SCORING hasn't been lower in the first two rounds for nearly 50 years, with the lowest average total points per game recorded in the opening two rounds since 1967.
The average points per game figure has been 168, three more than that recorded in 1967.
Twice teams have failed to score in a quarter already this season, while 10 times in the first 144 quarters a team has gone without a goal.
It hasn't stopped the football from being exciting however, with ball movement improving and one third of the games decided by two goals or less.
There have also been 30 quarters where one team has scored five goals or more.
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However the figures are an indication that the defensive dominance that coaches know is necessary to win premierships is showing no signs of abating.
Last year's runner-up, the Sydney Swans, have conceded just three points in the final quarter in the first two rounds and only 104 points in the first two rounds.
On the flipside Carlton and Collingwood have already failed to score a goal in one quarter of each of their first two games.
Port Adelaide recorded its lowest score since Ken Hinkley took over as coach on the weekend, with the Swans defending the back half of the ground brilliantly.
"It's the biggest zapper of confidence you can get when you continually push it into your forward 50 and you don't hit the scoreboard," Hinkley said.
"I'm a big believer that you have to continue to get score going a bit to keep growing the other parts of your game because once that dries up you feel like everything else is so hard to do."
After two rounds Port is the lowest scoring team in the AFL.
Before you think, 'Say that again', remember the club has played two opponents with well-earned reputations for miserly defenses and a strong record against the Power.
They have only beaten the Swans once since 2006 and although they outscored Fremantle in the final quarter each time in 2014, they have won two and lost three against the Dockers since Hinkley became coach.
Even taking that into account their lowly position on the scoring table is unexpected.
Port was one of just two teams to average 100 points or more in 2014 and expectations surrounding the Power heading into the season were huge.
Statistics suggest they overused the ball in the first two rounds, being ranked No.1 for disposals and 11th for inside 50s per game.
Anyone who watched the first two games will know that the pressure in tight has been immense.
That has forced quick use of the ball, with the Power averaging just 13.5m per disposal and leading the AFL for handballs.
This has them sitting bottom of the table for metres gained per disposal.
They also lead the competition for uncontested possessions, with a whopping 70 percent of its possessions uncontested.
Hinkley acknowledged they have not handled the heat applied in the first two rounds and knows they need to get dirtier and hungrier.
Kicking long just 24.8 per cent of the time, they are looking for short options, a habit that has put the team second on the list for marks.Even more concerning is the club's scoring efficiency when inside 50, with the team only turning entries into scores 30.8 per cent of the time.
They are ninth in the AFL for marks inside 50 and small forward Chad Wingard is Port's leading goalkicker with just three goals.
Despite full forward Jay Schulz's uncharacteristic waywardness in front of goal, their accuracy remains the same as it was in 2014 but their goals from the corridor are slightly down (from 75.7 per cent in 2014 to 71.7 per cent this year).
That is likely to be due to the defensive systems of Fremantle and the Swans, who push teams wide when they go forward. The Power's goals from set shots have increased, suggesting their pressure at the fall of the ball has slipped.
They have also been without injured ruckman Matthew Lobbe – fifth in the best and fairest in 2014 and, more notably, fourth in the AFL for total tackles (and equal seventh for average tackles per game).Given Port Adelaide lost the tackle count by 24 against the Sydney Swans, Lobbe's absence was significant.
There is no need to panic however, as the introduction of Paddy Ryder will be a positive and Jarrad Redden's return gives the club good insurance in the ruck.
It's worth noting also that the team was one man down midway through the game when Jarman Impey did his hamstring. While the customary run didn't disappear late, the ability to score did.
Hinkley was aware Port might be in this position after two rounds and is not afraid of what has been revealed.
"Everyone wants to elevate teams into that space [the best teams occupy] when they're not quite ready to take that space. We're one of those teams that people talk about," Hinkley said.
"We've got a lot of work to do and we understand that, we're certainly not disillusioned with where we're at. We understand the quality of the competition we're trying to catch."
The cold hard truth has arrived. Port Adelaide needs to get cracking.
