all players were as honest as Jenkins ...

the AFL would be a better industry.

you keep finding the ball in outcome-determining moments in the dying seconds of games ...

you have a real 'it' factor. Rayner is guaranteed to be better for enduring those moments.

the margin was 105 points last week despite the opposition at stages having only 16 players on the field ...

season's end cannot come quick enough. And yet we peculiarly think you're a sneaky chance in Perth this weekend.

you go back to this time last year ... 

you'll remember the turmoil and doubt. There's still turmoil - on the injury list. But there's no doubt anywhere else.

the old 'we're still a mathematical chance' to make the finals is to apply ...

the Bombers must beat the Saints by 12-plus goals, as Richmond at the 'G, and Port in Adelaide await.

we've been critical of Ross The Boss lately ...

we need to give him a massive well-done after the Gaff hit on Brayshaw. Incredible restraint at three-quarter time when every fibre in his make-up would have been demanding vengeance. And, equally significant, great leadership, care and perspective in his post-match conference. 

Lethal has the best ever AFL crack at an opponent with his "if it bleeds, we can kill it" call on Essendon in 2001 ...

Chris Scott's less-specific but equally loaded post-match barb at Richmond last week might yet have similar explosive impact.

a lot of things about the Suns have left us perplexed in 2018 ...

No.1 on that list is why Jarryd Lyons has spent so much time in the NEAFL team. Back in the seniors this week. 

you've only managed 13 of a possible 19 matches ...

can you win a Brownlow? Probably not, given Mitchell's season. But no reason Kelly can't still poll heavily. Has been the reason the Giants have surged in the second half of the year. 

in the week of Cyril's retirement we wrote that we'd be prepared to part with some folding on him making a comeback ...

five weeks later we'd be prepared to increase the outlay (responsibly, of course). 

the Dees are the team we think they are ...

they will do a number on the Swans at the 'G on Sunday .

the AFL's trophy engraver had actually etched "Ben" into the Coleman Medal five weeks ago ...

we couldn't have blamed that person. But it might have to be erased. It could be Lance, Tom, Jack. Even Luke or Jesse. Brown needs another bag soon.

five weeks ago someone had predicted Powell-Pepper would be axed by round 21 ...

we would have argued heatedly. Massive fall in a short time. 

Jacob Townsend hadn't played a senior game in 2017 until being selected out of nowhere in round 22, and then staying in and playing a key role in a premiership ...

Ivan Soldo is better placed in 2018. Gets his first chance for the year a week earlier. 

this club in the remaining three games continues the insipid nature of its loss to Western Bulldogs last week ...

no matter how many public assurances that Richo is safe for 2019, he won't be. 

it took Bud kicking six and having one of his all-time great games to get a win against the Pies ...

that's a massive positive in a season where there haven't been many. But the negative is that the injury-depleted Pies very nearly won anyway. 

we tired of one thing during the week ...

it was being told by the perpetually outraged, wannabe-moral crusaders that we couldn't feel sympathy for Gaff. We do feel for him as he sets out to deal with his properly-sanctioned one moment of madness in an otherwise copybook career. 

you're judging him on Brownlow votes ...

he's a bust. One vote from 249 matches. But when it's Dale Morris, it just doesn't matter nor properly reflect the amazing impact he has had since working his way onto the Bulldogs' list as a rookie for the 2005 season. And quite possibly the best bloke to play AFL in that timeframe.

we needed one more reminder about the self-inflicted erosion of Friday night footy in 2018 ...

we're going to get it in R21 with the woeful Saints in action.