They’re calling Caleb Serong ‘Mr 24/7’ – because he’ll get you at least 24 touches in a game, any time, any day. Dating back almost two full years, Serong has now reeled off 38 straight games where he’s racked up 24+ disposals, which is now the third-longest run of its kind in AFL history. Only Adelaide’s Rory Laird (47 from 2020-22) and Western Bulldogs veteran Jack Macrae (44 from 2021-22) have strung together more matches of uninterrupted leather poisoning since disposal stats were recorded.
Adam Simpson’s very first road trip as Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) coach was to face Melbourne at the MCG in his second game in charge in 2014. Remarkably, the two clubs haven’t played one another in Victoria since. Sunday will mark the 13th consecutive Eagles-Dees meeting outside of Melbourne’s home state, encompassing 11 games in WA and two in the Northern Territory. The clubs will clash at the ‘G in round 17 to fall one game short of equalling the record of most consecutive match-ups away from one team’s home state, which was North Melbourne against Sydney away from Victoria between 1999 and 2006.
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