Down to the wire: Your club's 2023 record in close gamesBy Dejan Kalinic
afl.com.au
7 November 2023IT WAS a season of thrillers as 2023 smashed a record in a memorable campaign.
While there was an extra round in 2023, that smashed the all-time competition record for the most matches decided by 10 points or less in a single season.
The previous record was 49 in 2014, while recent seasons have also delivered and highlighted the evenness of the competition, with 2022 (42), 2021 (47), 2019 (47), 2018 (45) and 2017 (44) all making the top 10.
While the expansion of the competition in recent decades has meant more games and more chances for close finishes, the recent trend is nonetheless clear - this is the era of the thriller.
Seasons with most matches decided by 10 points or less57 – 2023
49 – 2014
47 – 2019, 2021
45 – 2018
44 – 2017
43 – 2002
42 – 2010, 2013, 2022
Record in games decided by 10 points or less in 2023Collingwood 8-1
Carlton 6-1-0
Port Adelaide 6-1
GWS Giants 5-3
Fremantle 3-2
Essendon 4-3
Sydney 4-1-3
Brisbane 2-2
Melbourne 4-6
Hawthorn 2-3
St Kilda 2-3
West Coast 2-3
Richmond 2-1-3
North Melb 2-5
Gold Coast 1-3
Adelaide 1-5
W.Bulldogs 1-5
Geelong 0-1-4
Round 1: Drew with Carlton
Round 4: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by five points
Round 10: Lost to Essendon by one point
Round 11: Lost to Port Adelaide by 10 points
Round 12: Beat Greater Western Sydney by six points
Round 19: Beat Hawthorn by one point
Record: 2-1-3
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1057429/best-season-ever-the-thrilling-record-broken-in-2023
