Higher scoring, more blowouts and a new era of ruck dominance?

Well, not quite.

The AFL’s overhaul of rules has had largely unintended consequences, defying league hopes and expert predictions.

But an increase in close games, record attendances and a spike in television ratings means the champagne will still be flowing at AFL House.

Football operations chief Steve Hocking declared last year the introduction of nine rule changes would enhance “what’s great about the game”, producing more free-flowing football and shifting the balance towards more attacking play.

What has manifested is the lowest-scoring campaign in 52 years, with teams managing just 80.4 points per game.

As recently as 2017, the average was just shy of 90 points per game.

The upside? More thrilling finishes.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick had been among critics to warn that the tweaks would precipitate an increase in blowouts.

In fact, the opposite has unfolded.

The average margin of 29.82 was the lowest since 1976 (27.51), and 30 games were decided by less than a goal – up from 26 last season.

Teams have still been able to go on heavy scoring runs – the Western Bulldogs, in particular, have managed this several times late in the season – but it has been relatively rare for one side to thoroughly dominate another.

Two key tweaks had been expected to encourage higher scoring: the “six-six-six” rule and restrictions on the use of runners.

The introduction of starting positions meant clubs had to have six players inside both 50m arcs and in the midfield at centre bounces, creating more space for dynamic onballers to surge out of the middle and hit up a leading forward.

And the ability of coaches to deploy defensive tactics was further restricted by the stipulation that runners could only enter the field of play after a goal had been scored.

Experts predicted this would place an unprecedented premium on winning centre-bounce contests and having a dominant ruckman.

But the evidence has been mixed.

The Magpies had the competition’s dominant tap man in Brodie Grundy but ranked 16th for average centre clearances.

They finished fourth on the ladder.

Port Adelaide ranked first for centre clearances ahead of second-placed GWS and third-placed Melbourne, although the poor ball use of the Power and Demons – neither of whom qualified for finals – largely cancelled out their advantage.

Melbourne, in particular, had scoring issues all season while being scored against off turnover alarmingly often.

The ability to score off turnover, rather than from stoppages, remains the crucial metric and has been a key for premiership sides in recent seasons.