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.
Brisbane
Surprise: Kai Lohmann
Electricity and excitement have been brewing in Brisbane's forward line this season, and it has come from a small forward not named Charlie Cameron. Lohmann has put the league on watch with his energetic play and thrilling goals helping to salvage an unexpectedly slow start to the Lions' season.
Shock: Hugh McCluggage
Having his worst year since his debut season, the two-time premiership player has struggled to find the footy compared to his usual elite play. With a sharp decline in all major stat categories, one can't help but think he's potentially holding them back from a three-peat.
