Adelaide Crows

If

Sloane coming back has been the key to this club's resurgence ...

then

the lesser profiled Riley Knight can also take some recent credit after returning from injury. Developing very nicely.

Brisbane Lions

If

the Lions have won three of the past four games without Harris Andrews ...

then

they might just be a sneaky chance down at the Cattery now that he's back.

Carlton

If

there's a lot of people right now talking down the futures of Weitering and Silvagni ...

then

we're not. Still like what we see in both youngsters.

Collingwood

If

Bucks at some stage this week went all woe-is-me and started shouting and pointing fingers at the footy gods ... 

then

we wouldn't have blamed him. Just when things finally seemed to be going his way, De Goey went down, following Treloar and Dunn.

Essendon

If

the No.6 pick from the 2015 draft, Aaron Francis, can use the remaining rounds to display the footy smarts everyone knows he has ...

then

it will be one of the good stories of 2018.

Fremantle

If

Bailey Banfield started the season as a rookie-listed player but has played all 17 matches and been impressive in many ...

then

we're really looking forward to seeing him go head-to-head with Mitchell.

Geelong Cats

If

Tom Hawkins has been a very, very good player for a long time ...

then

when you assess his standing in the game, make sure you factor in his character. Never deviates with how he presents himself, no matter the circumstance. True class.

Gold Coast Suns

If

the endeavour displayed in the win last week against the Swans becomes the norm ...

then

the big-picture battle will be half-won. But we have our doubts.

GWS Giants

If

you're free late on Saturday afternoon ...

then

plonk yourself in front of a screen and focus on one guy: Josh Kelly. Football genius. No coincidence that this club turned its season around the moment he returned from injury.

Hawthorn

If

the bookies have the Hawks a pronounced favourite against the Dockers ...

then

we agree with the favourite bit, but not the pronounced bit. Another danger game.

Melbourne

If

Bernie dared to smile post-match last week when he came across Dangerfield ...

then

one can only wonder what he might do when he sees Texan (his best mate and best man at his off-season wedding) this week. Hopefully everyone can relax this time round.

North Melbourne

If

the Roos are to make the finals ...

then

they can't lose this one to the Eagles in Tassie.

Port Adelaide

If

Ryder and Jonas are among the ins ...

then

the Power will be returning to the winners' list.

Richmond

If

there's one selection in round 19 we love ...

then

it's Liam Baker in for his debut. Won't know what hit him in front of 90,000.

St Kilda

If

Jack Steele has had a good season playing a run-with role ...

then

good luck this week against former teammate Kelly.

Sydney Swans

If

there's one thing we're not going to let go ...

then

it is this: until Buddy is allowed to be the player this club recruited, and not just one member of a 22-man outfit, the Swans are going nowhere.

West Coast Eagles

If

Dusty owns the AFL's best contract ...

then

Gov's new deal probably places him second. Well deserved, too. Regular match-winner.

Western Bulldogs

If

Bont is a big in ...

then

collectively the outs in Boyd, Gowers and Dahlhaus are just as significant.

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If

this time last week we were glowing in how the changes-to-the-game issue had been dealt with ...

then

we're not now. Messy and mixed public messaging a bad look, and it left headquarters exposed to the justifiably negative headlines.

Twitter: @barrettdamian