THE NAME'S Dougal. Dougal Howard.

Port Adelaide's 199cm fan favourite is proof that success comes in all shapes and sizes (and names) – and, seemingly, at any pick in the draft.

The No.56 selection in 2014 is only 10 games into his AFL career, but has already recovered from a knee reconstruction to play in his maiden final.

It was no ordinary final either, with West Coast onballer Luke Shuey nailing the match-winning goal after the siren in extra time to banish the Power from season 2017.

By match's end, it wasn't only Shuey who enhanced his reputation, but also a 21-year-old swingman from Wagga Wagga.

Howard spent time on an inspired Drew Petrie that night, so it was certainly not an easy transition to post-season football.

But he set 2017 competition highs for spoils (18) – just three short of champion Hawk Josh Gibson's all-time record from six years earlier – and one-percenters (22).

Howard's ability to gain possession from eight of those spoils also made for a League-best effort, equal with Carlton's defensive revelation Liam Jones.

Combine that with his eight-goal, 11-mark outing in the SANFL during the season and there is plenty to like about the Port key-position prospect's outlook at both ends of the ground.

The statistics also tell us that Aaron Mullett's delisting at North Melbourne will leave a sizeable role for someone else.

Mullett was the Roos' kick-in specialist and twice this year – in rounds 14 and 20 – he brought the ball back into play 14 times for his team.

Only West Coast captain Shannon Hurn did so as often in any 2017 game, while Mullett's 13 rebound 50s against the Giants in round three was also an AFL-high for the season.

Perhaps, North's ex-Bombers recruit Alex Morgan can fill the new Blue's void in more ways than one.

The sight of Jaeger O'Meara's rippling physique on Hawthorn's pre-Christmas training camp in New Zealand was not the only reason for optimism among Hawks fans.

The ex-Sun's troublesome knees dominated his headlines since arriving at Waverley Park, but his superb season-closing display against the Western Bulldogs was sneakily elite.

O'Meara accumulated 25 disposals (12 contested), including nine centre bounce first possessions – the most in a single game in 2017, along with Joel Selwood and Stefan Martin.

Single match stats leaders 2017

PlayerClubSeasonRoundOppositionStatCount
Sam JacobsAdelaide20178MelbourneHITOUT74
Sam JacobsAdelaide20178MelbourneTHROW IN HITOUT30
Matt CrouchAdelaide201723West CoastRECEIVE HANDBALL29
Brad CrouchAdelaide201723West CoastEFFECTIVE HANDBALL26
Sam JacobsAdelaide201723West CoastHITOUT TO ADVANTAGE22
Sam JacobsAdelaide20178MelbourneHITOUT TO ADVANTAGE22
Sam JacobsAdelaide201727RichmondHITOUT SHARKED16
Sam JacobsAdelaide201727RichmondTHROW IN HITOUT SHARKED12
Sam JacobsAdelaide20178MelbourneBU HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Rory SloaneAdelaide201722SydneyFREE FOR8
Sam JacobsAdelaide20175Gold CoastCENTRE BOUNCE HITOUT SHARKED7
Rory SloaneAdelaide201723West CoastTHROW IN CLEARANCE7
Eddie BettsAdelaide201716Western BulldogsGOAL ASSIST5
Stefan MartinBrisbane Lions20178HawthornBALL UP HITOUT30
Tom RockliffBrisbane Lions20178HawthornBALL UP CLEARANCE9
Stefan MartinBrisbane Lions201716GeelongCENTRE BOUNCE FIRST POSSESSION9
Stefan MartinBrisbane Lions201719West CoastBALL UP HITOUT SHARKED7
Dayne BeamsBrisbane Lions201712FremantleTHROW IN CLEARANCE7
Tom RockliffBrisbane Lions20171Gold CoastHITOUT SHARK6
Harris AndrewsBrisbane Lions201717RichmondCONTESTED MARK FROM OPP5
Dayne ZorkoBrisbane Lions201717RichmondMISSED TACKLES4
Sam DochertyCarlton201722HawthornEFFECTIVE KICK24
Sam DochertyCarlton201722HawthornSHORT KICK19
Kade SimpsonCarlton20176SydneySHORT KICK19
Bryce GibbsCarlton201713Gold CoastLONG KICK14
Liam JonesCarlton201722HawthornSPOIL GAINING POSSESSION8
Dale ThomasCarlton201721West CoastCLANGER KICK7
Marc MurphyCarlton20178St KildaBAULK5
Liam JonesCarlton201715AdelaideCONTESTED MARK FROM OPP5
Liam JonesCarlton201720EssendonCONTESTED MARK FROM OPP5
Will Hoskin-ElliottCollingwood201720North MelbourneMARK PLAY ON9
Brodie GrundyCollingwood20179HawthornBALL UP HITOUT SHARKED7
Josh SmithCollingwood20176GeelongKICK BACKWARDS6
Brodie GrundyCollingwood20179HawthornRUCK HARDBALL GET6
Brodie GrundyCollingwood201714Port AdelaideCONTESTED MARK FROM OPP5
Jeremy HoweCollingwood201712MelbourneCONTESTED MARK FROM OPP5
Taylor AdamsCollingwood201717Gold CoastCONTESTED KNOCK ON4
Jeremy HoweCollingwood20175EssendonKICK LONG ADVANTAGE4
Jeremy HoweCollingwood201718West CoastOUT ON FULL4
David ZaharakisEssendon201722Gold CoastINSIDE 5015
David ZaharakisEssendon201722Gold CoastKICK INSIDE 5014
Brendon GoddardEssendon201723FremantleUNCONTESTED MARK FROM TEAM14
Tom BellchambersEssendon201722Gold CoastRUCK HARDBALL GET6
Travis ColyerEssendon20173CarltonINEFFECTIVE GROUND KICK4
Michael HurleyEssendon201712Port AdelaideKICK LONG ADVANTAGE4
Bradley HillFremantle20177EssendonUNCONTESTED POSSESSION35
Bradley HillFremantle20177EssendonMARK16
Luke RyanFremantle201720Gold CoastMARK16
Bradley HillFremantle20177EssendonUNCONTESTED MARK16
Bradley HillFremantle20177EssendonUNCONTESTED MARK FROM TEAM14
Lachie NealeFremantle20177EssendonGATHER11
Aaron SandilandsFremantle20171GeelongCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Luke RyanFremantle201720Gold CoastMARK FROM OPP KICK9
Luke RyanFremantle201720Gold CoastUNCONTESTED MARK FROM OPP8
Lachie NealeFremantle20176West CoastHOLD7
Lachie NealeFremantle201720Gold CoastTHROW IN CLEARANCE7
Cam McCarthyFremantle20173Western BulldogsMARK FUMBLED5
Patrick DangerfieldGeelong201722CollingwoodFIRST POSSESSION19
Mitch DuncanGeelong20179Western BulldogsTACKLE18
Patrick DangerfieldGeelong201713West CoastHARDBALL GET15
Zac SmithGeelong20179Western BulldogsCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Joel SelwoodGeelong20175St KildaCENTRE BOUNCE CLEARANCE9
Joel SelwoodGeelong20175St KildaCENTRE BOUNCE FIRST POSSESSION9
Patrick DangerfieldGeelong201722CollingwoodBALL UP FIRST POSSESSION8
Gary AblettGold Coast20176North MelbourneCONTESTED POSSESSION27
Gary AblettGold Coast20176North MelbourneGROUND BALL GET20
Gary AblettGold Coast20176North MelbourneCLEARANCE18
Gary AblettGold Coast20176North MelbourneLOOSEBALL GET14
Adam SaadGold Coast20171Brisbane LionsRUNNING BOUNCE12
Jarrod WittsGold Coast201715North MelbourneCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Jarrod WittsGold Coast20173HawthornCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Tom J. LynchGold Coast201715North MelbourneMARK ON LEAD7
Gary AblettGold Coast20176North MelbourneTHROW IN CLEARANCE7
Sean LemmensGold Coast201715North MelbourneUNCONTESTED GATHER7
Jarryd LyonsGold Coast201715North MelbourneHITOUT SHARK6
Jack LeslieGold Coast201710MelbourneCONTESTED MARK FROM OPP5
Jarryd LyonsGold Coast201715North MelbourneBALL UP HITOUT SHARK4
Jarryd LyonsGold Coast20175AdelaideCENTRE BOUNCE HITOUT SHARK4
Jonathon PattonGWS Giants201710West CoastONE ON ONE CONTEST TARGET18
Shane MumfordGWS Giants201714Brisbane LionsCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Shane MumfordGWS Giants201720MelbourneFREE AGAINST7
Jeremy CameronGWS Giants20173North MelbourneMARK ON LEAD7
Dylan ShielGWS Giants201710West CoastSMOTHER5
Lachie WhitfieldGWS Giants201716HawthornSMOTHER5
Tom MitchellHawthorn20179CollingwoodDISPOSAL50
Tom MitchellHawthorn201722CarltonEFFECTIVE DISPOSAL37
Jaeger O'MearaHawthorn20172AdelaideHANDBALL30
Ben McEvoyHawthorn20175West CoastCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Ben McEvoyHawthorn201716GWS GiantsCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Jaeger O'MearaHawthorn201723Western BulldogsCENTRE BOUNCE FIRST POSSESSION9
Tom MitchellHawthorn201717GeelongINEFFECTIVE HANDBALL9
James SicilyHawthorn201722CarltonFREE AGAINST7
Liam ShielsHawthorn201710SydneyUNCONTESTED GATHER7
Jaeger O'MearaHawthorn20172AdelaideCLANGER HANDBALL5
Tom MitchellHawthorn20179CollingwoodSMOTHER5
Tom MitchellHawthorn20172AdelaideTHROW IN HITOUT SHARK5
Shaun BurgoyneHawthorn201710SydneyCONTESTED KNOCK ON4
Clayton OliverMelbourne20171St KildaEFFECTIVE HANDBALL26
Clayton OliverMelbourne201719North MelbourneTHROW IN FIRST POSSESSION11
Max GawnMelbourne20171St KildaTI HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE11
Jack VineyMelbourne201714West CoastINEFFECTIVE HANDBALL9
Tom McDonaldMelbourne20176EssendonMARK PLAY ON9
Clayton OliverMelbourne20175RichmondTHROW IN CLEARANCE7
Billy StretchMelbourne20175RichmondCONTESTED KNOCK ON4
Aaron MullettNorth Melbourne201720CollingwoodKICK IN14
Aaron MullettNorth Melbourne201714Western BulldogsKICK IN14
Aaron MullettNorth Melbourne20173GWS GiantsREBOUND 5013
Jack ZiebellNorth Melbourne201716FremantleGATHER11
Todd GoldsteinNorth Melbourne20179MelbourneCB HITOUT TO ADVANTAGE9
Ben CunningtonNorth Melbourne20179MelbourneGATHER FROM HITOUT9
Jack ZiebellNorth Melbourne201716FremantleGATHER FROM HITOUT9
Jarrad WaiteNorth Melbourne20171West CoastBEHIND7
Trent DumontNorth Melbourne201716FremantleMISSED TACKLES4
Dougal HowardPort Adelaide201724West CoastSPOIL18
Chad WingardPort Adelaide201715RichmondKICK INSIDE 5014
Ollie WinesPort Adelaide201711HawthornBALL UP FIRST POSSESSION8
Dougal HowardPort Adelaide201724West CoastSPOIL GAINING POSSESSION8
Sam GrayPort Adelaide20171SydneyCLANGER KICK7
Dougal HowardPort Adelaide201724West CoastSPOIL INEFFECTIVE7
Brad EbertPort Adelaide201717North MelbourneTHROW IN CLEARANCE7
Brad EbertPort Adelaide20173AdelaideSMOTHER5
Dustin MartinRichmond20173West CoastKICK33
Dustin MartinRichmond20173West CoastINEFFECTIVE KICK16
Alex RanceRichmond20179GWS GiantsONE ON ONE CONTEST DEFENDER14
Dustin MartinRichmond201726GWS GiantsBROKEN TACKLE8
Shai BoltonRichmond201713SydneyCRUMB8
Dustin MartinRichmond201717Brisbane LionsCLANGER KICK7
Dustin MartinRichmond201718GWS GiantsGROUND KICK7
Dustin MartinRichmond201724GeelongSCORE ASSIST6
Trent CotchinRichmond201717Brisbane LionsGOAL ASSIST5
Jack RiewoldtRichmond201718GWS GiantsKNOCK ON5
Dion PrestiaRichmond20175MelbourneSMOTHER5
Dustin MartinRichmond20175MelbourneINEFFECTIVE GROUND KICK4
Kamdyn McIntoshRichmond201721GeelongMISSED TACKLES4
Billy LongerSt Kilda201716RichmondCENTRE BOUNCE HITOUT25
Leigh MontagnaSt Kilda20173Brisbane LionsLONG KICK14
Jack BillingsSt Kilda201714Gold CoastSCORE ASSIST6
Jack BillingsSt Kilda201720West CoastGOAL ASSIST5
Jack NewnesSt Kilda20176HawthornKICK LONG ADVANTAGE4
Lance FranklinSydney201723CarltonINSIDE 50 TARGET24
Lance FranklinSydney201723CarltonSHOT AT GOAL12
Lance FranklinSydney20177Brisbane LionsSHOT AT GOAL12
Lance FranklinSydney201723CarltonGOAL10
Callum SinclairSydney201718St KildaCONTESTED MARK8
Callum SinclairSydney201718St KildaCONTESTED MARK FROM TEAM8
Lance FranklinSydney20178North MelbourneMARK ON LEAD7
Isaac HeeneySydney201721FremantleKICK LONG ADVANTAGE4
Andrew GaffWest Coast20171North MelbourneUNCONTESTED POSSESSION35
Shannon HurnWest Coast20172St KildaKICK IN14
Tom BarrassWest Coast20175HawthornSPOIL INEFFECTIVE7
Luke ShueyWest Coast201719Brisbane LionsSCORE ASSIST6
Jack DarlingWest Coast201715Western BulldogsSCORE ASSIST6
Fletcher RobertsWestern Bulldogs20176GWS GiantsSPOIL INEFFECTIVE7
Luke DahlhausWestern Bulldogs20174North MelbourneBEHIND ASSIST6
Dale MorrisWestern Bulldogs201717CarltonBLOCK6
Luke DahlhausWestern Bulldogs20174North MelbourneSCORE ASSIST6
Marcus BontempelliWestern Bulldogs201719EssendonKICK LONG ADVANTAGE4
Lachie HunterWestern Bulldogs201718Gold CoastKICK LONG ADVANTAGE4

Want more stats stories?

- Stats glossary: Every stat explained

- Stats kings: Players who hit new heights in 2017

- All-time season stats record-holders

- Stats leaders in every category in 2017

- Game stats records matched or broken in 2017

- All-time single match stats record-holders