After two rounds of action, five clubs remain winless in 2025, and four clubs remain undefeated, albeit with varying wins due to the irregularly structured byes following Opening Round.
Not only are the stakes high for teams struggling to get on the board, but this weekend presents a number of matches that could go either way.
Hence, mastering a particular statistic will be advantageous in recording a win in what could be a cliche 'eight-pointer' come the end of the season.
Whether it be winning the ball at the source, or making the most of forward 50 entries, there are key stats for each club's game that will tell the tale of the match, and indicate who's on track for victory.
So, let's dive into the stats that matter for the eight fixtures in Round 3.
Essendon vs Port Adelaide
Pressure Acts
To put it simply, Essendon can't defend.
The Bombers could be applauded for the other facets in their game. They won the clearance count against both Hawthorn and Adelaide, and rank sixth for points per game, cracking the triple-figure mark against the Crows.
So it would be pretty surprising for a casual fan to learn after hearing those numbers that the Bombers lost both those games, and even lost to Adelaide by 61 points.
Essendon are poor in a range of defensive stats. They currently have the fifth-worst defensive one-on-one contest win rate, record the fourth-least amount of spoils per game and have conceded the most points of any club.
The Bombers' poor two-way running is emblematic of their defensive woes. It's not just the back six ruining the attacking efforts of the club.
Essendon average the third-fewest pressure acts in the league with 243.5 per game. Below them are the one-game Suns, who didn't need to apply much pressure against a hapless Eagles side in Round 1, as well as West Coast too, who are positioned to be a bottom four side again.
Pressure acts will be vital for the Power too. While their defensive effort was commendable against the teenage Tigers, they were exposed defensively by the Magpies, conceding 31 scoring shots. Even against Richmond they still conceded 23 scoring shots from just 50 forward arc entries.
Both clubs come into this game a chance at winning but whichever side can amend their defensive woes should come out on top in this affair.
Carlton vs Western Bulldogs
Scores per inside 50 entry
It's now well analysed that the Blues have been wasting their inside 50 entries by bombing them high and long instead of lowering the eyes for an uncontested option.
The stats reflect this analysis, with Carlton's current rate of scoring per inside 50 entry the second-worst in the AFL, scoring from just 37 per cent of entries.
Last year, the Blues were a top-four side in the metric, with a scoring rate of 47.3 per cent. So, the aspect is fixable, but it requires immediate attention if Carlton are to beat the Bulldogs on Friday night.
The Bulldogs are one of the better sides at converting from inside 50 entries. This season their average is a rate of 48 per cent, while last year it ranked fifth at 46.2 per cent.
Should the Dogs continue this trend against a struggling Carlton unit, the Blues may be handed a third straight loss to begin 2025.
Melbourne vs Gold Coast
Scoring shots per inside 50 entry
Yet another club with an alarming conversion rate, Melbourne's scoring efficiency from their inside 50s is currently the league's poorest.
The Demons have scored from just 35.7 per cent of their inside 50 this year. If the season were to end now, their conversion rate would be the worst since North Melbourne's in 2020.
Questions have hovered over whether Melbourne's emerging talents can progress, as concerns over the Demons' options in attack loom large. So far in 2025, the concerns have been proven valid.
Jacob van Rooyen, Daniel Turner and Bayley Fritsch combined for just three goals against North Melbourne, and Van Rooyen, Matthew Jefferson and Fritsch too combined for three against GWS, although the latter failed to score.
Overall, Melbourne's forward line for the future has contributed just six goals out of the 20 scored this season.
Opposingly, Gold Coast kickstarted their campaign with a demolition job of West Coast, scoring from 53.7 per cent of their inside 50s.
However, it would be hasty to quickly assume that the Suns' conversion woes from the past are over. Gold Coast scored from just 40.3 per cent of their inside 50s in 2024, with their poorer performances largely coming in their away fixtures.
Positively, in the Suns' only MCG match last year they scored at a near 50 per cent clip, albeit against wooden-spooners Richmond. A similar effort on Saturday could be the key to a promising 2-0 start, and importantly, 2-0 away record.
St Kilda vs Richmond
Uncontested possessions
St Kilda controlled the tempo in the first half of their Geelong clash through uncontested possession, ultimately paying dividends to escape with a win by seven points.
The Saints recorded 71 more uncontested possessions than the Cats in their win, but in their Round 1 loss recorded 60 less than Adelaide. Clearly, controlling possession is the key for St Kilda's winning playstyle.
Equally so, it could also be the case for Richmond. The Tigers were thwarted comprehensively by Port Adelaide, largely because they allowed the Power to roam with freedom. They lost the uncontested possession count by an astonishing 179, resulting in 35 scoring shots from just 56 inside 50s.
If Richmond again let their opponent get that many handprints on the ball, the Tigers could be facing another thrashing, as it would play into the Saints' gameplan perfectly and allow them to play the game on their terms.
Hawthorn vs GWS
Handballs
A key measure of whether the 'Orange Tsunami' is flowing or Hawthorn's mosquito fleet is grooving is through handballs.
It sounds basic, but it is indicative of both clubs' game plans.
GWS rebound off half-back with chains of uncontested possession and are spoiled for choice in their forward line, while the Hawks' small forwards move high up the ground and have an applaudable work rate to desert their direct opponent and get on the end of a quick counterattack.
The overall disposal count is not necessarily important for either team, as they don't deliberately work their way up the field in a kick-mark-kick-mark motion. Handballs still require lots of link-ups but can be done at a rapid pace, as evidenced by both teams last season.
In 2024, GWS ranked number one for handballs and Hawthorn ranked fourth. This year Hawthorn have had to win in different ways, but have still provided patches of thrilling end-to-end counterattacks.
GWS demonstrated their playstyle at full height in Opening Round, but wet weather conditions impacted their zippy ball movement against Melbourne, save for the match-winning kick-in play that was emblematic of the Giants' run-and-gun ability.
Under the Saturday night lights, whichever team can hone their transition game in this blockbuster clash should come out on top.
Brisbane vs Geelong
Contested Possessions
A big battle of the midfields looms as the third and fourth-ranked contested sides clash under the Gabba lights.
West Coast startled the Lions in their Round 2 clash through winning the contested possession, but the reigning premiers bravely fought back to win their second game of the season.
However, it highlights the key area for Geelong to attack if they are to leave Queensland with four premiership points.
Boasting a replenished midfield with Bailey Smith set to return, the Cats will take it up to a stacked Brisbane midfield consisting of Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, the Ashcroft brothers, and Hugh McCluggage.
Geelong and Brisbane currently can barely be split in their contested possession rankings. Geelong averages 144.5, Brisbane 142.5 per game.
Anticipated to be a wet weather slog, if either team can get a stranglehold of the contested ball, it will surely put the game on their terms and boost their odds of what could be a crucial win to secure for late in the season.
Adelaide vs North Melbourne
Defensive one-on-one contests win ratio
The Roos' defensive effort on Sunday was one of their strongest yet, as Charlie Comben came to the fore with a career-high eight intercept marks.
Comben also hasn't lost a single defensive one-on-one contest this season, and while the streak will inevitably end, it has been a stark contrast to 2024 where Comben averaged a loss rate of 41.2 per cent (the worst of all key defenders who played more than a third of the season).
And while the Roos were restrictive of the Demons in Round 2, a poorer effort in Round 1 saw North Melbourne also concede over 100 points, highlighting there are stills holes to fill in their list build.
If North Melbourne are to cause another boilover against a red-hot Crows side, they'll have to be on their game defensively again. The Crows ran rampant over an incompetent Bombers defence, piling on 25 goals in a new season-high for the league.
With emerging key forwards Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe combining with veteran star Taylor Walker, the Roos will have to ensure the likes of Comben, Aidan Corr and Luke McDonald continue winning one-on-one contests.
West Coast vs Fremantle
Contested Possessions
West Coast nearly knocked off the reigning premiers after a first-quarter blitz, largely off the back of their hard ball gets.
While the game slipped from their grasp, the Eagles recorded just one less contested possession for the match, despite averaging 27.5 less than Brisbane's current season average.
Facing a Fremantle side desperate to maintain possession, if West Coast can win the ball at the source, they are more likely to keep the ball off the Dockers' hands, and effectively limit how much control Fremantle have on the game's tempo.
The Dockers were beaten in contested possessions in their heavy Round 1 loss, but recorded eight more than Sydney in a much more competitive effort.
If Fremantle are to avoid a danger-game loss to their archrivals, they'll need the likes of Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw to beat West Coast's midfielders in the contest.
