Facts and Figures
Average Score: 85.33 points per team, five of 18 teams scored over 100 points.
Average Winning Margin: 40.44 points per game, even though four of nine games had a margin of less than three goals.
Fun Facts
The Dockers are the first team that has gone goalless in the first half and scored 100 points in the second half.
Fremantle Dockers had their highest crowd of a home game that wasn’t a derby, in their comeback win, with 55,966 people in attendance.
Alastair Clarkson had a milestone 600th VFL/AFL game as AFL player and coach.
The most VFL/AFL games by a grandfather, father and son trio record was broken by Sergio, Stephen and Jack Silvagni, with 696 games between them.
Melbourne Demons kicked over 100 points for the ninth time this season.
Swans have plenty of concerns
Fremantle Dockers (111) v Sydney Swans (73)
Nitty Gritty: The Dockers failed to kick a goal in the first two quarters; their wayward kicking meant that they trailed by 22 points at half-time. They got bang for buck in the second half, scoring 100 points.
Fremantle Dockers Difference Makers: Alex Pearce, Murphy Reid, Josh Treacy
Sydney Swans Difference Maker: Charlie Curnow
Josh Daicos summed it up: “One of our best wins!”
Collingwood (89) v North Melbourne (85)
Nitty Gritty: The game ebbed and flowed in the first half; the scoreboard remained close. The Daicos brothers did everything withing his power to get Collingwood the four points and Tim Membrey kicked what proved to be the match winner.
Collingwood Difference Makers: Josh Daicos, Nick Daicos, Billy Frampton, Tim Membrey
North Melbourne Difference Makers: Paul Curtis, Harry Sheezel
Saints survive Power surge
St Kilda (87) v Port Adelaide (73)
Nitty Gritty: Fox Footy commentator Leigh Montagna labelled Miles Bergman of Port Adelaide in the third quarter: “A shining light.” Jason Horne-Francis kicked two freakish goals from a tough angle in the third quarter. Port Adelaide had four injuries, which included Zak Butters. In the end the Saints were too good in the key moments.
St Kilda Difference Makers: Bradley Hill, Rowan Marshall, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Callum Wilkie
Port Adelaide Difference Makers: Miles Bergman, Jason Horne-Francis
Cats squander 39-point lead
GWS Giants (86) v Geelong Cats (73)
Nitty Gritty: Despite the Giants trailing by three goals at quarter time, Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall praised Sam Taylor: “He is doing absolutely everything.” The Giants key defender had eight intercept possessions in the first half. They took the lead for the first time in the game in the back half of the fourth quarter.
GWS Giants Difference Makers: Kieren Briggs, Clayton Oliver, Sam Taylor
Geelong Cats Difference Makers: Oliver Dempsey, Shaun Mannagh
Carlton gets reality check
Carlton (39) v Hawthorn (103)
Nitty Gritty: Jack Ginnivan kicked Hawthorn’s first three goals of the game. Late in the third quarter Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson summed Hawthorn’s performance up well: “They’re a class above.” Hudson also gave an insight into the value of Will Day to Hawthorn: “He does bring a different dimension to their midfield.” Adam Cerra was a shining light for Carlton; the 26-year-old laid 14 tackles for the game.
Carlton Difference Maker: Adam Cerra
Hawthorn Difference Makers: Will Day, Jack Ginnivan, Lloyd Meek
Crows fly high, Suns cooked!
Adelaide Crows (128) v Gold Coast Suns (49)
Nitty Gritty: Izak Rankine had six score involvements at half-time; double any other player in the game. Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley sung the praises of the Crows skipper Jordan Dawson; rating his chances of being All-Australian captain this season.
Adelaide Crows Difference Makers: Jordan Dawson, Izak Rankine, Josh Rachele, Taylor Walker
Gold Coast Suns Difference Maker: Jed Walter
Eagles wayward kicking stop them from winning
Western Bulldogs (86) v West Coast Eagles (70)
Nitty Gritty: West Coast Eagles were in the game and could well have won if not for their wayward kicking; they had 25 scoring shots, while Western Bulldogs had 21.
Western Bulldogs Difference Makers: Marcus Bontempelli, Aaron Naughton
West Coast Eagles Difference Makers: Willem Duursma, Harley Reid
The Dees get the job done
Melbourne Demons (111) v Richmond (65)
Nitty Gritty: Melbourne Demons were in cruise control against a Richmond team that’s blooding plenty of youngsters and doing a decent job rebuilding. Demons key forward Jacob van Rooyen kicked six goals and was the match winner.
Melbourne Demons Difference Makers: Jake Bowey, Max Gawn, Jacob van Rooyen
Richmond Difference Maker: Tim Taranto
Lions demolish Bombers
Brisbane Lions (149) v Essendon (59)
Nitty Gritty: Brisbane Lions were a class above. The game was effectively over at quarter time. It’s a sad state of affairs for the Bombers.
Brisbane Lions Difference Makers: Will Ashcroft, Lachie Neale, Cam Rayner
Essendon Difference Maker: Peter Wright