Surprise and revelation, shock and disappointment - the emotions that drive every footy fan. They bring people together to either share in their frustrations or revel in their unfiltered joy.
Whether it is through player improvement or through coaching methods, every action has an equal and opposite reaction to what fans have come to expect from the years prior, with a player's form or a lapse in coaching sometimes either making or breaking a season.
Accounting for this, I took a look at each team's surprise player or coach and each team's shocking disappointment.
St Kilda
Surprise: Hugo Garcia
A clearance king and a driving force beside Max Hall, who both lead the next generation of St Kilda football out of the midfield. Garcia is a polished player who has shot up his disposal average by almost 10 from last season and has been on a recent tear with the Saints after 25+ disposals in each of his last six games.
Shock: Tom De Koning
De Koning hasn't been quite the player St Kilda has hoped for with the amount they are paying him. His ability to play in any position is still handy and can alter games, but it looks like the environment around him will still take some time for the former Blue to adjust to.
