Facts and Figures
Average Score: 92 points per team, eight of 18 teams scored at least 105 points.
Average Winning Margin: 47.56 points per game, five of nine games had a margin of over 50 points.
Fun Facts
Taylor Walker (Adelaide Crows) kicked the 700th goal of his career.
Shannon Neale (Geelong Cats) kicked the 100th goal of his career.
Ben Keays (Adelaide Crows) played his 150th consecutive game.
Jordan De Goey (Collingwood) played his 200th game and Isaac Quaynor played his 150th game.
Dylan Stephens (North Melbourne) played his 100th game.
Adelaide Crows played in front of 50,109 people in their game against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval.
Fremantle Dockers recorded their biggest ever crowd for a home game, with a crowd of 56,616 people in attendance.
Fremantle Dockers have won five Western Derbies in a row.
Gold Coast Suns have lost nine games in a row.
Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs) has kicked at least a goal in 30 consecutive games.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda) became the first player to record three stats in the first three quarters: 30+ disposals, 750+ metres gained and 3+ goals.
Collingwood claim inspirational comeback win
Adelaide Crows (74) v Collingwood (108)
Nitty Gritty: The game turned on its head when Collingwood kicked a goal to make it an eight-point deficit near half-time, as called by Fox Footy commentator Matty Hill: “Dan McStay, if that doesn’t lift Collingwood nothing will.” Mark Ricciuto summed the game up well in the third quarter: “Collingwood have been tough and clean.” Adelaide Crows led by 27 points, unfortunately for them it was a 61-point turnaround.
Adelaide Crows Difference Makers: Sam Berry, Izak Rankine
Collingwood Difference Makers: Ed Allan, Darcy Cameron, Nick Daicos, Jeremy Howe, Daniel McStay
Dees Nine game winning streak at MCG ends
Melbourne Demons (97) v Geelong Cats (117)
Nitty Gritty: Geelong Cats kicked 101 points from turnover, which is the eighth highest since the stat has been recorded. The pressure from the Cats was through the roof in the third quarter. Fox Footy’s Tom Hawkins made an insightful comment about Connor O’Sullivan: “He’s like Jake Lever.” The Cats key defender had six score involvements and 12 intercept possessions. Shannon Neale proved too tough for the Demons to stop.
Melbourne Demons Difference Makers: Jake Lever, Harrison Petty
Geelong Cats Difference Makers: Shannon Neale, Connor O’Sullivan
Dockers flick the switch with second half blitz
Fremantle Dockers (112) v West Coast Eagles (42)
Nitty Gritty: Fremantle Dockers only led by eight points at half-time, because they kicked inaccurately, but in the second half they got bang for buck, as they kicked 11 goals and put the foot down, but they can’t afford to keep kicking inaccurately; the Dockers will pay the price against better opposition. Harley Reid had the most clearances of any player in the game, with 12.
Fremantle Dockers Difference Makers: Jye Amiss, Matthew Johnson, Murphy Reid
West Coast Eagles Difference Maker: Harley Reid
Suns outshone by gritty Blues
Carlton (110) v Gold Coast Suns (97)
Nitty Gritty: Gold Coast Suns kicked the first three goals of the game. After that the Blues were simply too good. Jason Dunstall summed it up in the third quarter: “Gee their overusing the ball the Suns.” Unfortunately for them that statement was a good judge of why they failed to get the chocolates.
Carlton Difference Makers: George Hewett, Jagga Smith, Sam Walsh
Gold Coast Suns Difference Maker: Noah Anderson
Men against boys after quarter time
Hawthorn (132) v Essendon (39)
Nitty Gritty: Jack Gunston kicked seven goals against an Essendon team that only kicked five for the whole game! Three of the five goals for the Bombers were kicked by Nate Caddy who was a shining light. The game was one traffic from start to finish. After quarter time, the Bombers were all at sea against a ruthless opposition,
Hawthorn Difference Makers: Jack Gunston, Jarman Impey
Essendon Difference Maker: Nate Caddy
Giants take giant step back
GWS Giants (88) v Sydney Swans (139)
Nitty Gritty: Errol Gulden became the 15th player to have over 1000 metres gained, since the stat has been recorded. The gun midfielder was allowed to do what he wanted to, finishing the game with 41 disposals. Stephen Coniglio kicked three goals in a disappointing performance by the Giants.
GWS Giants Difference Maker: Stephen Coniglio
Sydney Swans Difference Makers: Errol Gulden, James Rowbottom
Dogs overpower timid Tigers
Western Bulldogs (105) v Richmond (48)
Difference Maker: In the second quarter Western Bulldogs kept a team scoreless in a quarter for the third time since 1999! The Bulldogs were far too good for a lacklustre Tigers that lacked polish.
Western Bulldogs Differences Maker: Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards, Michael Sellwood
Richmond Difference Maker: Nick Vlastuin
The cream rose to the top in the second half
Brisbane Lions (126) v Port Adelaide (67)
Nitty Gritty: Dwayne Russell said of the Lions: “They’ve wasted a lot of good chances early;” at that point in time they were leading by 15 points in the first quarter. The Lions kicked the first three goals, Port kicked the next four, but the Lions led by nine points at half-time. The Lions lifted in the second half and in the end claimed a comfortable win.
Brisbane Lions Difference Makers: Will Ashcroft, Zac Bailey, Kai Lohmann, Dayne Zorko
Port Adelaide Difference Maker: Jason Horne-Francis
Saints have too much polish for wayward Kangaroos
North Melbourne (62) v St Kilda (93)
Nitty Gritty: North Melbourne took the lead for the first time in the game, early in the third quarter, but to no avail. Anthony Hudson summed up a mark by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera: “When in doubt kick it Nas:” It proved to be prophetic, as the superstar kicked three goals in the third quarter to give St Kila a 13-point lead at three quarter time.
North Melbourne Difference Maker: Jy Simpkin
St Kilda Difference Makers: Hugh Boxshall, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera