The high point
Adelaide Oval was absolutely buzzing when the Crows smashed Geelong by 61 points to progress to their first Grand Final in 19 years. The preliminary final was all but over at half-time in an utterly dominant performance. Ending the premiership dreams of former star and Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield was an added bonus. Off the field, the Crows locked in cult hero Eddie Betts and captain Taylor Walker to contract extensions, along with exciting forward Mitch McGovern on the eve of the finals.

The low point
Last weekend's Grand Final. That's everything that needs to be said. The Crows were terrible, Richmond was magical and Jack Riewoldt rocked on with The Killers long into the night. To make matters worse, the player exodus began a few days later. Defender Jake Lever surprised no-one when he announced he wanted to join Melbourne, then forward Charlie Cameron – who is contracted for another year – asked to be traded to the Brisbane Lions for personal reasons. - Lee Gaskin 

The high point
Even though the club 'won' the wooden spoon, it was still a rather positive year for the Lions. Winning the NEAFL premiership and re-signing several young key players is an indication the club is heading in the right direction. Perhaps the highlight of the season came in round 15 when, trailing by 27 points in the final term, the Lions surged home to kick six of the last seven goals and snatch an unlikely victory over Essendon. Although, rounding out the season by securing Luke Hodge for next to nothing might be the sweetest moment of all.

The low point
The constant speculation surrounding young key forward Josh Schache's future at the club tended to overshadow the Lions' performances in 2017, while a third ACL injury to popular defender Sam Skinner was felt throughout the camp. But it was the final round of the AFL season which was arguably the most disappointing. Favourites to win the showdown for the wooden spoon against North Melbourne, the Lions capitulated in front of their home crowd and succumbed to a 51-point loss. It was a sour end to an otherwise promising season from the Lions given the circumstances. - Josh Cheadle

The high point
It was as stunning a re-emergence from a player in recent memory. Liam Jones had been much-maligned for a long time as a forward, stretching back to his time at the Western Bulldogs from when he was drafted in 2008. He would show flashes of talent but didn't string good games together. With his career seemingly destined to end, he was turned his defender and was recalled to the senior side in round 12 after Sam Rowe was injured. From there he never looked back, playing like a star and earning himself a new two-year contract. 

Liam Jones had a career-best season, by a long way. Picture: AFL Photos

The low point
Losing arguably their best player, Patrick Cripps, to a broken leg in round 16 was a massive blow. They lost that game to Melbourne by eight points and won only one of their next seven matches. His injury weakened a midfield that already lacked depth and it was very tough for Brendon Bolton to rejig his onball brigade, particularly considering Ed Curnow missed the last couple of months of the season. – Dinny Navaratnam 

The high point
Collingwood's decision to re-sign Nathan Buckley until the end of 2019 relieved the pressure on the embattled coach and gave the club a clear direction for the future. The scrutiny on Buckley and the club intensified during the season, until he put pen to paper in August. Now, with the coach locked in for the next two years the Magpies can rebuild their list as they pursue their first finals appearance since 2013. 

The low point
Collingwood's troubles started before the season even began. Graeme Allan’s brief, yet failed, stint as the club's head of football and the scenario surrounding his departure set off a chain reaction for another mediocre year. It is understood Allan had a significant role in offering Chris Mayne a four-year deal to come to the club, with the former Fremantle player being widely criticised for his performance throughout the season. The recruitment of Mayne and oft-injured midfielder Daniel Wells placed further pressure on coach Nathan Buckley until he re-signed in August. – Ben Guthrie  

The high point
The Bombers had some terrific moments this season, playing some of the competition's best and most exciting and scintillating football. The peak of that was against Port Adelaide in round 12, when Essendon won by 70 points and pieced together one of the most damaging displays of 2017. Cale Hooker kicked five goals in what was his best game of the year in his new role in attack, while Joe Daniher and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti both booted four goals. It was as ruthless as Essendon played all season on its way to the finals.

The low point
Essendon's fourth-straight elimination final loss was a genuine low point of the season. It would be easy to pinpoint the Bombers' dreadful loss to the bottom-placed Brisbane Lions in round 15 as the worst moment of the year, but their finals performance was well short of the standard required and they lost by 65 points to Sydney. The Bombers conceded 10 goals in the second quarter and were blown away by the step up in intensity through September. – Callum Twomey

The high point
Whether new skipper Nat Fyfe would pledge his long-term future to Fremantle was undoubtedly the single biggest question facing the Dockers, and it was sweet relief – and a welcome distraction from another Western Derby loss - for fans when he put pen to paper on a six-year mega-deal in mid-July. Seeing Fyfe back in action after a broken leg, Harley Bennell finally don the purple in round 22 after ongoing calf issues and Sean Darcy's 40-hit-outs on debut in round 14 also gave the rebuilding club a lift. 

The low point
Back-to-back 104-point thrashings from Sydney and Richmond hurt, especially the Tigers pummeling after a hyped build-up to the Dockers' last-ever home game at Domain Stadium in round 22. Freo led Richmond by four points at quarter-time after a bright start, but capitulated to the eventual premiers. Those losses wiped gloss off what had largely been a competitive second half of the campaign, when a host of young players showed encouraging development. - Travis King

The high point
The Cats' semi-final win over Sydney, for so many reasons. It showed they could bounce back after being smashed by Richmond in the first week, and it came after some clever coaching moves that included the successful shift of the big-bodied Patrick Dangerfield to full-forward; a position where he clearly has a future. The Cats looked potent and reinvigorated as they charged to the 59-point win, which exorcised some 2016 demons after they were destroyed by the Swans in last year's preliminary final.

Putting Dangerfield at full forward was a Chris Scott masterstroke. Picture: AFL Photos

The low point
But, as good as the semi-final win was, the prelim was as bad. After their exceptional win, they crashed brutally back to earth at the hands of Adelaide in eerily similar circumstances to what happened 12 months earlier against the Swans. They were jumped with a six-goal-to-one first quarter and chased tail from there, with coach Chris Scott declaring afterwards they would have to go back to the start rather than rely on the notion that because they were close again, they would automatically take another step in 2018. - Jennifer Phelan

The high point
The recruitment of Jarrod Witts. Edged out of Collingwood with the Pies preferring Brodie Grundy, the 209cm ruckman moved north optimistic of playing finals. That didn't happen, but he did have a positive season on an individual front, accelerating past Tom Nicholls and Dan Currie for the No.1 big man spot. Played 18 games – the most he's managed in one season since 2014 – and was a consistent force in a team that won just six games.

The low point
Sacking Rodney Eade is up there, but Gary Ablett confirming the world's worst secret in September when he declared he wanted out of the final year of his contract to return home and play for Geelong takes the cake. The Suns returned fire and said there were "conditions" that would need to be met for this to happen, with adequate compensation on their minds following the about-face of the man who was given a huge contract to be the face of the fledgling club back in 2010. - Jennifer Phelan 

The high point
Along with Richmond star Dustin Martin, Josh Kelly was the biggest contract story of 2017, and while he made the Giants sweat until finals time, the midfielder pledged his commitment to the club. The 22-year-old's new two-year deal was massive for GWS and came just a couple of weeks after he was named an All Australian. With Jacob Hopper and Lachie Whitfield also re-signing, the Giants had another successful year in the list management stakes.

Josh Kelly announced himself as a future superstar. Picture: AFL Photos

The low point
It was a sign of things to come when new vice-captain Stephen Coniglio went down with a serious ankle injury during the JLT Community Series. The tough West Australian made it back by round seven but suffered an even more significant injury to the same ankle the following game. Coniglio got back and played some outstanding footy late in the year, but the 23-year-old gun managed just 10 games for 2017, and was one of many Giants to spend plenty of games on the sidelines. - Adam Curley

The high point
The kids. Hawthorn's season was teetering after the horrid 1-5 start and a raft of injuries. Alastair Clarkson had little choice but to play his youngsters and for the most part, they delivered. Ryan Burton emerged as a star in the making and was awfully stiff not to win the NAB AFL Rising Star, while Blake Hardwick, Daniel Howe, Tim O'Brien and perhaps even Irish gun Conor Glass all laid claims to being in Hawthorn's best 22 next season. James Sicily was moved to the backline and starred. Two tight wins over the Swans and beating Adelaide on the road were nice too, as was Tom Mitchell's slashing first year in brown and gold, but the Hawks needed a development year and on that front, it was mission accomplished.

The low point
Having a fit and firing Jaeger O'Meara in the side was supposed to soften the blow for the trading out of legends Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis. He showed glimpses in round two with 38 possessions, but within a fortnight was struck down with a new knee injury – bone stress in his patella – which the Hawks weren't able to diagnose until midway through the season. He didn't return to the side until round 22 and while he looked promising and even earned a Brownlow vote in the final game of the season, the return on investment in his first season was pretty low. - Ashley Browne 

The high point
Melbourne's best win of the season came in round eight when it defeated ladder-leader Adelaide by 41 points at Adelaide Oval. Jesse Hogan had just been diagnosed with cancer a week prior and he was not in the side, nor was star ruckman Max Gawn. But on that night in Adelaide, the Demons played inspired football and gave a clear glimpse into why many are of the opinion the side is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the next few seasons. 

The low point
Melbourne supporters finished the season with a bitter taste in their mouths after failing to make the finals following a terrible loss to an undermanned Collingwood in the final round. However, as disappointing as that loss was, Jesse Hogan's health concerns trump any on-field heartache. In May this year, the star forward was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Thankfully, after surgery to remove the cancer, Hogan has made a full recovery and, despite having to go for regular check ups, he'll live a full and healthy life. - Ben Guthrie

2017 was a season, and year, Jesse Hogan would likely wish to forget. Picture: AFL Photos

The high point
It took until the Friday before the trade period for the Roos' season high, with apologies to the extraordinary 10-goal-to-none opening term and eventual 59-point thrashing of the Crows in round seven. That victory against the minor premiers remains an amazing feat. But locking away key forward Ben Brown through 2020 is as good as it gets, especially after missing out on Josh Kelly and Dustin Martin. Brown's career-high 63 goals from 22 games placed him behind only Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy in the Coleman Medal race. 

The low point
North's repeat near-misses ruined any hope it had of playing finals. There were five defeats inside a goal and three of them came by round five, in games the Kangas led by 32 points (Geelong), 29 (Western Bulldogs) and 29 (Fremantle). Mass injuries cruelled their hopes of finishing strongly, and Kelly and Dusty knocking back their overtures hurt, but it wasn't from a lack of trying – or dollars. What really wounded them was the ladder slide, which didn't even come with the No.1 pick, because they beat the Brisbane Lions in round 23. - Marc McGowan 

The high point
Paddy Ryder's ruck tap that led to Robbie Gray's spectacular match-winning goal against St Kilda with eight seconds on the clock. Power fans had already left the ground before they kicked two goals in the last minute to steal victory. Gray's kick from just inside the 50m arc narrowly cleared the line. Ryder's outstanding form – after spending a year away from the game serving an anti-doping suspension from the Essendon supplements saga – led the Power to the finals for the first time since 2014.

The low point
West Coast midfielder Luke Shuey kicking a goal after the siren to end the Power's season in an extra-time elimination final at Adelaide Oval. This was the best game of an otherwise lopsided finals series. The Power looked like they were home when they led by a couple goals in the first five-minute period of extra-time, but the Eagles wouldn't go away. Shuey was awarded a controversial free kick for a Jared Polec high tackle and the rest is history. - Lee Gaskin 

The high point
This one is obvious. Last Saturday's premiership against Adelaide capped off a dominant finals campaign, one which saw the Tigers win by an average margin of 45 points, to end a 37-year drought. To cap off one of the greatest individual seasons ever, Dustin Martin won the Norm Smith Medal to become the first player in history to win that, the flag and the Brownlow Medal in the same year.

The low point
It was a string of three-straight tight losses, so inconceivable, yet back then it was so appropriate it happened to Richmond. That run threatened to derail the Tigers' season, such was the demoralising impact it could have had, with the worst probably Richmond's inability to defend a four-point lead with 21 seconds on the clock against Fremantle in round eight. Although conceding a goal with about a minute left against Greater Western Sydney from an end-to-end play the following week had to be seen to be believed. - Dinny Navaratnam 

It wasn't all joy for the Tigers this year. Picture: AFL Photos

The high point
After putting in plenty of hard work to develop Jack Billings to the level he reached this season, it would have been a huge blow had the Saints lost him to another club. His decision to re-sign until the end of 2019 was especially important considering the Saints lack class through the middle. Billings mainly played up forward this year but as he matures, the coaching staff expect he can become a midfielder.

The low point
Sean Dempster's messy departure earlier this year was handled poorly by the club. An underrated player for St Kilda since 2008, reports emerged that Dempster was angry about not being selected in the round one side and was thus considering retirement. Both Dempster and the Saints later came out to say he was facing issues with concussion that would ultimately force his retirement, but the media strategy in dealing with the story did not go as planned. - Dinny Navaratnam

The high point
From a 0-6 start, the fact the Swans became the first side in history to make the top eight, and then win a final, was remarkable. The season will ultimately be remembered as a disappointment because of the way they bombed out, but with the leadership shown by new skipper Josh Kennedy and the senior players, and the emergence of youngsters like Will Hayward and Lewis Melican, Sydney fans can look forward to 2018.

The low point
The Swans' loss to Carlton in round six was their sixth in a row to begin the season, but it wasn't just the defeat, it was the way they went down to the struggling Blues. Young star Callum Mills was physically targeted for most of the match, sometimes by multiple Carlton players, while his more experienced teammates mostly left him to fend for himself as they went into self-preservation mode. - Adam Curley

The high point
After a forgettable season, Luke Shuey provided one of the all-time great September moments with his heart-stopping after-the-siren set shot to sink Port Adelaide in extra time of their elimination final. Shuey's ice-cold effort even outshone the Eagles' emotion-charged round 23 victory over Adelaide, when West Coast scraped into finals by just 0.5 per cent in the final game at Domain Stadium, which also doubled as the hometown farewell for retiring Eagles champion Matt Priddis.

The low point
The Eagles battened down the hatches as a storm of criticism rained down on them following a disastrous fadeout in round 18 against Collingwood. West Coast capitulated against the injury-hit Pies, blowing a four-goal final term lead, and coughing up any realistic chance of finishing in the top four. Amid the fallout, senior coach Adam Simpson faced genuine heat for the first time in his four seasons, and only days later Priddis surprisingly announced his retirement, despite being contracted for 2018. - Travis King 

The high point
In a season light on thrills, the debut of first-year key defender Lewis Young against Carlton in round 17 had the Bulldog faithful excited. Only draft eligible by days last year, the South Australian took several intercept marks and a screamer in the win over the Blues. While he struggled at times later in the season, the 18-year-old looms as a future star at both ends of the ground. Locked away until the end of the 2020 season. 

The low point
After winning their previous four games and with a top-eight position theirs for the taking, a Friday night blockbuster against arch rival Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium in round 20 was an absolute disaster. The 48-point loss, in which the Dogs had a remarkable 31 more inside 50s, triggered a three-match losing streak that contributed to the reigning premiers missing the finals. - Ryan Davidson

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