IT'S A dreary world when your team is sitting at 1-5.

For all the doom and gloom for Melbourne, North Melbourne, Sydney and Carlton supporters, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Here’s one positive stat from your team’s start to the 2019 season:

Carlton’s defence is vastly improved from this time last year

The Blues are just one of only six sides this year not to concede 100 points in a game. The only other members of that club are the Crows, Cats, Magpies, Saints and Dockers.

At this time last year, Carlton had conceded 100 points in each of its first four games.

The Blues conceded 100 points on 13 occasions last season.

Thanks to the strong performances of Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones, the Blues average 81.2 points against in 2019, good for ninth in the League.

Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones have starred in defence for the Blues. Picture: AFL Photos

Jake Lloyd could break records as a defender

No player has ever broken into the top 20 in terms of most disposals in a season playing predominantly as a defender, forward or ruckman.

Of the top 20, only Tom Mitchell in 2017 (787 disposals) and Gary Ablett in 2009 (744 disposals) have reached that mark playing in just 22 games.

Swans defender Jake Lloyd has amassed 197 disposals so far this year at 32.83 disposals per game.

If he keeps that up for the whole home and away season, he’ll end up at 722 disposals.

But if he can boost his average to 34 disposals per game for the next 16 games, he can equal the 20th-placed player, Dayne Beams at 741 disposals.

Beams played 24 games in 2012 and averaged 30.88 disposals that season.

Jake Lloyd has had the ball on a string in 2019. Picture: AFL Photos

Cunnington’s contested game has gone to another level

Surprisingly, North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington has never reached the top 20 for most contested possessions in a season.

If he stays at his current rate of 18.5 contested possessions per game, he could crack the top five, beating out Clayton Oliver’s 405 contested disposals from last season.

Superstar Patrick Dangerfield has the most ever recorded at 430 in a season, while Swan Josh Kennedy has the next three best seasons.

Both players reached those marks playing at least 24 games in a season and no player has ever averaged more than Dangerfield’s 17.92 per game in the top 20 for contested possessions.

Ben Cunnington loves a contest. Picture: AFL Photos

The Demons are still creating an outstanding amount of forward 50 entries

The worst result the Demons have had in a season where they’ve averaged more than 56 inside 50s per game is reaching a preliminary final.

In 2018, the Demons reached a preliminary final with a League-leading 59.9 inside 50s per game, while in 2000 they reached a Grand Final with 59 inside 50s per game.

In 2019, that number has dropped to 56 per game, but that’s still good for third in the League behind Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.

It’s also their third highest average since the stat started being recorded in 1998.

It’s hardly a tell-all stat, but historically the Demons have found success when they dominate the inside-50 count.