| If | Riley Knight, after playing his only two games of the season in rounds five and six, was an omission as "managed" in round seven ... |
| then | it must be "very good management" that he returns in round 16. |
| If | we've been a massive fan of Hipwood from the moment we first saw him in 2016 ... |
| then | nothing has changed. Would just love for last week's performance to become the norm, or at least something like the norm. He's certainly capable of that. |
| If | we keep hearing "selection integrity" is keeping McKay out ... |
| then | we just don't get it. Just select him, commit to him being in the seniors for the rest of the year. Has kicked 15 goals in eight games, and it is time for him to be unleashed. |
| If | Treloar's loss was crushing ... |
| then | Dunn's is equally so. Seriously unbelievable coaching and playing effort to be second on the ladder. Fear that injuries will become crushing. |
| If | we've really liked the post round eight transformation ... |
| then | we'll love it if there's a win against the Pies on Sunday. Reckon there might be. |
| If | there appears to be a Mission Impossible this weekend ... |
| then | it is Sean Darcy v Max Gawn. But as much as we love Max, we're gonna back Sean to hold his own. |
| If | the offer to keep Kelly a Cat beyond 2019 was just about finalised ... |
| then | it's going to need to be revisited. A genuine gun in his first year. And the Perth clubs have offered perr-lenty. |
| If | you ever get the chance to have any form of chat with Tony Cochrane ... |
| then | take it. Your head will spin during and after. Don't agree with everything that comes out of his mouth, but always come away better for the experience. You can get angry, and then laugh in the next moment. Genius. |
| If | you've twice blown a knee ... |
| then | we feel sick for you that you seem to be facing a third reco, Jono Patton. Shattering. No one should have that happen, let alone a guy who was wired to be a star. |
| If | you lined up Cyril's best 50 moments on an AFL ground ... |
| then | it's going to stack up very nicely against anyone's best 50 in the history of the game. And here's a twist – we reckon there's a chance he will play AFL again. Happy to put $10 on that. And if you, too, choose to do so, please bet responsibly. |
| If | others are dropping off ... |
| then | we're maintaining the faith. For at least one more week anyway. |
| If | you remember the last time the Roos played the Suns ... |
| then | you'll recall the R1 game should have arguably been called off in a Cairns downpour. This one will be under a roof. Love the vagaries of an AFL season. |
| If | we were running Port ... |
| then | we wouldn't be risking Jonas against the Saints. Can't seem to shake injury lately. No Jonas means no flag for Port. |
| If | there's one moment we would've loved to have had a microphone under last week ... |
| then | it was half-time at Etihad Stadium last Thursday when Jack Higgins told his joke to the group. Someone (who in our eyes tracks at an 89 per cent strike rate) told us it was the one about the bus. |
| If | Richo woke up with a spring in the step on Thursday morning after two straight wins ... |
| then | he was hunched-over, shuffling, and probably kicking a Coke can in the Moorabbin car park that night after a misplaced needle into Carlile's rib happened to puncture a lung and Bruce broke a leg on the track. |
| If | there were major internal worries about Hannebery before Thursday night ... |
| then | those worries are now at near-crisis point. |
| If | we went with it last week ... |
| then | we'll stick with it this week: until one of Darling or Kennedy returns, the Eagles aren't winning. |
| If | we were asking questions after round 13 ... |
| then | we're not now. Two very good weeks against North and Geelong. Really glad for Wallis, too. From what everyone tells us, and on our own albeit limited experiences, one of the great footy guys, no matter whether he stays or goes. |
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| If | anyone thinks Steve Hocking will change his mind on the back of public pressure ... |
| then | be very aware: he won't. The man has ice in his veins when it comes to dealing with that stuff. |
