LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Chris Fagan, Senior Coach of the Lions looks on during the 2018 AFL round 17 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Brisbane Lions at UTAS Stadium on July 14, 2018 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
  1. Cam Rayner is starting to show why he was the number one draft pick at the 2017 AFL draft

The Lions' young gun was terrific in helping his team to a surprise 33-point victory over the Hawks on Saturday.

Rayner kicked three goals and 19 disposals up forward for the Lions and is a chance to win this year’s NAB AFL Rising Star having been nominated earlier this month.

  1. The Crows can’t win an AFL Premiership without Tom Lynch

The Crows’ link-man up forward showed his importance to last year’s Grand Finalist with a best on ground performance against the Cats last Thursday night.

Lynch finished with four goals, 22 disposals and had 11 score involvements to be instrumental in their impressive 15-point win over fellow finals contender Geelong.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Tom Lynch of the Crows is tackled by Cameron Guthrie of the Cats during the 2018 AFL round 17 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval on July 12, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)
  1. Richmond are lucky that the Grand Final will be at the MCG until 2057

Whilst the Tigers are a formidable outfit at the MCG having won 17 games in a row at the Grand Final venue, on the road this year it’s been a different story.

The Tigers have lost all four away games in 2018 after they had a two-point away loss to the Giants on Saturday night. Last year’s premiers have now lost games on the road to the Giants, Crows, Power and the Eagles.

They are a red-hot favourite to win back to back flags, however if they slip up and must play a final away from home this year then this could make things very interesting.

  1. Chris Fagan is starting to build a winning culture at the Lions.

Whilst the Brisbane Lions have only won four games this year, they could’ve quite easily won seven or eight games having only been blown away by one game this year which was an away thrashing at the hands of last year’s premiers Richmond.

Their surprise 33-point victory over the Hawks on Saturday at Launceston was character building and the second time they have beaten Hawthorn this year. With young guns like Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood and Alex Witherden coming through as well as Dayne Beams in career best form, the future is bright at Brisbane.

  1. Patrick Cripps could be one of the best Blues players of all time.

The former Western Australian is having an incredible season in a very disappointing year for Carlton where they have only won a solitary game all year.

Cripps was incredible for the Blues in a very poor 64-point loss to the Saints on Friday night. Cripps finished with 35 disposals, 23 of them contested and he also had seven marks and ten clearances.