After a snooze fest that was the first round (Geelong losing by only 10 was fairly flattering), it hit me we haven't had a great finals series for a few years.
From 2016 to now, the average losing margin has been 38 points. Games with a margin under 20 points:
2016 = 2/9
2017 = 1/9
2018 = 3/9
2019 = 1/4
So almost 80% of games have a margin over 20 points.
For comparison's sake, from 2012 to 2015, only 55% of games had a margin over 20 points.
Now, this lines up perfectly with the introduction of the pre-finals bye but it's pretty hard to say that correlation = causation.
From 2016 to now, the average losing margin has been 38 points. Games with a margin under 20 points:
2016 = 2/9
2017 = 1/9
2018 = 3/9
2019 = 1/4
So almost 80% of games have a margin over 20 points.
For comparison's sake, from 2012 to 2015, only 55% of games had a margin over 20 points.
Now, this lines up perfectly with the introduction of the pre-finals bye but it's pretty hard to say that correlation = causation.