Facts and Figures
Average Score: 90.5 points per team, five of 18 teams score more than 104 points.
Average Winning Margin: 30.78 points per game, five of nine games had a margin of less than 20 points.
Fun Facts
Oliver Dempsey recorded a career high 29 disposals.
Geelong Cats were +18 groundball gets, their best of any game on record this season.
St Kilda have led 11 times at three quarter time and lost the game twice, this season. Both loses have been against Sydney Swans, the first in Round 13 and the other in Round 21.
For the eighth time this season Chad Warner has kicked two goals and had 20+ disposals.
Hawthorn have a 75% winning record in Launceston.
Carlton scored 154 points, that’s their highest score in 15 years.
Carlton had 16 individual goal kickers!
Adem Yze won his tenth game as Richmond coach.
Nick Watson has kicked at least two goals in his last 13 games.
Cats too classy, but Pies show character
Collingwood (72) v Geelong Cats (97)
Nitty Gritty: The Cats kicked nine of the first ten goals in the game. Collingwood kicked the last three goals of the second quarter. Oisin Mullin curtailed the impact that Nick Daicos had on the game in the first half and only had one less score involvement than Daicos for the game. Daniel McStay was the leading goal kicker on the ground, with five.
Collingwood Difference Makers: Daniel McStay, Isaac Quaynor
Geelong Cats Difference Makers: Oliver Dempsey, Oliver Henry, Oisin Mullin
“This is the best side in the comp for a reason,” summed up by Jordan Lewis
Fremantle Dockers (78) v Western Bulldogs (41)
Nitty Gritty: Despite the Bulldogs showing grit for the first three quarters, the cream rose to the top; To put it simply the Dockers did what they usually do: The longer the game goes on the better they perform. They didn’t get bang for buck for three quarters, but the dam wall eventually broke. Hayden Young did a fantastic job of restricting the influence that Marcus Bontempelli had on the game. Jason Dunstall summed up the game from a Dogs perspective: “They were brave for three quarters.”
Fremantle Dockers Difference Makers: Luke Jackson, Oscar McDonald, Josh Treacy, Karl Worner, Hayden Young
Western Bulldogs Difference Maker: Cooper Hynes
“This has been a war of attrition today,” according to Jason Dunstall
St Kilda (88) v Sydney Swans (107)
Nitty Gritty: St Kilda got the better of the Swans for the first three quarters, but when the the Swans showed why they sit second on the ladder when the game was in the balance. Logan McDonald came to life whenever someone needed to make a difference for the Swans, kicking four goals. Jack Silvagni stopped Charlie Curnow from having an impact on the game, but unfortunately Silvagni injured his shoulder. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera performed well in the first quarter: “It’s worth watching football when this man is playing,” as articulated by Sarah Jones, but was hampered by a hip injury in the fourth quarter when the game was there to be won.
St Kilda Difference Makers: Max Hall, Jack Silvagni, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Sydney Swans Difference Makers: Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney, Logan McDonald, Chad Warner
Hawks had too much polish, against gallant Roos
Hawthorn (99) v North Melbourne (83)
Nitty Gritty: The Kangaroos started well, as they amassed a 17-point lead at quarter time. Following ‘The Wizard’ kicking his third goal in a row early in the second quarter, Ken Hinkley stated: “He’s turning into the difference.” North Melbourne did so much right, but unfortunately the Hawks were just too good.
Hawthorn Difference Makers: Jarman Impey, Jai Newcombe, Nick Watson
North Melbourne Difference Makers: Paul Curtis, Harry Sheezel, Cooper Trembath
Another honourable loss for the Power
Port Adelaide (63) v GWS Giants (75)
Nitty Gritty: Both teams came into the game undermanned due to injuries; in the end the difference between the two teams was the depth in the two lists. Jason Horne-Francis had to play for two players as echoed by Adam Papalia: “He’s really stepped up in the absence of some of their stars,” Mitch Georgiades kicked a couple of goals in a few minutes in the second quarter that helped the Power gain the ascendancy, at that point, but it was the same old story for them, a decent performance, but they failed to get the chocolates.
Port Adelaide Difference Maker: Jason Horne-Francis
GWS Giants Difference Makers: Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield
Carlton simply too good for the reigning premiers
Carlton (154) v Brisbane Lions (78)
Nitty Gritty: The way Carlton played was clearly attacking. They showed plenty of effort and executed the game plan of interim coach Josh Fraser to perfection. Brodie Kemp kicked four goals in the first half. Jagga Smith was gracious in winning the Robert Walls Medal for the player adjudged best player on the ground: “It’s an honour to win the medal tonight.” Josh Fraser is so calm and it emanates through the playing group.
Carlton Difference Makers: Harry Dean, George Hewett, Brodie Kemp, Jagga Smith
Brisbane Lions Difference Maker: Will Ashcroft
Bad kicking is bad football
Richmond (84) v West Coast Eagles (73)
Nitty Gritty: The game was goalless for half of the first quarter, until the drought was broken by Hugo Ralphsmith. “Unfortunately for West Coast you had your opportunities in the first three quarters and you didn’t take them,” as articulated by Cameron Mooney. “Surely turn it to the comedy channel, this goalkicking is unbelievable,” as conveyed by Ben Dixon. The Eagles kicked just nine goals from 28 scoring shots for the game.
Richmond Difference Makers: Sam Lalor, Tim Taranto
West Coast Eagles Difference Makers: Marcus Herbert, Harley Reid
Demons claim vital four points
Gold Coast Suns (105) v Melbourne Demons (114)
Nitty Gritty: Max Gawn led by example in a win that cemented the Demons place in the top ten. Gary Lyon’s summation of the game in the second quarter was spot on: “Apart from the first quarter when they kicked four in a row it’s been an arm wrestle.” “They would be in a world of pain without Max Gawn,” Gary Lyon stated near three-quarter time. Koltyn Tholstrup stopped Christian Petracca from having an impact: “He’s been a revelation in that role,” Gary Lyon stated.
Gold Coast Suns Difference Makers: Matt Rowell, Jed Walter
Melbourne Demons Difference Makers: Joel Fitzgerald, Max Gawn, Tom Sparrow, Koltyn Tholstrup
Gulf in class, there for all to see
Essendon (73) v Adelaide Crows (145)
Nitty Gritty: The Crows played two debutants and displayed that they have the depth to do some damage in the finals. Riley Thilthorpe kicked five goals, but it was an even spread of contributors for them, that will give coach Matthew Nicks selection headaches. Peter Wright was a shining light for the Bombers, finishing the game with six goals.
Essendon Difference Maker: Peter Wright
Adelaide Crows Difference Makers: Jordan Dawson, Billy Dowling, Izak Rankine, Riley Thilthorpe