Facts and Figures
Average Score: 80.67 points per team, even though only six of 18 teams had a score of over 89 points.
Average Winning Margin: 23.78 points per game; four of nine games had a margin of less than 17 points.
Fun Facts
The last time St Kilda won in Geelong was 1999 and that streak continues.
Rowan Marshall had 26 contested possessions, which is a record for any St Kilda player in their history.
Adelaide Crows have trailed at three quarter time and won a game for the second time this season, in their win over the Sydney Swans.
The Crows have averaged 39 points from F50 stoppages in Round 18 and 19. The AFL average is eight points.
Fremantle Dockers have only won one of their past five first quarters.
Brisbane Lions have won six games in a row.
Gold Coast Suns have lost eight games in a row.
Essendon had a miraculous win against the Giants.
Richmond had -101 uncontested possessions v Hawthorn, their fifth worst return in the last five years.
Matthew Kennedy (Western Bulldogs) is one of the most underrated players in the competition.
No Cameron no worries
Geelong Cats (102) v St Kilda (75)
Nitty Gritty: The Cats looked more unpredictable without their star forward. They went with a small forward line. Jay Polkinghorne was a revelation in his debut; the debutant kicked two goals and had seven score involvements. Gryan Miers summed up Oshin Mulin: “He’s a potential A grader.” The Irishman curtailed the influence of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
Geelong Cats Difference Makers: Oliver Dempsey, Gryan Miers, Oislin Mullin, Jay Polkinghorne, Bailey Smith
St Kilda Difference Maker: Rowan Marshall
Crows show they have what it takes
Sydney Swans (71) v Adelaide Crows (87)
Nitty Gritty: Nitty Gritty: The game was full of swings on the scoreboard, that a was a point echoed by commentator Anthony Hudson: “The Adelaide Crows lead by 13 in a game which has been full of momentum.” The Crows took their moments when the game was there to be won; Jonathan Brown summed up a goal from Darcy Fogarty in the fourth quarter: “It takes a lot of mental strength.” Tom Papley was the livewire for the Swans; the small forward kicked four goals. James Borlase kept Charlie Curnow goalless.
Sydney Swans Difference Makers: Tom Papley, Chad Warner
Adelaide Crows Difference Makers: James Borlase, Darcy Fogarty, Izak Rankine, Riley Thilthorpe
Dockers comeback win
Port Adelaide (75) v Fremantle Dockers (103)
Nitty Gritty: Port Adelaide were missing Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee, but dominated in the middle of the ground in the first half,12 centre clearances to two in their favour: Credit to midfield coach Stuart Dew. Shaun Burgoyne summed the half up well: “Jordon Sweet is giving them first look at the ball.” The Dockers got the job done in the third quarter and that was the difference in the game. Despite trailing by 12 points at half-time, the Dockers won the game, with a 40-point turnaround in the second half.
Port Adelaide Difference Makers: Jase Burgoyne, Joe Richards, Jordon Sweet
Fremantle Dockers Difference Makers: Jye Amiss, Andrew Brayshaw, Isaiah Dudley
Dwayne Russell made an insightful comment: “It hasn’t been their afternoon, North.”
North Melbourne (76) v Melbourne Demons (92)
Nitty Gritty: Dwayne Russell called it an: “Eight-point game;” To put it simply it may be a season defining game for both teams. North Melbourne brought their A game in the first quarter and led by four goals at one stage in the first half. At half-time, they only led by four points and their coach Alastair Clarkson echoed that sentiment: “We just didn’t take our chances;” That came back to bite the Kangaroos.
North Melbourne Difference Maker: Harry Sheezel
Melbourne Demons Difference Maker: Matthew Jefferson
Collingwood will themselves to a memorable win against arch-rivals
Collingwood (90) v Carlton (69)
Nitty Gritty: The game ebbed and flowed, but ultimately the Magpies wanted it more. To be fair to the Blues, they were without Harry McKay and Adam Cerra for the majority of the game, but in the big moments the Blues didn’t stand up.
Collingwood Difference Makers: Darcy Cameron, Nick Daicos, Tim Membrey
Carlton Difference Maker: Sam Walsh
Eagles good start, but the cream rose to the top
West Coast Eagles (69) v Brisbane Lions (93)
Nitty Gritty: West Coast Eagles kicked five of the first six goals, that should have led to an unlikely upset. However, after that it was predominantly one way traffic; the margin flattered the Eagles, because the Lions had nine more scoring shots than the home team.
West Coast Eagles Difference Maker: Jake Waterman
Brisbane Lions Difference Makers: Will Ashcroft, Kai Lohmann
Hawks outclass the Tigers
Richmond (52) v Hawthorn (122)
Nitty Gritty: Mitch Lewis kicked three of the Hawks’ five goals in the first quarter. The game was over at half-time. Both teams kicked six goals each in the second half, but Richmond kicked five more behinds, so at least for the Tigers sake they won the second half. Patrick Retschko was a positive for them. Mitch Lewis and Nick Watson kicked five goals each for Hawthorn.
Richmond Difference Maker: Patrick Retschko
Hawthorn Difference Makers: Jarman Impey, Mitch Lewis, Nick Watson
Dogs get it done in Premiership quarter
Gold Coast Suns (68) v Western Bulldogs (77)
Nitty Gritty: The Suns kicked four of the last five goals of the first half. The Western Bulldogs responded; the Dogs kicked the only five goals of the third quarter, also known as the Premiership quarter. Marcus Bontempelli and Matthew Kennedy kicked three goals each. Touk Miller never stopped trying.
Gold Coast Suns Difference Maker: Touk Miller
Western Bulldogs Difference Makers: Marcus Bontempelli, Tim English Matthew Kennedy
Anthony Hudson summed the result up: “The upset of the season”
Essendon (67) v GWS Giants (64)
Nitty Gritty: The Bombers won, somehow; Jake Stringer AKA ‘The Package’ didn’t deliver: The Giant kicked seven behinds and failed to kick a goal! Hopefully, the win lifts the morale of Essendon and they can be competitive in the last five games of the season. Connor Idun had ten intercept possessions, the most of any player in the game.
Essendon Difference Makers: Nick Bryan, Sam Durham, Zach Merrett
GWS Giants Difference Maker: Connor Idun