(Clockwise from left): Will Ashcroft and Sam Draper celebrate, Dylan Moore is seen after Hawthorn's draw with Collingwood, Jai Serong celebrates and the Western Bulldogs celebrate. Pictures: AFL Photos

SYDNEY held a perfect record in close games this season and the Western Bulldogs were also masters in thrillers as the 2026 campaign delivered.

For the fourth straight year, there were more than 50 games decided by 10 points or less.

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With 53 such games in 2026, that ranked as the third most in a single season, behind only the 2024 and 2023 campaigns.

The introduction of Gather Round has made the past four seasons longer than ever before, but all four have beaten the previous best, which was 49 in 2014.

The Swans held a perfect record in games decided by 10 points or less, going 4-0, while the Bulldogs also stepped up in close finishes.

Remarkably, Luke Beveridge's side went 8-1-0 in thrillers, including beating Collingwood by three points in a classic wildcard final.

Record in games decided by 10 points or less in 2026
Sydney 4-0
Western Bulldogs 8-1-0
Melbourne 4-1
Carlton 4-1-2
Adelaide 4-4
Fremantle 3-3
North Melbourne 3-3
Brisbane 2-2
St Kilda 2-2
Hawthorn 3-2-2
Collingwood 4-2-5
Geelong 2-4
Gold Coast 2-4
Port Adelaide 2-5
Essendon 1-3
West Coast 1-3
Greater Western Sydney 1-4
Richmond 0-3


No team played in more close games than the Magpies with 11, but Craig McRae's team went 4-2-5 – including two draws against Hawthorn.

Premier Brisbane only played in four games decided by 10 points or less in 2026, with the Lions losing their first two against the Bulldogs (Opening Round) and Melbourne (round six).

But on their way to a three-peat, the Lions' only two such wins came in the preliminary final against Hawthorn and Grand Final against Fremantle.

Richmond was the only team without a win by 10 points or less, while Greater Western Sydney went 1-4.

Seasons with most matches decided by 10 points or less

59 – 2024
57 – 2023
53 – 2026
52 – 2025
49 – 2014
47 – 2019, 2021
45 – 2017, 2018
43 – 2002

Round 2: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by six points
Round 3: Lost to Geelong by eight points
Round 4: Lost to Fremantle by two points
Round 6: Beat St Kilda by one point
Round 8: Beat Port Adelaide by one point
Round 11: Lost to Hawthorn by nine points
Round 13: Beat Geelong by one point
Round 22: Beat Richmond by nine points

Record: 4-4

05:34

Last two mins: Cook's clutch kick steals Showdown at the death

The thrilling final moments between Adelaide and Port Adelaide in round eight

Opening Round: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by five points
Round 6: Lost to Melbourne by two points
Preliminary final: Beat Hawthorn by nine points
Grand Final: Beat Fremantle by seven points

Record: 2-2

04:42

Last two mins: Lions complete stunning comeback over Dockers

The thrilling final moments between Fremantle and Brisbane in the Grand Final

Round one: Beat Richmond by four points
Round four: Lost to North Melbourne by 10 points
Round six: Lost to Collingwood by five points
Round 12: Beat Geelong by four points
Round 13: Beat Essendon by five points
Round 17: Beat Richmond by two points
Round 23: Drew with the Western Bulldogs

Record: 4-1-2

04:55

Last two mins: Captain Cripps the hero as epic mark and goal seals classic

The thrilling final moments between Carlton and Geelong in round 12

Round five: Lost to Fremantle by six points
Round six: Beat Carlton by five points
Round eight: Drew with Hawthorn
Round 10: Lost to Sydney by six points
Round 11: Beat West Coast by 10 points
Round 12: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by four points
Round 13: Lost to Melbourne by eight points
Round 17: Beat Gold Coast by six points
Round 18: Beat North Melbourne by four points
Round 23: Drew with Hawthorn
Wildcard final: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by three points

Record: 4-2-5

04:03

Last two mins: Blues denied as youngster's after-the-siren kick sails wide against Magpies

The thrilling final moments between Carlton and Collingwood in round six

Round six: Lost to Gold Coast by nine points
Round 13: Lost to Carlton by five points
Round 19: Beat Greater Western Sydney by three points
Round 24: Lost to Port Adelaide by 10 points

Record: 1-3

03:15

Last two mins: Bombers hold nerve over Giants in upset of the season

Bombers fans, enjoy the last two minutes of the famous win over GWS in R19, 2026

Round one: Lost to Geelong by 10 points
Round four: Beat Adelaide by two points
Round five: Beat Collingwood by six points
Round 15: Beat Geelong by nine points
Round 22: Lost to Melbourne by four points
Grand Final: Lost to Brisbane by seven points

Record: 3-3

03:45

Last two mins: Epic smother, late miss saves Freo in classic win over Crows

The thrilling final moments between Adelaide and Fremantle in round four

Round one: Beat Fremantle by 10 points
Round three: Beat Adelaide by eight points
Round four: Lost to Hawthorn by one point
Round 12: Lost to Carlton by four points
Round 13: Lost to Adelaide by one point
Round 15: Lost to Fremantle by nine points

Record: 2-4

08:12

Highlights: Geelong v Adelaide

The Cats and Crows clash in round three of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Round six: Beat Essendon by nine points
Round 11: Lost to North Melbourne by six points
Round 17: Lost to Collingwood by six points
Round 19: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by nine points
Round 21: Lost to Melbourne by nine points
Round 22: Beat Greater Western Sydney by two points

Record: 2-4

08:15

Highlights: Gold Coast v Essendon

The Suns and Bombers clash in round six of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Round two: Lost to St Kilda by four points
Round seven: Beat North Melbourne by seven points
Round 14: Lost to St Kilda by eight points
Round 19: Lost to Essendon by three points
Round 22: Lost to Gold Coast by two points

Record: 1-4

03:02

Last two mins: Giants hold off fast-finishing Kangaroos

The thrilling final moments between GWS and North Melbourne in round seven

Round four: Beat Geelong by one point
Round six: Beat Port Adelaide by three points
Round eight: Drew with Collingwood
Round 11: Beat Adelaide by nine points
Round 13: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by six points
Round 23: Drew with Collingwood
Preliminary final: Lost to Brisbane by nine points

Record: 3-2-2

04:41

Last two mins: Late behind secures Hawks' win over Cats in remarkable finish

The thrilling final moments between Hawthorn and Geelong in round four

Round six: Beat Brisbane by two points
Round 11: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by three points
Round 13: Beat Collingwood by eight points
Round 21: Beat Gold Coast by nine points
Round 22: Beat Fremantle by four points

Record: 4-1

03:20

Last two mins: Dees hold off Dockers in MCG classic

The thrilling final moments between Melbourne and Fremantle in round 22

Round four: Beat Carlton by 10 points
Round seven: Lost to Greater Western Sydney by seven points
Round nine: Lost to Sydney by eight points
Round 11: Beat Gold Coast by six points
Round 14: Beat West Coast by one point
Round 18: Lost to Collingwood by four points

Record: 3-3

04:32

Last two mins: Another capitulation sees Blues fade late against Roos

Watch the thrilling final moments between North Melbourne and Carlton in round four

Round three: Lost to West Coast by two points
Round six: Lost to Hawthorn by three points
Round eight: Lost to Adelaide by one point
Round nine: Lost to the Western Bulldogs by two points
Round 13: Beat West Coast by six points
Round 14: Lost to Sydney by three points
Round 24: Beat Essendon by 10 points

Record: 2-5

04:28

Last two mins: Port edges Bombers as duo ruin former captain's moment

The thrilling final moments between Essendon and Port Adelaide in round 24

Round one: Lost to Carlton by four points
Round 17: Lost to Carlton by two points
Round 22: Lost to Adelaide by nine points

Record: 0-3

04:58

Last two mins: Tigers' charge falls short against Blues

The thrilling final moments between Carlton and Richmond in round one

Round two: Beat Greater Western Sydney by four points
Round six: Lost to Adelaide by one point
Round 13: Lost to Sydney by two points
Round 14: Beat Greater Western Sydney by eight points

Record: 2-2

02:54

Last two mins: Saints hold off Giants fightback in epic finish

The thrilling final moments between GWS and St Kilda in round two

Round nine: Beat North Melbourne by eight points
Round 10: Beat Collingwood by six points
Round 13: Beat St Kilda by two points
Round 14: Beat Port Adelaide by three points

Record: 4-0

04:41

Last two mins: Swan's epic late goal breaks St Kilda hearts

The thrilling final moments between Sydney and St Kilda in round 13

Round three: Beat Port Adelaide by two points
Round 11: Lost to Collingwood by 10 points
Round 13: Lost to Port Adelaide by six points
Round 14: Lost to North Melbourne by one point

Record: 1-3

04:35

Last two mins: Young gun's superb mark helps Eagles hold off Power

The thrilling final moments between Port Adelaide and West Coast in round three

Opening Round: Beat Brisbane by five points
Round two: Beat Adelaide by six points
Round nine: Beat Port Adelaide by two points
Round 11: Beat Melbourne by three points
Round 12: Beat Collingwood by four points
Round 13: Beat Hawthorn by six points
Round 19: Beat Gold Coast by nine points
Round 23: Drew with Carlton
Wildcard final: Beat Collingwood by three points

Record: 8-1-0

03:18

Last two mins: After-the-siren miss breaks Pies' hearts as Dogs prevail in finals epic

The thrilling final moments between Western Bulldogs and Collingwood in the wildcard finals