1. Shaun Higgins can win this year's Brownlow Medal

This Roo's rise from injury-prone, unfulfilled talent at the Western Bulldogs to North Melbourne club champion at age 29 and almost-certain All Australian in 2018 gets better by the week. The Bulldogs sledged and physically tested Higgins on Saturday night, while one fan drew the Kangaroos' ire so much with one tirade at him that they pointed the crowd member out to match officials. None of it mattered. His 10 disposals to half-time were ho-hum by his standards, but he was scintillating in the last two quarters with 22 further possessions, six clearances and two goals to spearhead North's comeback. Higgins also dished the handball in Ben Brown's direction – his second involvement in the passage – for him to soccer the ball to Jack Ziebell for his match-winner. His only game with fewer than 21 touches this year was when he was knocked out in a collision with Hawk Ryan Burton. Higgins is quick and evasive, goes on dashing runs, kicks the ball magnificently and is a major reason North is a surprise finals contender. The Kangas have eight wins from 13 games and that is plenty enough, with nine rounds remaining and his sensational form, for a Brownlow Medal to be within his reach. - Marc McGowan

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2. The Eagles are in strife if Josh Kennedy isn't back soon

West Coast had never played without at least one of the dual Coleman medallist or Jack Darling since the latter's debut in round one, 2011 and Adam Simpson's outfit sorely missed the twin towers in attack against Essendon. Simpson rightly pointed out that the Eagles cost themselves with a horror first quarter, which saw them trail by 37 points, but when they tried to launch a comeback they couldn't find a reliable avenue without their leading goalkickers, finishing with 6.16 from 59 inside 50s. Darling isn't going to be back for a month due to his ankle injury, and Kennedy's timeframe to return from a hairline fracture in his knee is murky. But if the Eagles are going to protect their top-four spot, they will need him back sooner rather than later given their tough run against Adelaide (away), the Giants (home) and Collingwood (away). - Travis King

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3. Hodgey still has it, particularly when he's fresh

While the Jeremy Cameron-Harris Andrews incident took most of the headlines in Greater Western Sydney's win, an under-the-radar sub-plot was the performance of Luke Hodge. With Andrews missing for most of the night and a little more onus on the Lions' backline, the four-time premiership champion stood up. Fresh off last week's bye, 34-year-old Hodge looked like a new man, compiling a season-high 30 disposals (at 93 per cent efficiency), taking a soaring second quarter mark and adding his first goal in Lions colours, and ending up in the best three players on the ground. Brisbane travels to Perth next week to play Fremantle, which leaves the difficult question for coach Chris Fagan – play Hodge while he's hot, or give him another rest and watch the freshened version in a must-win match against Carlton the following week? - Michael Whiting

4. Unheralded Power defender deserves to be an All Australian

Port Adelaide backman Tom Jonas needs to be in the conversation among the premier key defenders in the League. Jonas was outstanding for the Power in their thrilling 10-point win over Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, finishing with 20 disposals, 11 marks and 12 one-percenters. Jonas' intercept work was a major reason why the Power emerged triumphant despite conceding 68 Inside 50s to 39. Jonas was last year included in the 40-man All Australian squad and would be close to leading the Power's best and fairest count right now. - Lee Gaskin

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5. Charlie on target to become a superstar

While many questioned Carlton's list reset after it was embarrassed by Fremantle in its 57-point loss last weekend, superstar-in-waiting Charlie Curnow's performance against Collingwood would have provided Blues fans with welcome reassurance. Along with Patrick Cripps, the 21-year-old, who inked a new four-year deal during the week, is the face of the Blues' rebuild and his game against the Pies was a reminder of some of the talent the club has on its list. Carlton has been open about its strategy in its attempts to turn the club around and, although not everything has clicked, there have been enough glimpses this season to suggest Stephen Silvagni and his list management team have discovered their share of diamonds among the rough. - Ben Guthrie

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6. Suns can look to Lyons for inspiration

If it's four-quarter effort he's searching for, Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew needs to get his players following in the footsteps of Jarryd Lyons after the former Crow’s performance in Launceston on Saturday. While his disposal efficiency was nothing to write home about, Lyons was the outstanding contested ball player on the day by some margin – and that's taking into account the likes of Tom Mitchell, Liam Shiels and Jaeger O'Meara as well as his own teammates. Lyons amassed 22 contested possessions, had 10 clearances – including five from the centre square – and pumped the ball inside the forward 50 on four occasions. Dew could do with a couple more Jarryd Lyons in his side, particularly if he wants his up-and-comers to keep taking on-field risks as the Suns search for their first win since April. - Stu Warren