Footy legends Garry Lyon and Tim Watson have named their biggest surprise packets of the year so far.
The SEN Breakfast co-hosts picked out some individuals players and teams who have surprised them with their performances in the first half of the 2024 season.
See their surprises below:
Lyon’s surprises
Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
“I watched Jack Gunston in recent weeks and I thought he was gone,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“Even when he kicked three goals the week before in his 250th, I thought, ‘that’s nice’. They got him the one at the end and he is rowing his side of the boat.
“He also played on Harris Andrews and kicked four. He is my surprise.”
Jake Waterman (West Coast)
“He may be the biggest surprise of the whole season.
“That is unbelievable what he’s done. He’s been around, played third or fourth tall behind Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, Oscar Allen.
“Now he’s third in the Coleman. It’s been a shock of monumental proportions.”
Sydney
“The fact that Sydney are 11-1 and that far ahead of the pack at the halfway mark of the year, that would have been a surprise.”
Watson’s surprises
Mac Andrew (Gold Coast)
“The biggest surprise for me is Mac Andrew,” said Watson.
“I knew that he might have potentially been a good player. I saw the pre-season game they played and I thought ‘this kid looks like he’s going to be a player’.
“But I think he’s gone way, way, way beyond what I thought he was going to be this season.
“His potential to be way above where he is right now is still really high too.”
Sam Durham (Essendon)
“The performance of ‘Seymour Sam’ this year has been one of the great surprises.
“One of the great competition surprises of 2024.”
Brisbane
“The fact that the Lions are where they are at this stage of the year (sitting 13th).”
Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
“He leads every award in the country.
“The fact that he’s been such a great midfielder has surprised me.
“I thought he might have been able to go into the midfield and play some valuable minutes in there, but I’m a bit surprised he’s been as good as he has.”
Tristan Xerri (North Melbourne)
“I know North Melbourne people and they thought, ‘this bloke is not going to be THE ruckman, he’s not going to be THE answer’.
“He is the No.2 ranked big man in the game.”
Lyon added: “This is not a surprise to North Melbourne because they let Todd Goldstein go.
“They wanted this bloke to be their No.1 man. They’re not surprised about that.”
Tagging Tom Stewart
“The surprise for me is the effect it has had on the Geelong game as a result of him being tagged.
“I think you’ve got to put the two together – their inability to be able to win games and perform, and him being tagged at the same time.
“It’s no coincidence.”
Lyon and Watson then went through a few suggestions from listeners.
Alex Pearce’s year to date?
Watson: “Yes, a surprise.”
Ben King in the hunt for the Coleman?
Watson: “Not so much a surprise.
“If he was out the front by 15 goals I’d say that would be a surprise.”
Essendon in the top four?
Watson: “Yes, a surprise.”
Jack Ginnivan’s impact at the Hawks?
Watson: “Not for me because I rated him really highly.”
Listen to the full discussion below: