Adelaide Crows

If

Doedee played for a Victorian club ...

then

he'd be equal, if not outright, favourite for the NAB AFL Rising Star with Stephenson. Has superbly filled the Lever role.

Brisbane Lions

If

we've been harsh on the Lions to this point ...

then

we don't resile from that. But we are coming around. Quickly. Might even ask Swanny's permission for a seat on the bandwagon if they beat the Crows.

Carlton

If

you're a club under siege ...

then

refer to Steve Silvagni's vulnerable and raw media performance this week as a potential way to galvanise your own.

Collingwood

If

Cox played last week ... 

then

the Pies wouldn't have lost as heavily to the Eagles. He's back this week, and will shape the chances against the Roos.

Essendon

If

this club had its time over again ...

then

it would have changed its ways long before the days after round eight. As we've said here before, love the fact it had the courage to dramatically change within-season, but feel that no matter what happens from here, it's ultimately a wasted year.

Fremantle

If

there was a player in 2015 we thought had sky-is-the-limit potential ...

then

it was Cam McCarthy. Troubled times off and on the field since. Really hope he can still make it.

Geelong Cats

If

it's a boy ...

then

he has to be named Gary, doesn't he?

Gold Coast Suns

If

we were running the Suns ...

then

we'd be calling a press conference for Monday, and be telling Tom Lynch he'll be in attendance and that he'll be announcing whether staying or heading to Victoria. Given he's not playing again this year, it's time.

GWS Giants

If

we had some reservations early ...

then

we have none now. Love everything about Toby Greene. The swagger, the super-elite talent, the I-don't-care-what-you-think approach, the deliberate way he goes about annoying every player on the other team, the desire to be the man with the ball when the game needs to be won.

Hawthorn

If

last week’s loss to the Lions was a setback ...

then

it wasn't as big a problem as the injury to Sicily. Nothing major will happen in '18 unless he gets back.

Melbourne

If

we liked your chances against the Cats ...

then

we don't like them anywhere near as much now that Hibberd is out.

North Melbourne

If

De Goey has proven too great a challenge for a lot of opponents at key moments this year ...

then

we reckon Macmillan looms as a perfect match-up here.

Port Adelaide

If

you're kept scoreless in a quarter against the Dockers ...

then

maybe you're pretenders.

Richmond

If

we knew he could seriously play after what we saw in 2017, particularly with four goals in a prelim final ...

then

somehow in just four games in 2018 we have come to realise Daniel Rioli is even better than we had thought.

St Kilda

If

you go back one season and two weeks ...

then

you'll get to round 16, 2017, when the Saints, at one stage of a game against that season's premier team, Richmond, were 95 points in front. Given what has transpired for both clubs since, if that hadn't actually happened, it would be impossible to believe.

Sydney Swans

If

there are five teams with greater percentage in what is developing as a logjam for places in the final eight ...

then

this SCG match against the Suns presents as manna from heaven.

West Coast Eagles

If

the cameraman physically retaliated with the overly zealous Eagles official ...

then

you really couldn't have blamed him under those circumstances. And that would've made it an even more unpleasant incident than it was. Well done, cameraman. Inexcusable, official.

Western Bulldogs

If

you try really hard, Bevo ...

then

you could probably read something into this too.

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If

anyone thinks Steve Hocking will be spooked by some public pushback to his plans ...

then

you don't know Steve Hocking. The right man for the frighteningly large task of fixing a very broken game.

Twitter: @barrettdamian