Facts and Figures
Average Score: 88.56 points per team, eight of 18 teams scored more than 97 points.
Average Winning Margin: 26 points per game, three of the nine games had a margin of more than 34 points. On the other hand, two of nine games had a single figure margin.
Points of Interest
Oliver Florent (Carlton) played his 200th game.
Nick Larkey (North Melbourne) played his 150th game.
Ben Long (Gold Coast Suns) played his 150th game.
Sam De Koning (Geelong Cats) and Oliver Henry played their 100th game.
Bailey J. Williams (West Coast Eagles) played his 100th game.
Ryley Sanders (Western Bulldogs) played his 50th game.
Ben King (Gold Coast Suns) kicked the 300th goal of his career.
Mark Blicavs (Geelong Cats) played his 308th game, which is the equal most of any player drafted as a rookie, with Luke Breust.
Geelong Cats conceded 110 points at three quarter time, that is the highest score that they have conceded at GMHBA at three quarter time since, 2001.
Brisbane Lions had 17 less inside 50s against Geelong Cats, that was the seventh worst inside 50 differential for them in a win.
Gold Coast Suns lost their sixth successive game.
Fremantle Dockers winning streak of 14 games in a row came to an end.
There were 71 free kicks paid in the Port Adelaide and North Melbourne game.
Carlton won their seventh game in a row under interim coach Josh Fraser and now sit tenth on the ladder.
Lions humble Cats
Geelong Cats (101) v Brisbane Lions (123)
Nitty Gritty: Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey and Logan Morris each kicked two goals in the first quarter. Brisbane Lions kicked the first eight goals of the game. The Cats kicked the next five goals. Lions Co-captain Josh Dunkley summed up their response to the half-time discussion: “Responded well.” Patrick Dangerfield and Kai Lohmann kicked five goals each.
Geelong Cats Difference Maker: Patrick Dangerfield
Brisbane Lions Difference Maker: Kai Lohmann
Swans defeat lacklustre Dogs
Sydney Swans (90) v Western Bulldogs (55)
Nitty Gritty: Charlie Curnow kicked four of the first six goals in the game. Brodie Grundy had 36 hit-outs and five tackles in the first half. The Swans should have won by more, based on the balance of play.
Sydney Swans Difference Makers: Charlie Curnow, Brodie Grundy, Isaac Heeeney
Western Bulldogs Difference Maker: Arthur Jones
Eagles fight back to no avail
West Coast Eagles (74) v Adelaide Crows (99)
Nitty Gritty: Adelaide Crows dominated the first quarter. West Coast Eagles had 19 inside 50s in the fourth quarter, but they only kicked three goals.
West Coast Eagles Difference Maker: Jake Waterman
Adelaide Crows Difference Maker: Jordan Dawson
Demons demolished Hawthorn
Hawthorn (90) v Melbourne Demons (125)
Nitty Gritty: The Demons destroyed Hawthorn in every facet of the game to establish a 77-point lead at half-time. Fox footy pundit Jordan Lewis summed the game up in the third quarter: “It’s like Melbourne are playing with two extras.” Following that Hawthorn fought back and kicked 12 goals in a row.
Hawthorn Difference Maker: Mabior Chol
Melbourne Demons Difference: Bayley Fritsch, Max Gawn, Jacob van Rooyen
Giants take giant leap
GWS Giants (109) v Fremantle Dockers (88)
Nitty Gritty: Jake Stringer kicked seven goals; the player nicknamed, ‘The Package’ delivered to keep GWS Giants hopes of playing in the finals, alive.
GWS Giants Difference Maker: Jake Stringer
Fremantle Dockers Difference Maker: Karl Worner
Collingwood display character in tough contest
Gold Coast Suns (98) v Collingwood (104)
Nitty Gritty: Collingwood willed themselves over the line in a closely fought game. The storyline was the melee that ensued at half-time.
Gold Coast Suns Difference Maker: Bailey Humphrey
Collingwood Difference Maker: Nick Daicos
The Blues win the game, just….
Richmond (72) v Carlton (74)
Nitty Gritty: Richmond were in front by 19 points in the second quarter, but didn’t get over the line in the end. The Tigers showed plenty of guts and if they took their chances, it could have been a different story.
Richmond Difference Maker: Noah Balta
Carlton Difference Maker: George Hewett
Essendon getting worse
Essendon (50) v St Kilda (117)
Nitty Gritty: St Kilda led by 21 points at quarter time. Fox footy commentator Matty Hill labelled Sam Durham: “A shining light,” in the second quarter. St Kilda kicked ten goals in a row in the first half, with the margin 65 points at half-time and the game was effectively over.
Essendon Difference Maker: Sam Durham
St Kilda Difference Makers: Max Hall, Bradley Hill, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Power keep their season alive
Port Adelaide (73) v North Melbourne (52)
Nitty Gritty: The game wasn’t the best spectacle for the entire game; there were too many free kicks paid by the umpires. Port Adelaide were too polished for North Melbourne. Jason Horne-Francis was the difference between the two teams; the former Kangaroo got it done when the game was their to be won.
Port Adelaide Difference Maker: Jason Horne-Francis
North Melbourne Difference Maker: Luke Davies-Uniacke