After a partial start to the 2025 season, with just two games played in Opening Round, the year will officially feel underway with the first of many nine-game rounds to begin on Thursday night.
Key statistical categories often determine how well your club performs, and indicate which side is controlling the contest. Last week, Sydney's scores off turnover was their key metric to watch. The Swans scored just 23 points off turnover on Friday, 32 fewer points than their 2024 average, resulting in a fairly comfortable loss to the Hawks.
With nine blockbuster fixtures to continue the season, we'll delve into the key statistical category that needs to be mastered for each mouthwatering Round 1 clash.
Geelong vs Fremantle
Marks inside 50
Geelong and Fremantle will be an intriguing clash of key forwards, as a rejuvenated pairing of Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale aim to outscore an emerging duo between Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss.
While Geelong ranked first for marks inside 50 per game in 2024 (13.4 per game), compared to Fremantle who ranked seventh (12.4 per game), the pairings rank near identically when isolated away from the other contributors.
Cameron and Neale averaged 2.5 and 2.1 marks inside 50 respectively, while Treacy and Amiss averaged 2.5 and two marks inside 50 each, indicating an even battle for this weekend.
Both sides are set to contend for a premiership in 2025, and have both added extra firepower to their line-up in the offseason. Dog-turned-Cat Bailey Smith offers accurate inside 50 entries from the midfield, while Shai Bolton can leap for marks inside the forward arc, as well as be a dangerous ground-level threat.
The Cats averaged a tick under 100 points at GMHBA Stadium last season, highlighting the attacking dominance they possess at home, and is hence why Treacy and Amiss' output is vital for the Dockers if they are to cause a boilover on Saturday.
