WE OFTEN hear about the evenness of the competition this year, but what do the statistics say?

Sunday's Geelong-Fremantle clash was the fourth game of the round to be decided by three points or less after Dockers speedster Michael Walters missed a last-second shot at goal from 20m, handing the Cats a two-point win.

Watch the last two minutes: Cats v Dockers

Four matches this weekend have now been settled by a total of seven points.

With a couple of games still to play out in round 14, it is the first time since round 23 of 2013 that two games have been decided by a solitary point in the same weekend. 

Friday night's Sydney-Essendon epic at the SCG ended in a one-point win to the Swans courtesy of a goal after the siren to forward Gary Rohan.

Watch the last two minutes: Swans v Bombers

Fast-forward 24 hours and the Western Bulldogs-North Melbourne thriller at Etihad Stadium also ended in a one-point margin after Dogs forward Jake Stringer kicked the winning point from a set shot – their first one-point triumph since 2006.

Watch the last two minutes: Dogs v North

The Kangaroos, on the other hand, equalled a record of their own they would rather forget.

The result marked the second time since 2013 the club has lost two matches by a point in a season following the narrow defeat to Geelong in round two.

North Melbourne is now winless in its last five games decided by one point since 2011.

Five games this year have ended in one-point results – the same number last achieved throughout the entire 2013 season.

The most one-point finishes in recent years is seven, which was recorded in 2006 and included two finals.

Meanwhile, Melbourne's drought-breaking three-point win over West Coast in Perth marked the first time this season that three games in a round have been decided by less than a goal.

The Demons recorded their first win over the Eagles since 2009 and their first victory in Perth since 2002.

Watch the last two minutes: Eagles v Demons

Conversely, the Eagles registered their first home defeat by less than a goal since 2010, having won the previous seven close encounters.

West Coast's last four games at Domain Stadium have been decided by an average margin of just eight points.