As both the players and their coaches continue their strides in season 2021, distinctive groups have broken out throughout the race.

Some, like the Bulldogs and Demons, have dashed from the starter's gun, with the desire to create lightyears between themselves and the pack.

Sadly for others, they are barely attached to the peloton anymore.

Whether first, second, third or 18th along the road to the last Saturday in September, every side and their side coaching team still have question marks over their head.

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Brisbane

Are the cobwebs off now?

On the surface, a near ten goal win in woeful conditions would be enough to answer this question quickly, but with Brisbane’s patchy form prior to them dealing out a Bomber beating, we can’t be too quick to praise their cleaning efforts.

Despite the Lions’ first month of the season yielding just one win, their next four fixtures look far more inviting and far more likely to propel themselves from 10th place on the ladder.

Chris Fagan’s pride should be able to finish Round 9 with a 5-4 record, as even on current form, you would expect them to defeat Carlton, Fremantle and the Gold Coast across this four-week block.

But should a victory against Port Adelaide arise next week as well, then the woes of the first month will be dead and buried.

As it stands, the Gabba boys are still rated above a 50/50 chance of finishing in the eight by the start of September, but if their form remains spotless until they face the Tigers at home in Round 10, then this already weighted coin will have become much heavier.

This really should surprise nobody, as the vast majority of us had them entering the finals with a double chance – something Stats Insider gives them a better than one in five chance of achieving.

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