IN THIS week's Sliding Doors, made possible by ventraip australia, our chief football correspondent Damian Barrett puts Peter Bell, the Pies, Orazio Fantasia, Sydney, compensation picks, North Melbourne, and more in the Doors' spotlight.
What's Barrett saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.
| If |
there's going to be 10-plus departures from this year's list ... |
| then |
that leaves a lot of room for at least one big arrival. Problem is no one wants to be a Crow right now. |
| If |
Lions fans instantly fell in love with Hodgey ... |
| then |
| If |
Eddie was 13th on the Blues all-time goalkicking list with 290 when he departed at the end of 2013 ... |
| then |
he returns six seasons later in the same spot, 17 short of 'Big Nick' in 12th place, and with 600 in total to his name. |
| If |
it's not Mason Cox ... |
| then |
there's a fair chance it will be another player on OK money who is forced to make way before Wednesday's trade deadline in order to clear cap space for the massive demands of the end-of-2020 out-of-contract De Goey, Grundy, Moore and Pendlebury. |
| If |
Orazio wants to change professions ... |
| then |
a three-ring circus would be an option. Hope his actual footy ability in the 2020 season can create at least five per cent of the headlines of the past month. |
| If |
the feather never made its way to Peter Bell's hat after Lachie Neale exited this time last year ... |
| then |
we'll give him two feathers this year if his all-in tactics on Bradley Hill work. But, he'll be hat-less if he stuffs this up. |
| If |
there wasn't a really high-end draft pick among the offerings from the Eagles for Kelly ... |
| then |
it didn't matter. Stephen Wells can work magic with what he received. |
| If |
you've already got picks 1, 2, 15 and 20 and you possibly add 21 for sending Callum Ah Chee to the Lions ... |
| then |
the remaining days of the Telstra AFL Trade Period are going to be very interesting. Picks one and two will be used in the draft on Rowell and Anderson, the others to target opposition players. |
| If |
anyone needed more convincing that the compensation for a loss of a free agent simply has to go ... |
| then |
the fact the Giants will trade for Sam Jacobs rather than take him as a free agent is the proof. Trading out a free agent in the same player exchange period as trading one in was meant to void compensation, but the Giants will keep the compo for losing Tomlinson. |
| If | |
| then |
it's difficult seeing Puopolo and Schoenmakers getting one. |
| If |
Ed Langdon and Tomlinson are the ins ... |
| then |
that at least balances the loss of Frost. |
| If |
the Roos can't bring in someone of note in the remaining days of the player exchange ... |
| then |
it's difficult envisaging a 2020 finals berth. |
| If |
Fantasia thinks the Power is an option for him in the future ... |
| then |
he'd best stop thinking that. Won’t be twice getting burnt by the same flame. |
| If |
Trade Period inactivity is normally dangerous for a team in the premiership mix ... |
| then |
for the Tigers it simply doesn't matter. Have already got the "recruit" of next year in Rance. |
| If |
the Saints stormed out inside three minutes of meeting Dockers officials over Bradley Hill ... |
| then |
I'm surprised they didn't exit after 30 seconds, given the ridiculousness of Freo's demands. |
| If |
you don't engage properly with Carlton and its pick nine over Papley ... |
| then |
big Joe will stay in limbo. |
| If |
a second-week finals exit is still difficult to stomach ... |
| then |
Tim Kelly being confirmed for 2020 and beyond works as a natural antacid. |
| If |
there ends up being no room on the list for Tory Dickson ... |
| then |
surely he gets another chance elsewhere. |
| If |
we thought there were a few problems with umpiring and video reviews in the AFL this season ... |
| then |
in comparison with the NRL, operations were near-faultless. |
