Facts and Figures
Average Score: 86.33 points per team, seven of 18 teams scored at least 97 points.
Average Winning Margin: 22.44 points per game, five of nine games had a margin of 15 points or less.
Points of Interest
Jack Gunston became the first Hawthorn in player in Champion Data history to seven or more marks inside 50 in a half and five or more goals in a half; Gunston eclipsed both in the first half against Fremantle Dockers.
Fremantle Dockers won their eighth game in a row.
Matthew Kennedy (Western Bulldogs) played his 150th game.
Sam Durham (Essendon) played his 100th game.
West Coast Eagles are the only team to lose every first quarter this season.
Lachlan McAndrew (Adelaide Crows) kicked the first goal of his career.
Izak Rankine (Adelaide Crows) had a career high 33 disposals.
Game One of Nine
Fremantle Dockers (88) v Hawthorn (73)
Facts and Figures: Nick Watson kicked the first goal of the first and second quarter. Jack Gunston kicked two goals in the first quarter, three in a row in the second and one in the fourth. Luke Jackson was a class above and worked hard without the ball, as he was the leading tackler on the ground, with ten. Michael Frederick kicked two pivotal goals in the fourth quarter.
Fremantle Dockers Game Changers: Michael Frederick, Luke Jackson
Hawthorn Game Changers: Jack Gunston, Nick Watson
Game Two of Nine
Brisbane Lions (100) v Carlton (89)
Facts and Figures: Ryan Lester had the most intercept possessions of any player in the game, with 11. Logan Morris kicked two goals in the first quarter, as did Will Hayward. Ben Ainsworth kicked two goals in the third quarter. Carlton kicked five goals in a row in the third quarter. Harry McKay, Mich McGovern and Will Hayward kicked three goals each. Sam Walsh had 13 score involvements.
Brisbane Lions Game Changers: Ryan Lester, Lachie Neale
Carlton Game Changer: Sam Walsh
Game Three of Nine
Port Adelaide (72) v Western Bulldogs (74)
Facts and Figures: Mitch Georgiades and Aaron Naughton kicked two goals each in the first quarter. Will Lewis kicked two goals in the first half. Mitch Georgiades kicked four goals for the game. Marcus Bontempelli showed why he is arguably the best player in the competition; he led from the front, with 30 disposals, a goal and ten tackles.
Port Adelaide Game Changers: Zak Butters, Mitch Georgiades
Western Bulldogs Game Changers: Marcus Bontempelli, Michael Sellwood
Game Four of Nine
North Melbourne (97) v Sydney Swans (105)
Facts and Figures: Jack Darling and Logan McDonald kicked two goals each in the first quarter. Luke Davies-Uniacke had 13 disposals in the first quarter. Isaac Heeney had 16 disposals and kicked two goals in the first half. The Swans had too much polish. Bad kicking is bad football and that’s why North Melbourne lost the game.
North Melbourne Game Changers: Luke Davies-Uniacke, Luke Parker
Sydney Swans Game Changers: Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney
Game Five of Nine
GWS Giants (103) v Essendon (89)
Facts and Figures: Lachie Whitfield had 35 disposals and provided plenty of run off half back. Toby Greene finished the game with three goals. Xavier Duursma kicked two goals in a row in the first quarter. Peter Wright kicked three goals and the most score involvements of any player in the game, with ten, to go with 21 hitouts and four intercept possessions. Archie Roberts had 42 disposals.
GWS Giants Game Changers: Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield
Essendon Game Changers: Archie Roberts, Peter Wright
Game Six of Nine
Gold Coast Suns (89) v St Kilda (60)
Facts and Figures: Bailey Humphrey had the most score involvements of any player in the game, with 11 and kicked a crucial goal in the fourth quarter. Darcy Wilson kicked four goals and gave St Kilda hope.
Gold Coast Suns Game Changer: Bailey Humphrey
St Kilda Game Changer: Darcy Wilson
Game Seven of Nine
Geelong Cats (122) v Collingwood (68)
Facts and Figures: Oliver Henry kicked four goals for Geelong Cats against his old team. Bailey Smith had the most score involvements of any player in the game, with 14. Jordan De Goey had a good game for Collingwood; De Goey had 11 score involvements.
Geelong Cats Game Changers: Oliver Henry, Bailey Smith
Collingwood Shining Light: Jordan De Goey
Game Eight of Nine
Melbourne Demons (99) v West Coast Eagles (67)
Facts and Figures: Jacob van Rooyen kicked three goals and Paddy Cross kicked a couple of goals in the first half. Cross finished the game with three goals and Jacob van Rooyen finished with five. Elliot Yeo had the most tackles of any player in the game, with eight.
Melbourne Demons Game Changer: Jacob van Rooyen
West Coast Eagles Game Changer: Elliot Yeo
Game Nine of Nine
Richmond (61) v Adelaide Crows (98)
Facts and Figures: Adelaide Crows kicked five goals in the third quarter, Richmond failed to score; the Premiership Quarter was a one-sided affair. Izak Rankine played a great game, as did Jordan Dawson who led from the front. Tom Lynch kicked three goals.
Richmond Game Changer: Tom Lynch
Adelaide Crows Game Changer: Jordan Dawson, Izak Rankine