Adelaide v Essendon at AAMI Stadium

* Over the past month, Adelaide has averaged 378 disposals a game – ranked No.1 in the AFL.

* Adelaide has averaged 63 interchange moves a game this season – the fewest of any team in the competition.

* Brett Burton had 14 disposals and booted four goals when these sides last met in round 17 last season. He has kicked multiple goals in each of his past four games against the Bombers.

* In the past four rounds, Essendon’s disposal efficiency has been seven per cent lower than its opposition – the worst differential of any side during that time.

* In the past three weeks, Angus Monfries ranks No.1 at the club in disposals, handballs, contested possessions, uncontested possessions and handball-receives.

Collingwood v West Coast at the MCG

* Collingwood has caught its opposition holding the ball on 47 occasions this season – the most of any side.

* Scott Pendlebury has won at least 20 disposals in each of his last seven games. Since round three he ranks equal 12th in the AFL for disposals and effective kicks, third in short kicks and equal sixth in looseball-gets.

* West Coast has lost its past five interstate games by an average margin of 41 points.

* West Coast has kicked 58 per cent of its goals from within the corridor this season – the fewest of any team in the AFL.

* West Coast has played seven debutants this season – the most of any side. They are Brad Ebert, Scott Selwood, Chris Masten, Ryan Davis, Tim Houlihan, Matthew Spangher and Beau Wilkes.

Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs at Aurora Stadium

* The Hawks had 34 more inside 50s than the Bulldogs when these sides last met in round 21 last season.

* Hawthorn has finished with a higher disposal efficiency than its opposition in eight of its nine games this season. It has hit the target 80 per cent of the time this season – ranked No.1 in the competition.

* Sam Mitchell has had 30 or more disposals in his past three games against the Bulldogs.

* Mitch Hahn has laid 19 tackles inside the forward 50 this season – the most in the competition and 11 more than any other Bulldogs player. 

* Robert Murphy has kicked 20.2 this season – easily the most accurate of the top 20 goalkickers.

Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at the Gabba

* The Lions have won the opening quarter in four of its five games at the Gabba this season. They have, however, won just one of their five final quarters there this season.  

* The Lions have laid more tackles than their opposition in eight of nine games this season. They laid 25 more than the Saints last week.

* Jonathan Brown has been a multiple goalkicker in five of his past six games against the Kangaroos – booting 21 goals against them in that time. He has kicked 6.3 in both of his past two games.

* In the past four rounds, North Melbourne has laid 50 tackles inside its forward 50 – ranked third in the competition.

* Leigh Harding has re-invented himself as a defender this season. He is currently averaging career-highs of 18 disposals, six marks, three inside 50s and four rebound 50s. He has conceded just four goals to his opponents this season.

Geelong v Carlton at Telstra Dome

* Geelong has averaged just 14 running bounces per game this season – the equal fewest of any side.

* The Cats have won the contested possession count in each of the past eight games they have played at Telstra Dome.

* Joel Corey has averaged 28 disposals and six clearances in his past three games against the Blues.

* Carlton laid 70 tackles against Fremantle last week – its most in any game this season. It laid 27 more than Freo – its best differential in any game in the past two seasons.

* Heath Scotland had 37 disposals and 13 marks when these sides last met in round two last season. He racked up 24 disposals last week against Fremantle – his sixth game in a row he has finished with over 22 disposals. 

Sydney v Richmond at the SCG

* The Swans have outscored their opposition in the opening quarter in its past four games at the SCG.

* The Swans have not allowed the Tigers to score more than 100 points in any of its past eight games against them.

* Richmond has laid more tackles than its opposition in just two of its nine games this season.

* Richmond has won the contested possession count in five of its past seven games against the Swans.

* Matthew Richardson has been kept goalless in his past two games against the Swans at the SCG.

St Kilda v Melbourne at Telstra Dome

* St Kilda has won the opening quarter in six of its past seven games at the Telstra Dome.

* In the past four weeks, St Kilda has won a clearance from 34 per cent of stoppages – the lowest percentage of any side.

* This year is the first since 2005 that Luke Ball hasn’t missed a game in the opening nine rounds, although he has been the Saints most benched player in 2008.

* Melbourne has taken 25 contested marks in the past four rounds – the fewest of any side in the competition.

* Simon Buckley has been a handy inclusion for the Demons so far this season as he has averaged 20 disposals, six marks, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s in his four appearances.

Fremantle v Port Adelaide at Subiaco

* Fremantle is the first team since St Kilda in 1940 to lose four successive games after leading at three-quarter time.

* Fremantle’s two leading ball-winners last week were Garrick Ibbotson (21 disposals) and Rhys Palmer (20) – players who had a combined total of one AFL game prior to 2008.

* Port Adelaide has scored more than 120 points in each of its past two trips to Subiaco.

* Port Adelaide was once again beaten in the contested possessions last week, the eighth time in nine games that they have been beaten in this area.

* Kane Cornes has averaged 29 disposals and four inside 50s in his past six games against Fremantle.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL