Facts and Figures
Average Score: 102.6 points per team, ten of 18 teams scored over 100 points.
Average Winning Margin: 42.44 per game, five of nine games had a margin that was decided by more than 55 points.
Fun Facts
Errol Gulden had leather poisoning, as arguably the Swans best player followed up his 47 disposal game in Round 23, with 41 in Round 24.
Max Hall became the third St Kilda player in a match to record 15+ contested possessions and 700+ metres gained.
Ben King became the only player to kick at least one goal game in every game this season.
Leonardo Lombard kicked a career-high three goals.
Collingwood conceded the most points in a game under coach Craig McRae; the Lions scored 159 points.
Francis Evans kicked a career-high five goals.
Carlton have only had two losses since Round 10.
Port Adelaide is the only club in VFL/AFL history that have never won a wooden spoon.
Scoreboard flattered Saints
St Kilda (80) v Gold Coast Suns (103)
Nitty Gritty: The two teams kicked 12 goals combined in the first quarter; the game looked like it would be a shootout. The Suns scored 31 times from 50 inside 50s. They had 33 scoring shots, St Kilda had 20.
St Kilda Difference Makers: Max Hall, Bradley Hill, Hugh Boxshall
Gold Coast Suns Difference Makers: Noah Anderson, Leonardo Lombard, Touk Miller, Matt Rowell
One way traffic
Collingwood (96) v Brisbane Lions (159)
Nitty Gritty: The forward craft of Logan Morris was a work of art and Connor McKennna had his kicking boots on. There was a sense of inevitability in the result, because the game looked to be a forgone conclusion from start to finish. There was a gulf in class between the two teams, understandably with the Lions looking to sure up third place.
Collingwood Difference Maker: Jordan De Goey
Brisbane Lions Difference Makers: Connor McKenna, Logan Morris, Lachie Neale
Blues with all the answers
Carlton (119) v Fremantle Dockers (82)
Nitty Gritty: The Dockers kicked the first four goals of the game. What followed was something remarkable; Carlton took the game on; their pressure was too much for the Dockers. They had a good balance between moving the ball quickly and methodically.
Carlton Difference Makers: Ben Ainsworth, Francis Evans, Jagga Smith
Fremantle Dockers Difference Maker: Luke Jackson
Dogs led all day, even though Dees stayed in the game
Melbourne Demons (87) v Western Bulldogs (108)
Nitty Gritty: Western Bulldogs started the game like a house on fire; they came with a plan and executed to perfection in the first quarter, they led by 20 points at one stage. The game looked done and dusted in the third quarter, but the Demons found a way to hang in there and only trailed by 15 points at three quarter time. At the end of the day Beveridge had a good day in the coach’s box.
Melbourne Demons Difference Makers: Max Gawn, Harrison Petty
Western Bulldogs Difference Makers: Marcus Bontempelli, Matthew Kennedy, Ed Richards
Cats tame Tigers
Geelong Cats (133) v Richmond (76)
Nitty Gritty: The game was pretty much a forgone conclusion from start to finish. The Cats were simply on a different level and had too much polish for a Richmond team lacking confidence.
Geelong Cats Difference Makers: Patrick Dangerfield, Shaun Mannagh, Bailey Smith
Richmond Difference Maker: Tim Taranto
Crows far too good for erratic Giants
Adelaide Crows (157) v GWS Giants (101)
Nitty Gritty: The Crows won the game comfortably, with the game practically over at quarter time. They played against a Giants team that have been very disappointing this season.
Adelaide Crows Difference Makers: Ben Keays, Izak Rankine, Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker
GWS Giants Difference Maker: Jake Stringer
Power claim win in cracking contest
Essendon (95) v Port Adelaide (105)
Nitty Gritty: The game appeared to be a dead rubber, but that wasn’t the case. It was a privilege to watch two youngsters from opposing teams show their wares; Nate Caddy kicked six goals for the Bombers and Jase Burgoyne had 30 disposals, nine score involvements and kicked two goals for the Power.
Essendon Difference Makers: Nate Caddy, Zach Merrett
Port Adelaide Difference Makers: Jase Burgoyne, Mitch Georgiades, Jordon Sweet
Swans showcase depth, as emotions spill over
Sydney Swans (123) v North Melbourne (70)
Nitty Gritty: The Swans put in a dominant performance against a Kangaroos team that would be flat to finish the season off so poorly. The margin should have been more than it was; Sydney had 38 scoring shots to North Melbourne’s 20, that tells the story.
Sydney Swans Difference Makers: Errol Gulden, Brodie Grundy
North Melbourne Difference Maker: Luke Parker
Whitewash
West Coast Eagles (45) v Hawthorn (107)
Nitty Gritty: The Hawks came to play and simply had too much class and polish for the Eagles; the two teams are clearly at polar opposite ends of the spectrum, with Hawthorn finishing in the top four, the Eagles had just four wins for the season.
West Coast Eagles Difference Maker: Milan Murdock
Hawthorn Difference Makers: Will Day, Jack Gunston, Connor Macdonald, Dylan Moore, Nick Watson