The last of the bye rounds have been completed as we now head into the business end of the season.
The biggest margin during round 15 was 171 points and the smallest was two, and there are plenty of storylines to take a look back through.
Our 5 Lessons Learned – AFL Round 15 can be found below.
1. Punters Pals
The punters had an absolute fill up during Round 15 with all six favourites saluting.
Geelong opened as outsiders against the Dees on Thursday night but were backed into favouritism being the bounce.
It was a fairly easy watch for those that backed the Lions, Swans, Dockers and Suns before a nervous Sunday afternoon for red hot favourites Collingwood who prevailed by just two points at the MCG.
2. Intercept Kings
Having an intercept defender is mandatory if you are to be a successful team in the AFL.
It is more important than having a lock down defender in today’s game and the stats prove this theory.
Jack Payne lined up on Max King when the Lions played the Saints which left Harris Andrews to secure nine intercept marks for the game, one short of the AFL record.
Gold Coast has Charlie Ballard (1st for Intercept Marks), Melbourne has Steven May, Collingwood has Darcy Moore, Richmond has Noah Balta, Port Adelaide Aliir Aliir and the list goes on.
Team defence beats one on one contests in 2023 especially when it comes to the defensive end and scoring from rebound.
3. Adam Simpson Is In Trouble
Fans and pundits can cop a 80-100 point loss when their team is rebuilding and have injury concerns but 171 point losses are unacceptable.
The West Coast Eagles suffered the biggest defeat in their clubs history at the SCG on Saturday evening and the calls for Adam Simpson to be sacked are louder than ever.
That big a loss shouldn’t happen at the highest level and it’s clear to many that the players simply aren’t showing effort.
It’s one thing to lack talent and class, and it’s another to be beaten by 28 goals.
Changes have to be made and the sooner the better.
They have opened $10.50 outsiders against the Saints in Perth this week and the line is +/- 50.5.
4. The Most Inconsistent Team In The AFL?
Fair dinkum’ there are a few to chose from.
Punters are struggling to work out the genuine contenders and the continual pretenders.
Fremantle and Essendon fit one of those profiles with the former getting the job done in Perth on Saturday evening after a horrendous showing against the Giants the week previous.
Geelong bounced back from a big loss against Port Adelaide to beat the then third placed Melbourne Demons on Thursday.
St Kilda struggle to string two wins together, the Lions play well at Marvel but not the MCG, Adelaide’s only away win this season was against Port at the Adelaide Oval and don’t get us started on Carlton.
The only two consistent football teams this season are breaking away from the pack in first and second on the ladder.
The rest is very much up for grabs.
5. Beware The Favourite
Round 15 was a full up for the punters with every betting favourite winning and Round 16 is littered with short prices yet again.
The Brisbane Lions kick start the round as $1.35 favourites at the Gabba against Richmond at time of publish.
Adelaide are $1.08 against North, Carlton $1.38 against Hawthorn, Melbourne are $1.24 when they face GWS and the Saints are currently $1.05 against the hapless Eagles in Perth.
Can you find a roughie in that lot?