ANOTHER season, another record broken for the most thrillers after an enthralling 2024 campaign.

Brisbane's win over Sydney in Saturday's Toyota AFL Grand Final was one-sided as the Lions ran rampant for an emphatic victory, but it wasn't a reflection of the season overall.

With 59 games decided by 10 points or less, this year set the record for most such finishes in VFL/AFL history, breaking the mark of 57 from just last year.

The introduction of Gather Round has made the past two seasons longer than ever before, but they have both smashed the previous best, which was 49 in 2014.

Another season of thrillers has highlighted just how tight the competition is.

  Record in games decided
by 10 points or less in 2024
Port Adelaide 7-1
Collingwood 6-2-1
Greater Western Sydney 5-3
Brisbane 4-1-2
Essendon 4-1-2
Carlton 4-4
Richmond 2-2
West Coast 2-2
Geelong 3-4
Hawthorn 3-4
Melbourne 3-4
Gold Coast 2-3
North Melbourne 2-3
St Kilda 4-6
Sydney 2-4
Adelaide 2-1-5
Fremantle 1-1-4
Western Bulldogs 0-2


Having mastered close games under Craig McRae, Collingwood – last year's premier – had a good record in tight matches again, going 6-2-1 in matches decided by 10 points or less.

But the Magpies, who topped this stat last year, weren't the kings in this area in 2024.

That title belonged to Port Adelaide, which went an incredible 7-1 in such games, including winning seven on the trot.

08:11

GF Footy Feed: Raw emotion from inside the rooms

Nat Edwards and Sarah Olle with the latest news and heartfelt reactions following Brisbane's triumph as the 2024 premiers

Published on Sep 28, 2024

Other clubs will be hoping improvement in close matches could lift them up the ladder next year.

Remarkably, the Western Bulldogs played in just two games decided by 10 points or less, losing both.

Fremantle will be left rueing an opportunity missed, having failed to reach September after winning just one of six close games, while Adelaide had a 2-1-5 record.

Minor premier Sydney, crushed in a Grand Final for the second time in three years, was 2-4 in games decided by 10 points or less.

Seasons with most matches decided by 10 points or less

59 – 2024
57 – 2023
49 – 2014
47 – 2019, 2021
45 – 2018
44 – 2017
43 – 2002
42 – 2010, 2013, 2022

Round 1: Lost to Gold Coast by six points
Round 5: Beat Carlton by two points
Round 6: Lost to Essendon by three points
Round 9: Drew with Brisbane
Round 10: Lost to Collingwood by four points
Round 13: Lost to Richmond by eight points
Round 19: Beat Essendon by two points
Round 21: Lost to Geelong by five points

Record: 2-1-5

03:56

Last two mins: Rachele's late snap seals wild win over Bombers

The thrilling final moments between Essendon and Adelaide in round 19

Published on Jul 19, 2024

Opening Round: Lost to Carlton by one point
Round 9: Drew with Adelaide
Round 16: Beat Melbourne by five points
Round 19: Beat Sydney by two points
Round 23: Lost to Collingwood by one point
Semi-final: Beat Greater Western Sydney by five points
Preliminary final: Beat Geelong by 10 points

Record: 4-1-2

03:55

Last two mins: Lions break Giants' hearts in miracle finish

The thrilling final moments between GWS and Brisbane in the semi-finals

Published on Sep 14, 2024

Opening Round: Beat Brisbane by one point
Round 1: Beat Richmond by five points
Round 4: Beat Fremantle by 10 points
Round 5: Lost to Adelaide by two points
Round 8: Lost to Collingwood by six points
Round 9: Beat Melbourne by one point
Round 21: Lost to Collingwood by three points
Round 24: Lost to St Kilda by two points

Record: 4-4

03:57

Last two mins: Blues come from clouds to deny Lions

The thrilling final moments between the Lions and the Blues in Opening Round

Published on Mar 8, 2024

Round 4: Beat Hawthorn by five points
Round 7: Drew with Essendon
Round 8: Beat Carlton by six points
Round 10: Beat Adelaide by four points
Round 11: Drew with Fremantle
Round 14: Beat North Melbourne by one point
Round 21: Beat Carlton by three points
Round 22: Lost to Sydney by three points
Round 23: Beat Brisbane by one point

Record: 6-2-1

03:23

Last two mins: Pies come from the clouds to roll Lions

Watch the thrilling final moments from Collingwood’s clash with Brisbane at the MCG

Published on Aug 17, 2024

Round 3: Beat St Kilda by four points
Round 6: Beat Adelaide by three points
Round 7: Drew with Collingwood
Round 8: Beat West Coast by six points
Round 19: Lost to Adelaide by two points
Round 21: Beat Fremantle by one point
Round 22: Lost to Gold Coast by one point

Record: 4-1-2

03:52

Last two mins: Late drama at both ends as Bombers stun Dockers

Enjoy the thrilling final moments of Essendon’s win over Fremantle at the MCG

Published on Aug 4, 2024

Round 4: Lost to Carlton by 10 points
Round 5: Lost to Port Adelaide by three points
Round 11: Drew with Collingwood
Round 16: Beat Sydney by one point
Round 21: Lost to Essendon by one point
Round 23: Lost to Greater Western Sydney by nine points

Record: 1-1-4

04:10

Last two mins: Logan’s late miss sees Freo end Swans’ streak

The thrilling final moments between Sydney and Fremantle in round 16

Published on Jun 29, 2024

Round 1: Beat St Kilda by eight points
Round 4: Beat Western Bulldogs by four points
Round 8: Lost to Melbourne by eight points
Round 9: Lost to Port Adelaide by six points
Round 11: Lost to Greater Western Sydney by four points
Round 21: Beat Adelaide by five points
Preliminary final: Lost to Brisbane by 10 points

Record: 3-4

04:50

Last two mins: Cameron brilliance spells heartbreak for Crows

The thrilling final moments between Geelong and Adelaide in round 21

Published on Aug 3, 2024

Round 1: Beat Adelaide by six points
Round 13: Lost to St Kilda by three points
Round 17: Lost to North Melbourne by four points
Round 21: Lost to West Coast by 10 points
Round 22: Beat Essendon by one point

Record: 2-3

04:45

Last two mins: Big Mac delivers in after-the-siren thriller

Watch the epic final moments as Gold Coast overran Essendon

Published on Aug 10, 2024

Round 5: Beat St Kilda by one point
Round 11: Beat Geelong by four points
Round 13: Lost to Hawthorn by six points
Round 20: Beat Melbourne by two points
Round 21: Beat Hawthorn by two points
Round 23: Beat Fremantle by nine points
Qualifying final: Lost to Sydney by six points
Semi-final: Lost to Brisbane by five points

Record: 5-3

03:16

Last two mins: Brave mark sees Giants deny Saints in thriller

The thrilling final moments between GWS and St Kilda in round five

Published on Apr 13, 2024

Round 4: Lost to Collingwood by five points
Round 8: Beat Western Bulldogs by seven points
Round 9: Beat St Kilda by five points
Round 10: Lost to Port Adelaide by one point
Round 13: Beat Greater Western Sydney by six points
Round 21: Lost to Greater Western Sydney by two points
Semi-final: Lost to Port Adelaide by three points

Record: 3-4

04:23

Last two mins: Late free kick helps high-flying Hawks down Giants

The thrilling final moments between Hawthorn and GWS in round 13

Published on Jun 8, 2024

Round 3: Beat Port Adelaide by seven points
Round 8: Beat Geelong by eight points
Round 9: Lost to Carlton by one point
Round 15: Beat North Melbourne by three points
Round 16: Lost to Brisbane by five points
Round 20: Lost to Greater Western Sydney by two points
Round 22: Lost to Port Adelaide by two points

Record: 3-4

02:53

Last two mins: Dees hang on after late Roo surge

The thrilling final moments between Melbourne and North Melbourne in round 15

Published on Jun 22, 2024

Round 13: Beat West Coast by nine points
Round 14: Lost to Collingwood by one point
Round 15: Lost to Melbourne by three points
Round 17: Beat Gold Coast by four points
Round 22: Lost to West Coast by five points

Record: 2-3

03:33

Last two mins: Suns’ surge falls short as Roos snag second win

The thrilling final moments between North Melbourne and Gold Coast in round 17

Published on Jul 6, 2024

Round 3: Lost to Melbourne by seven points
Round 5: Beat Fremantle by three points
Round 7: Beat St Kilda by 10 points
Round 9: Beat Geelong by six points
Round 10: Beat Hawthorn by one point
Round 16: Beat St Kilda by two points
Round 22: Beat Melbourne by two points
Semi-final: Beat Hawthorn by three points

Record: 7-1

04:50

Last two mins: Last-second Power surge stuns Hawks

The thrilling final moments between Yartapuulti and Hawthorn in round 10

Published on May 19, 2024

Round 1: Lost to Carlton by five points
Round 3: Beat Sydney by five points
Round 4: Lost to St Kilda by seven points
Round 13: Beat Adelaide by eight points

Record: 2-2

03:15

Last two mins: Tigers hold off fast finishing Swans

Enjoy the thrilling final moments between Richmond and Sydney in round three

Published on Mar 31, 2024

Round 1: Lost to Geelong by eight points
Round 3: Lost to Essendon by four points
Round 4: Beat Richmond by seven points
Round 5: Lost to Greater Western Sydney by one point
Round 7: Lost to Port Adelaide by 10 points
Round 9: Lost to Hawthorn by five points
Round 13: Beat Gold Coast by three points
Round 16: Lost to Port Adelaide by two points
Round 17: Beat Sydney by two points
Round 24: Beat Carlton by two points

Record: 4-6 

03:51

Last two mins: Crazy bounce, late Swans miss before Saints hold on

Enjoy the thrilling final stages of St Kilda’s win over Sydney at Marvel Stadium

Published on Jul 7, 2024

Round 3: Lost to Richmond by five points
Round 16: Lost to Fremantle by one point
Round 17: Lost to St Kilda by two points
Round 19: Lost to Brisbane by two points
Round 22: Beat Collingwood by three points
Qualifying final: Beat Greater Western Sydney by six points

Record: 2-4

04:48

Last two mins: Swans pull off derby miracle to surge into prelim

Watch the epic final moments as Sydney come from nowhere to sink GWS

Published on Sep 7, 2024

Round 8: Lost to Essendon by six points
Round 13: Lost to North Melbourne by nine points
Round 21: Beat Gold Coast by 10 points
Round 22: Beat North Melbourne by five points

Record: 2-2

02:30

Last two mins: Eagles produce three late goals to stun Roos

Watch the thrilling final moments as West Coast came from behind to beat North Melbourne

Published on Aug 10, 2024

Round 4: Lost to Geelong by four points
Round 8: Lost to Hawthorn by seven points

Record: 0-2

03:55

Last two mins: Cats squeak home in final-term thriller

The thrilling final moments between Geelong and Western Bulldogs in round four

Published on Apr 6, 2024