The narrowest margin in history decided a spot in the finals
In short: In a season defined by record-breaking starts and historic firsts, the 2017 AFL season reached a mathematical peak of tension. When West Coast and Melbourne battled for a finals berth, the difference came down to a mere 0.48 percentage points—an on-field gap of just nine points.
The 2017 season was a landmark year for the Australian Football League, marked by significant structural and rule changes. The league introduced a more stringent interpretation of deliberate rushed behinds, high tackles, and punches to the body. Notably, ruck contests were amended to allow only the nominated ruckman to compete, a move designed to reduce injuries and increase the value of specific ruckwork skills. These changes aimed to refine the flow of the game while prioritizing player safety. The season also saw several geographic and commercial milestones. It featured the first-ever Good Friday match between North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, and the first premiership match outside of Australia and New Zealand, held at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China.
Additionally, the Western Bulldogs made history by competing in the first AFL premiership match at a Victorian regional venue other than Geelong, taking place at Mars Stadium in Ballarat. Individual performances reached historic heights. Richmond's Dustin Martin won the Brownlow Medal by polling a record 36 votes and secured the Leigh Matthews Trophy with 1,333 votes. Meanwhile, Sydney's Lance Franklin won his fourth Coleman Medal, notably moving into the lead by kicking ten goals in the final round. Despite these individual heights, the season was defined by extremes: Adelaide won its first six games for a club record, while the Brisbane Lions finished with the most successful record of any wooden spooner since 1998.
The year was also a period of transition for venues and sponsorships. The JLT Community Series replaced the NAB-sponsored pre-season, and several stadiums saw naming rights changes, including the University of Tasmania Stadium and the UNSW Canberra Oval. As the season concluded, Richmond secured its eleventh premiership by defeating Adelaide by 48 points, capping a year of intense competition and statistical anomalies.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2017 AFL season
- Also: Wikidata — 2017 AFL season · CC0
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