AFL football throws up all manner of statistical data, some of which is only unearthed after considerable digging.

Such painstaking work is the preserve of the AFL's stats department – led by the League's history and stats consultant Col Hutchinson.

Their recent research has revealed a surprising shift in the most common winning margin, a newly rare instance of all goals being scored at one end, and a unique scoreline.

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For many years, more games were decided by one point than any other margin.

But following an unlikely string of results in 2018, the most common margin in League history is now two points.

In a marginal call, two-point results (of which there have been 334) have edged past one-pointers (331).

So just to clarify, two points is now No. 1 and one point is No. 2.

And the one-point wonders are now under threat from their five-point counterpart (329), which clawed closer courtesy of West Coast's thrilling victory by that narrow margin against Collingwood in last year's grand final. 

During the 2018 campaign a season-high eight games were decided by two points. They included Geelong's home victory over Melbourne following Zach Tuohy's post-siren goal in round 18, and Sydney's upset of Collingwood at the SCG two weeks later.

In contrast, just a solitary game ended in a one-point gap - Hawthorn's nail-biting win over Geelong in their Easter Monday clash in round two.

In their return clash the Hawks pipped the Cats by 11 points, continuing a phenomenal rivalry in which 14 of their 23 clashes since 2009 have been decided by no more than two goals.

The 2018 season produced 50 margins of no more than 12 points. That places it third on the all-time list, behind 2014 (55) and 2002 (51).

The lowest margin yet to eventuate is 136 points. Geelong came close in posting last year's biggest victory, by 133 points over Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium in round 22.

There have also been 158 draws, ranked 44th.