These are the key takeouts from a round of close finishes and thrilling results.

Sunday afternoon, GMHBA Stadium
GWS d. Geelong by four points
Sunday was the best day of football this year, from Richmond edging out West Coast by two points, to the Giants outlasting the Cats by four, then a Cam Zurhaar behind securing North Melbourne a draw with Brisbane.

Tom Green and Shaun Mannagh exchange pleasantries late in the Cats’ loss to the Giants.Credit: Getty Images

In fact, according to footy stats guru @sirswampthing, the average margin of 10.33 points across the round was the lowest in the V/AFL since round 10 in 1970.

One talking point of that thrilling Sunday was a 50-metre penalty that wasn’t.

Star Giants midfielder Tom Green is no stranger to controversial free kicks late in games that can change results.

Green’s bump on Hawthorn skipper James Sicily, shortly after he kicked inside 50 mid-last year, resulted in a downfield free kick being paid to Luke Breust, who broke a deadlock between the teams with about a minute left and delivered the Hawks a six-point triumph.

Green was aghast, and the call polarised the AFL community, but also highlighted the danger in split-second player decisions in the heat of the moment.

The ball magnet, who had 37 disposals, found himself in another such situation on Sunday night, at a time Geelong were desperately trying to avoid a fifth loss in a row to GWS at the Cattery, which is typically a fortress for them.

With barely two minutes left and the Cats trailing by five points, Shaun Mannagh chased Green down to win a free kick as the Giant dashed out of his defensive 50.

Green – who knew he had conceded a free kick – chose to latch onto Mannagh’s left foot like a child who didn’t want to give up their toy, and his Geelong opponent did all he could to illustrate to the umpires what was going on as he fell to the ground.

A frustrated Mannagh protested by pushing Green, who shoved the Cat down even harder.

A 50-metre penalty was not forthcoming, and Mannagh instead played on and took a long potshot at goal that went out on the full. It was unnecessarily risky from Green, and begs the question on what will trigger such a penalty, given the AFL........

© The Sydney Morning Herald