| If | all the talk of disharmony is as low as 20 per cent true ... |
| then | there's still a lot of major problems that are not going to go away. |
| If | your playing list includes Beams, Zorko, Andrews, Hipwood, Martin, Christensen, Hodge, Robinson, Cameron and Rich ... |
| then | it is a massive fail to have a 1-11 scoreline. Very tired of the "but gee the future looks good" narrative. |
| If | you want to see two midfield bulls go at it ... |
| then | get to Etihad Stadium or a TV for the early Saturday game. Cripps v Fyfe. Bring it on. |
| If | you're looking for the unsung hero of 2018 ... |
| then | here he is: Josh Thomas. Twenty six years old, officially a rookie, been through self-inflicted footy hell where he copped a long and deserved suspension, but has held his head high and is on track for a 40-goal season for a team going beautifully. |
| If | you factor in everything that Stringer has had to deal with this year ... |
| then | he's put together a pretty good opening 12 games. Lot of upside to come. |
| If | we thought the NAB Rising Star award was between Stephenson and Doedee ... |
| then | Cerra is going to make things very interesting if he maintains his recent form throughout the remaining games. |
| If | we haven't been able to get a proper read on the premiership credentials of the Cats to this point of the season ... |
| then | we are heartened by the fact that we will have one by late Sunday after the Richmond game. Massive on so many levels. |
| If | he's the superstar we all thought he once was ... |
| then | Lynch will dominate this game, regardless of where his head is at re his future, and regardless of an injury he may be carrying. Maybe he's merely a good player. |
| If | Josh Kelly stays fit ... |
| then | big things can still happen in 2018. |
| If | the Hawks have already once defied the odds in getting Rioli back to the club when it seemed unlikely for family reasons ... |
| then | the odds are even longer on them being able to do so a second time. |
| If | the loss to Collingwood was a bad one ... |
| then | we acknowledge that. But we're not jumping off the bandwagon yet. |
| If | the loss to Geelong was a reality check ... |
| then | from a finals perspective there is obvious appeal in the next three games being against the Dogs, Bombers and Suns. Should be 10-5 by that point. |
| If | Port was serious on Thursday night ... |
| then | it would’ve won by 100 points. |
| If | you want perspective on the Tigers’ three losses from 12 games ... |
| then | at the same stage last year they had lost five. The premiership defence project going as well as it could be. |
| If | you won't use the 'R' word ... |
| then | we will. Since Simon Lethlean joined in January, he's been reviewing. And there will be a stack more to adversely review if the Saints lose to the Suns on Saturday. |
| If | this team is the only one to have beaten the Eagles in 2018, way back in the opening round and at the away venue ... |
| then | we're predicting another Swans win at the SCG. |
| If | Jack Darling was available ... |
| then | we'd be revisiting the previous statement. |
| If | the Bulldogs powerbrokers aren't asking proper questions about the decisions made in the football department since the 2016 flag ... |
| then | they need to. Surely the right people are asking the right questions. |
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| If | you were hoping Friday night was on the improve after this round's Swans-Eagles offering ... |
| then | stop it. Bulldogs still have one to play, St Kilda still has three, Carlton one. |
