Whether AFL clubs are looking to get on the front foot early, claim the 'premiership quarter' or pile on points before the final siren, each quarter of a game adds up to the final result.
So far this season each club has played 16 matches, equating to 64 quarters each and a total of 564 won quarters among the 18 clubs.
Four clubs have claimed 40 or more won quarters from that share, while no club has claimed 13 wins in one particular quarter as of yet.
Here's each club's record for total quarters won and their breakdown for all four quarters, highlighting their trending strengths and weaknesses.
The Crows have scored more first-quarter points than any other club in 2023, recording 453 points from opening terms from their 16 games - an average of 28.3 points per first quarter. That figure is placed as the strongest return for any club in any quarter, with the next best being 443 points (average of 27.7 points) from Geelong in first quarters and Brisbane in third quarters. Across the board Adelaide are quite equal, winning nine first, third and fourth quarters each to go with their eight second quarter wins.
1st Quarters: 9-0-7
2nd Quarters: 8-0-8
3rd Quarters: 9-0-7
4th Quarters: 9-0-7
Total Record: 35-0-29
The Lions are one of three clubs tied in second for most quarters won in 2023, equal with Port Adelaide and Collingwood with a total of 40 from their 16 games. While having double-digit win totals for first and second quarters, the Lions' third term is their strongest, amassing an aggregate points differential of 108 - good for +6.8 points each third term. The Lions break even in the last term with eight wins and eight losses, however have scored a total of 369 points to their opponent's 343 points to end the game.
1st Quarters: 11-1-4
2nd Quarters: 10-1-5
3rd Quarters: 11-1-4
4th Quarters: 8-0-8
Total Record: 40-3-21
The Blues are among this season's slow starters, with only West Coast, North Melbourne and Fremantle recording less first quarter wins than Michael Voss' side from the opening 17 rounds. Carlton do manage to bounce back before half-time, recording the lowest points against total for any club and any quarter in the competition at 219 points against at an average of 13.7 points conceded per second quarter. Breaking even in the third term (a total of -1 points differential) leaves the Blues needing to fix the bookends of their performances through the back stretch of the season to be a chance of finishing in the top eight.
1st Quarters: 6-0-10
2nd Quarters: 11-0-5
3rd Quarters: 8-0-8
4th Quarters: 7-1-8
Total Record: 32-1-31
Third quarters stand out for the Magpies, and not in the way Craig McRae would hope. Just seven of their 40 won quarters this season have come from the 'premiership quarter', with Fly's men mostly banking on last-term comebacks to get the chocolates. The first and fourth quarters are where the Magpies do their best business, recording points 367 points to their opponent's tally of 221 in the opening term, and 422 points to 226 in the last. They're also consistent through the second quarter, where they've won 12 in total. Only Melbourne in the fourth quarter and Geelong in the opening quarter have notched up a dozen wins for one particular term.
1st Quarters: 11-1-4
2nd Quarters: 12-0-4
3rd Quarters: 7-1-8
4th Quarters: 10-1-5
Total Record: 40-3-21
Essendon sit in equal sixth for quarters won in 2023, with 10 of their 35 total victories coming from third terms alone. Nine more come from quarters one and four each, while Brad Scott has amassed just seven wins from second quarters. While they've managed more fourth-quarter wins than losses, on average the Bombers lose their last terms by 1.8 points, having coughed up some big fourth-term losses against Collingwood (Round 6, -39 points and Brisbane (Round 9, -25 points).
1st Quarters: 9-0-7
2nd Quarters: 7-0-9
3rd Quarters: 10-0-6
4th Quarters: 9-0-7
Total Record: 35-0-29
The Dockers are the worst first-quarter team in the competition, managing just two wins prior to quarter time from their 16 matches so far this season. That sits below West Coast and North Melbourne, who have recorded three and four first quarter wins respectively. Fremantle are conceding an average of 24.1 points in opening quarters this year and are scoring just 15.6 points in return. The second quarter is the only term where they have a positive points differential, placed at an average of +2.3 points.
1st Quarters: 2-0-14
2nd Quarters: 9-0-7
3rd Quarters: 8-0-8
4th Quarters: 7-1-8
Total Record: 26-1-37
The Cats have won more first quarters than any other club in the competition, chalking up a dozen strong starts from their 16 games so far this year to buck a trend that was seen as a weakness in their premiership pursuit last year. In 2023, the Cats have struggled to get on top of clubs in the third term, winning just six 'premiership quarters' so far this season.
1st Quarters: 12-0-4
2nd Quarters: 7-1-8
3rd Quarters: 6-1-9
4th Quarters: 9-0-7
Total Record: 34-28
The third term is when the Suns are at their busiest, with the Queensland club scoring more points and conceding more points directly after half-time than other any period in the game. Their points for total of 353 is 39 points ahead of their next best, while the 377 points they've conceded is 35 more than any other quarter and ranks fourth worst among third terms for any club. Gold Coast fail to muster a winning margin in any of their four quarters, despite only losing six of their 16 second terms this year.
1st Quarters: 7-0-9
2nd Quarters: 9-1-6
3rd Quarters: 8-0-8
4th Quarters: 6-0-10
Total Record: 30-1-33
The Giants are among the best finishing clubs this year, level with the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood to sit equal third for fourth-quarter wins so far this season. GWS pile on an average of 22.6 fourth-quarter points to their opponent's 19.0, which is the only term where they've posted a positive points differential.
1st Quarters: 8-0-8
2nd Quarters: 7-1-8
3rd Quarters: 7-0-9
4th Quarters: 10-0-6
Total Record: 32-1-31
The Hawks have managed to break even in opening quarters, but have been blown away after the first break of the day. While their eight wins and eight losses from first quarters is promising reading, the Hawks have conceded 75 more points than they've scored in those terms - an average of -4.7 points in first terms this year. Third terms are where Sam Mitchell's side has really struggled, coughing up an average of 25.6 points between half-time and three-quarter time.
1st Quarters: 8-0-8
2nd Quarters: 6-0-10
3rd Quarters: 6-1-9
4th Quarters: 5-0-11
Total Record: 25-1-38
The Demons are the leading club for quarters won in 2023, notching up 41 from a possible 64 this season. They've tallied 10 wins from both first and second quarters, and another nine from third terms, while they're known to finish strong - having recorded 12 wins, one draw and three losses from fourth quarters. On average the Demons are good for 24.8 points in fourth quarters, which is also their best defensive quarter, conceding 16.2 points on average.
1st Quarters: 10-0-6
2nd Quarters: 10-1-5
3rd Quarters: 9-0-7
4th Quarters: 12-1-3
Total Record: 41-2-21
The Kangaroos have just three more won quarters to their name than West Coast this year to sit 17th overall. The Round 1 clash between those two clubs was split evenly at two quarters each, with North Melbourne amassing just 12 from a possible 60 quarters since. From a defensive standpoint, the second term is where the Roos are at their strongest - conceding an average of 22.9 points, with their next best term for that metric coming in Q1 at an average of 27.4 points. However, the second quarter is where they failed to impact the scoreboard, running at an average of 14.6 points scored.
1st Quarters: 4-1-11
2nd Quarters: 3-0-13
3rd Quarters: 3-2-12
4th Quarters: 4-0-12
Total Record: 14-2-48
The Power are one of two sides in the competition that are just one quarter away from having double-digit wins across all four terms of a match. The Power's nine third-term wins trail their first (10 wins), second (10) and fourth (11) tallies, with Melbourne the other club to be one short, having nine wins in third quarters as well. The Power are equal second for total quarters won with 40 for the year, however have lost more quarters than the Demons, Magpies and Lions.
1st Quarters: 10-0-6
2nd Quarters: 10-0-6
3rd Quarters: 9-1-6
4th Quarters: 11-0-5
Total Record: 40-1-23
The Tigers have undergone a trend that sees their best football come to the fore in the third term after a lacking opening half. Richmond have managed a total of just 12 wins from their first halves this year, while nine wins have come in the third quarter alone. Stunningly, The Punt Road club have a positive points differential from their second quarters (+33) and a minus differential in the following stanza (-34) from their 16 matches.
1st Quarters: 6-0-10
2nd Quarters: 6-0-10
3rd Quarters: 9-0-7
4th Quarters: 7-0-9
Total Record: 28-0-36
The Saints a are a curious case for their spit of quarters won in 2023, with their middle half at opposite ends of the spectrum with their four second quarter wins (third worst in the league) and 11 third quarter wins (equal best in the league). St Kilda's have an aggregate points deficit of 77 points in second quarters, while they're +106 in third terms. They do have positive returns in first (+17 points) and fourth (+33) quarters as well.
1st Quarters: 7-1-8
2nd Quarters: 4-0-12
3rd Quarters: 11-0-5
4th Quarters: 9-1-6
Total Record: 31-2-31
The Swans' four-quarter form can easily be split between the first half and second half, with the latter an alarming area of concern for John Longmire's men. While having notched up 21 wins from the opening half in 2023 so far, the Swans have managed to win just 12 second-half quarters from their 16 games. That tally sits only ahead of West Coast (six), North Melbourne (seven) and Hawthorn (11). On the flip side, the Swans are the only side outside of the top four (Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne) to have won at least 10 first and second quarters each.
1st Quarters: 10-0-6
2nd Quarters: 11-0-5
3rd Quarters: 6-0-10
4th Quarters: 6-1-9
Total Record: 33-1-30
Unsurprisingly, the Eagles sit 18th in the competition for total quarters won with 11 from their 16 games - equating to a win rate of 17.2% from their 64 quarters this year. The young, undermanned and injury-riddled squad have managed just two last quarter wins this year given the factors at play that leave Adam Simpson's side often running out of legs. They've also recorded just two wins from second quarters, while their best comes in the third term at three wins in the quarter that follows half-time.
1st Quarters: 3-0-13
2nd Quarters: 2-0-14
3rd Quarters: 4-1-11
4th Quarters: 2-0-14
Total Record: 11-1-52
The Bulldogs are among the most consistent sides for where they win/lose a majority of their quarters, with terms one, two and three split equally at nine wins each. Their fourth quarter has been their strongest with 10 wins, while draw quarters have occurred in terms two and three. The Dogs' tally of 37 quarter wins places them in fifth, only three behind Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Brisbane. The Dogs' best quarter for points score comes in the third term at an average of 21.1 points, while they concede 20.2 points on average in second terms, which is placed as their worst defensively.
1st Quarters: 9-0-7
2nd Quarters: 9-1-6
3rd Quarters: 9-1-6
4th Quarters: 10-0-6
Total Record: 37-2-25
| Club | Q1 Wins | Q2 Wins | Q3 Wins | Q4 Wins | Total Qtr Wins |
| Melbourne | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 41 |
| Brisbane | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 40 |
| Collingwood | 11 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 40 |
| Port Adelaide | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 40 |
| Western Bulldogs | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 37 |
| Adelaide | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 35 |
| Essendon | 9 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 35 |
| Geelong | 12 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 34 |
| Sydney | 10 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 33 |
| Carlton | 6 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 32 |
| GWS | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 32 |
| St Kilda | 7 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 31 |
| Gold Coast | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 30 |
| Richmond | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 28 |
| Fremantle | 2 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 26 |
| Hawthorn | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 25 |
| North Melbourne | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| West Coast | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
Stats via AFL Tables