scoring shots, to 15, in favour of Brisbane Lions. Kai Lohmann kicked four goals, as did Daniel McStay. Brisbane Lions recruit Oscar Allen kicked three goals in a breakout game.
Brisbane Lions Game Changer: Will Ashcroft
Collingwood Game Changer: Daniel McStay
Game Two of Eight
North Melbourne (96) v Carlton (86)
Facts and Figures: Four of the six goals in the first quarter came from free kicks. Brodie Kemp kicked two goals in the first half, as did Marc Pittonet. The Holland brothers were fantastic in the third quarter. The game changed when Jacob Weitering got concussed. Luke Parker was enormous when the game was in the balance in the fourth quarter.
North Melbourne Game Changers: Luke Parker, Harry Sheezel
Carlton Game Changer: Oliver Hollands
Game Three of Eight
Adelaide Crows (76) v Fremantle Dockers (78)
Facts and Figures: Lachlan McAndrew had the most tackles of any player on the ground, with 13. The Dockers nearly let a big lead slip, as they won the game narrowly. Jye Amiss kicked four goals.
Adelaide Crows Game Changer: James Peatling
Fremantle Dockers Game Changer: Caleb Serong
Game Four of Eight
Richmond (48) v Port Adelaide (90)
Facts and Figures: Jacob Wehr kicked his first goal for Port Adelaide. Liam Fawcett kicked the last two goals of the first half, that made the deficit 15 points for Richmond. Four of the six players that kicked two goals in the game were Port Adelaide players. Aliir Aliir had 18 intercept possessions.
Richmond Game Changer: Maurice Rioli
Port Adelaide Game Changer: Aliir Aliir
Game Five of Eight
West Coast Eagles (35) v Sydney Swans (163)
Facts and Figures: Sydney Swans led by 33 points at quarter time, partly due to the inaccuracy of West Coast Eagles who failed to kick a goal from their five scoring shots. Sydney Swans led by 63 points at half time.
West Coast Eagles shining light: Willem Duursma
Sydney Swans Game Changers: Brodie Grundy, Isaac Heeney
Game Six of Eight
Melbourne Demons (109) v Gold Coast Suns (89)
Facts and Figures: The six-point deficit at half time flattered Gold Coast Suns, because they were outplayed by Melbourne Demons. Jack Steele had six tackles in the first half. Jake Melksham was the leading goal kicker in the game, with four goals.
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Jack Steele
Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: Lachlan Gulbin
Game Seven of Eight
Western Bulldogs (99) v Essendon (65)
Facts and Figures: Marcus Bontempelli equalled the most disposals he has had in half in his career, with 22. Archer May kicked Essendon’s only goal of the first half. Arthur Jones kicked three goals and had nine score involvements in the first half. Essendon kicked four goals in the third quarter, while Western Bulldogs were goalless. Jade Gresham kicked three goals in the second half.
Western Bulldogs Game Changer: Arthur Jones
Essendon Game Changer: Jade Gresham
Game Eight of Eight
Hawthorn (92) v Geelong Cats (91)
Facts and Figures: Shannon Neale kicked a couple of goals from outside 50 in the second quarter. Josh Ward had 21 disposals in the first half, while Bailey Smith had 20 disposals. Jarman Impey limited the impact of Shaun Mannagh. Jack Ginnivan kicked a set shot goal that gave Hawthorn the lead at three quarter time. Nick Watson kicked three goals and Shannon Neale kicked four.
Hawthorn Game Changers: Jarman Impey, Nick Watson
Geelong Cats Game Changer: Shannon Neale