IT SHOULD be no surprise that the two top teams on the ladder, Richmond and West Coast, also lead the competition for total quarters won this season.

But there are some surprises within the statistics that point to some clubs making the most of their dominance during games and others not quite capitalizing on it.

Melbourne, who sits in 10th position on the ladder with four wins so far this season, has won more quarters (17) than all but the Tigers, Eagles and Adelaide. It highlights the Demons' growing confidence and their build after a slower start to the year.

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But Hawthorn, placed in fourth position on the ladder after a 5-2 start to the year, is outside the top eight for quarters won so far this season, showing the Hawks' ability to step up when a game is up for grabs.

As expected, the bottom four clubs on the ladder – Carlton, Brisbane, St Kilda and Essendon – are also the worst in the competition for quarters won this year, with all having won fewer than 10 quarters for the season.

Total quarters won

Won Lost Draw 1. Richmond 19 9 0 2. West Coast 18 9 1 3. Adelaide 18 10 0 4. Melbourne 17 10 1 5. Geelong 16 12 0 6. North Melbourne 16 12 0 7. Greater Western Sydney 15 12 1 8. Collingwood 15 12 1 9. Hawthorn 15 13 0 10. Sydney 15 13 0 11. Port Adelaide 15 13 0 12. Fremantle 14 14 0 13. Western Bulldogs 11 15 2 14. Gold Coast 11 17 0 15. Essendon 9 17 2 16. Brisbane 8 20 0 17. St Kilda 8 20 0 18. Carlton 8 20 0

North Melbourne has surprised this season and is setting itself up for competitive performances in the first quarter. The Kangaroos have the best record in first terms of any side this competition, winning five of seven, and also conceding fewest points of any club (an average of 13 an opening term).

Brisbane is lumped towards the bottom of the ladder and can point to its first quarters as a key factor, with the Lions yet to claim a win in that period. They have also conceded more than double the points they have managed to score themselves, often leaving them too much work to do after the first break.

First quarters won

Won Lost Draw For Against 1. North Melbourne 5 2 0 157 90 2. Richmond 5 2 0 187 115 3. Adelaide 5 2 0 183 149 4. Fremantle 5 2 0 142 119 5. West Coast 5 2 0 162 138 6. Melbourne 4 3 0 177 138 7. Collingwood 4 3 0 166 141 8. Essendon 4 3 0 164 143 9. Sydney 4 3 0 157 153 10. Greater Western Sydney 4 3 0 124 126 11. Geelong 3 4 0 165 154 12. Gold Coast 3 4 0 126 123 13. Western Bulldogs 3 4 0 147 154 14. Port Adelaide 3 4 0 129 140 15. Hawthorn 3 4 0 153 198 16. St Kilda 2 5 0 111 147 17. Carlton 1 6 0 115 212 18. Brisbane 0 7 0 88 213

The Eagles have been solid starters in games but have put the foot down in the second term to be completely dominant before the half-time break.

Adam Simpson's men hold the best record of any side in any period of the game with their second terms, with a percentage of 280.82.

They have averaged 29 points in the second quarter and conceded on average just 10, meaning they have headed into half-time holding a lead in all bar their round one loss to Sydney (when they trailed by 26 points).

Second quarters won

Won Lost Draw For Against 1. West Coast 6 1 0 205 73 2. Richmond 5 2 0 155 110 3. Collingwood 4 2 1 163 127 4. Geelong 4 3 0 162 125 5. Hawthorn 4 3 0 150 121 6. Adelaide 4 3 0 159 131 7. Sydney 4 3 0 130 133 8. Western Bulldogs 4 3 0 118 165 9. Greater Western Sydney 3 3 1 158 107 10. Melbourne 3 3 1 134 160 11. Brisbane 3 4 0 135 149 12. North Melbourne 3 4 0 128 150 13. Gold Coast 3 4 0 137 170 14. Port Adelaide 3 4 0 136 177 15. Essendon 2 4 1 118 135 16. St Kilda 2 5 0 99 124 17. Carlton 2 5 0 103 156 18. Fremantle 2 5 0 98 175

Essendon's third-quarter woes have been the focus of much attention and scrutiny, and for good reason given the Bombers have given up half-time leads the past two weeks to be overrun in the third quarter.

The Bombers haven't won a third term yet, a problem they don't seem to have any solution to. On the other hand, Geelong and Port Adelaide have been strong after the main break, winning all bar one third term, while it has also been a strong time of the game for the Hawks and Dees.

Third quarters won

Won Lost Draw For Against 1. Geelong 6 1 0 179 96 2. Port Adelaide 6 1 0 227 125 3. Hawthorn 5 2 0 178 91 4. Melbourne 5 2 0 163 124 5. Fremantle 5 2 0 168 134 6. Adelaide 4 3 0 193 113 7. Richmond 4 3 0 145 123 8. North Melbourne 4 3 0 139 126 9. Collingwood 4 3 0 144 150 10. Gold Coast 4 3 0 141 156 11. Western Bulldogs 3 3 1 109 172 12. Greater Western Sydney 3 4 0 138 133 13. Sydney 3 4 0 125 153 14. West Coast 2 4 1 156 167 15. Brisbane 2 5 0 136 166 16. St Kilda 1 6 0 119 203 17. Carlton 1 6 0 108 200 18. Essendon 0 7 0 87 223

Gold Coast's start to the season has seen the Suns play in Cairns, Melbourne, twice in Perth, once in Brisbane, once in Adelaide and then most recently in Ballarat.

It's a tiring schedule that no doubt is having an effect on the younger Suns line-up, who sit last for last quarter performances this year. They have won just one final term but been also heavily outscored as well.

Fourth quarters won