We are almost a quarter of the way through season 2025 and premiership contenders have already emerged while others have begun on the wrong foot this season.
However, another week comes another opportunity to get a win on the board and set the tone for the rest of the season.
Key areas of the game that your club needs to control are often reflected in particular statistical categories, so we've analysed each game and what the key statistic will be if your side is to secure a Round 6 victory.
Brisbane vs Collingwood
Contested Possessions
Both the Lions and Pies are evenly matched when it comes to their ability to win the inside ball, ranking fourth and fifth respectively in the league (139.8 and 139 contested possessions per game).
What will be the key however, is Brisbane's ability to maintain strong contested work in the first half.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Fagan reflected that Brisbane's contested work has been poor in first halves and has been a contributing reason to their halftime deficits so far this season.
Although the Lions have been able to reclaim the lead before the final siren in each game so far, an in-form Collingwood may not allow that opportunity if the Lions struggle off the rip in Round 6.
North Melbourne vs Carlton
Marks inside 50
While the Kangaroos don't average a high amount of marks inside 50 per game (11.4), they do average one of the best rates for marks inside 50 per inside 50 entry at 24.6 per cent.
It means that when North Melbourne are able to generate an inside 50 entry, nearly one in every four results in a set shot on goal, which is vital in a forward line consisting of key talls Nick Larkey, Jack Darling and Cameron Zurhaar.
Meanwhile the Blues' ability to generate marks inside 50 has been poor this year, ranking 17th for their rate of 18.8 per cent. If the Blues are to continue to bounce back from their 0-4 start to the season, they'll need to drive quality entries inside 50 to provide marking opportunities for their key forward Charlie Curnow and make-shift forward Tom De Koning this week.
West Coast vs Essendon
Contested Possessions
There's a lot going wrong for the Eagles at the moment, but perhaps the most glaring is their contested work.
The Eagles recorded the lowest amount of contested possessions in an AFL home and away game ever in Gather Round, amassing just 77 for the entire match. That effort is indicative of the Eagles' start to the season, averaging a league-worst 108.8 contested possessions in their 0-5 run.
West Coast will especially have to dial up their intensity around the contested ball in the midfield this weekend, despite Essendon's overall midtable ranking. Five Bombers average more contested possessions per game than the next best Eagle, with Sam Durham (13.5), injured Jye Caldwell (12.7), Elijah Tsatas (11), Sam Draper (9.8) and Zach Merrett (9.5) all averaging more contested possessions than West Coast leader Clay Hall (9.3).
Additionally, while the Harley Reid move to halfback has aided the young star's ability to accumulate disposals and find some form, he has only averaged 5.8 contested possessions this season after averaging 9.8 in 2024. Perhaps a move back into the centre is needed to reinvigorate West Coast's hardball winning ability this round.
Melbourne vs Fremantle
Scores per inside 50 entry
Melbourne's conversion woes continued in Gather Round, scoring just 17 times from 51 inside 50 entries. That converts to a scoring rate of just 33.3 per cent, a scoring rate worse than their current season average of 37.5, which is already ranked 18th in the league.
The Demons come up against the Dockers, who aren't one of the top sides at converting inside 50s into scores either, but have had patches of destructive form this season.
Fremantle had a scoring rate of 50 per cent against the Bulldogs in Round 4 in a mature 16-point win. It demonstrated that the Dockers are capable of attacking fluency, and with Melbourne's defence not up to scratch so far (conceding the fourth-most points per game), it could be a bloodbath if the Demons cannot improve their own attacking efficiency.
Adelaide vs GWS
Inside 50s
While the Crows have been dominant from an offensive standpoint so far in 2025, their leaky defence has cost them in their losses, allowing for 26 and 28 scoring shots in Rounds 4 and 5.
It has come off the back of conceding a large sum of inside 50s per game, with Adelaide allowing the fifth-most deliveries inside their defensive arc at 53.2 per game.
Only bottom-four sides West Coast, Richmond and North Melbourne rank worse, and intriguingly, so do opponents GWS.
However, the Giants are one of the stingiest defensive sides, helped by the star talents of Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley as their key pillars. Despite conceding nearly 58 inside 50s per game, opponents score from just 36.3 per cent of those entries, an AFL-best in that metric.
Contrastingly for the Crows, they rank ninth for their opponent's ability to convert inside 50 entries into scores, meaning a focus on limiting inside 50s should be Adelaide's focus if they are to prevent another scoring avalanche.
Richmond vs Gold Coast
Clearances
Simply, Richmond must be competitive in the midfield if they are to show some fight against the Suns.
Gold Coast average the most points per game from stoppages (46.8), as well as averaging the second-most clearances in the competition at 42.5 per game.
To highlight how damaging the Suns' midfield is, take a look at these figures:
Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller combine for 21 clearances and 28 score involvements per game; Richmond's top clearance-getters Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Toby Nankervis combine for 17 clearances but just 13 score involvements per game.
The impact Gold Coast's impact have weekly is starkly greater than Richmond's, and if the Tigers allow similar freedom on Saturday night, they'll find it hard to keep up.
Sydney vs Port Adelaide
Scores from turnover
Port Adelaide's pressure against the Hawks was relentless and impossible to withstand, being one of the main factors Hawthorn crumbled at Adelaide Oval last Sunday.
An emotionally driven side with white line fever, it's unsurprising that the Power relish high octane football and their attack thrives from turnovers.
Despite scoring only the 11th-most points this season, the Power score the fourth-most amount of points from turnovers at an average of 55 per game, contributing to nearly two-thirds of their score each week.
Scarily for Sydney, they record the third-most amount of turnovers per game this season, creating a mouthwatering area of the game for Port Adelaide to attack this weekend.
With a revenge game on the cards for Port Adelaide after last year's preliminary final exit, the Swans should prepare for another high-pressure game that could play into the Power's hands perfectly yet again.
Western Bulldogs vs St Kilda
Scores from stoppages
Both the Bulldogs and Saints have started the season with prolific scoring efforts from stoppage.
The Bulldogs average the second-most points from stoppage (42.6), while St Kilda are nearly identical but place third overall (42 points from stoppage per game).
Additionally, both clubs are in form due for respect despite their negative win-loss records of 2-3, but the Bulldogs will be buoyed by the return of Marcus Bontempelli this weekend.
It is set to be an intriguing and even contest, with the midfield performances likely to shape the final scoreline.
Geelong vs Hawthorn
Uncontested possessions
The Hawks were forced into a contested ball slog for the majority of the game against Port Adelaide, and it clearly impacted the tempo at which they aim to play.
If the Cats can force Hawthorn into a high-contested possession style of game, instead of their preferred untouched transition in attack, Geelong will be on the path to victory.
However, if Hawthorn can get their transition game flowing at the rate that saw them continue their 2024 form resurgence into a 4-0 start to 2025, the Hawks will have the time and space to deliver quality inside 50s and pick apart Geelong's currently depleted defence.
