IF | THEN | |
Adelaide | big Reilly O’Brien can find his way into this Crows team for his first AFL match at such a late stage of the season ... | ... he's entitled to dream big. Remember Aaron Keating? |
Brisbane Lions | there is one thing the Lions need to do quick smart ... | ... it is lock away Eric Hipwood for even longer than his current end-of-2019 deal. Looks very, very good. |
Carlton | you're Andrew Walker ... | ... you can be very proud of what you’ve achieved. And he was right - his grab was better than Krakouer's in 2011. As well as being better than nearly every other mark ever taken. |
Collingwood | Cotchin truly has the courage of his convictions ... | ... he'll be getting into Treloar again. But we're not sure he does right now. Loved the banter from last time these two teams met. |
Essendon | James Kelly called it quits on Sunday, after playing against the team at which he will become a Hall Of Famer ... | ... we reckon that'd be a pretty good way to go out. |
Fremantle | you have 14 of the 22 (with three more stuck in the WAFL) available to play against an opponent you beat in a qualifying final 10 months earlier, and with Pav's big milestone also at stake ... | ... something is drastically wrong when it results in a 99-point turnaround. Ross The Boss, we've held on for a long time. But no longer. We've been burnt now. |
Geelong | you go surfing in a suit for your latest foray into the media ... | ... there's been no one better in the media space. Doing it for his own amusement now, Danger. |
Gold Coast | Tom Lynch wins the Coleman ... | ... we'll be really happy for him. Memo Rocket: do everything in your coaching power to facilitate that, please. |
Greater Western Sydney | you are going round telling people you predicted Zac Williams and Nathan Wilson to have big and season-shaping years for GWS ... | ... you're a genius. Or a liar. |
Hawthorn | clubs want to learn how to attract opposition players to their organisations ... | ... they must follow the Hawks' lead and adopt the attitude of being all-in. Too many clubs dip toes in the water only. The aggression will see Hawks land one of Mitchell, Prestia, Crouch, O'Meara. |
Melbourne | Goodwin knocked on CEO Peter Jackson's door this week to ask permission to take over as the main man as of this weekend ... | ... we wouldn't blame him. Nor would we blame Jackson if he had bluntly told him to go back and do your 2016 role. |
North Melbourne | Waite plays again ... | ... we'll be surprised. Daw gets his chance, and he finally deserves the luxury of being told that regardless of impact, he's got three weeks in the seniors. |
Port Adelaide | it makes Lewis Jetta feel any better ... | ... fair to say The Toump hasn't fared any better at his new club. |
Richmond | you're going to hold meetings in a Malvern pub ... | ... that's fine. But it gets very challenging from here. And let's see who does put up his or her hand to actually challenge. |
St Kilda | Hurley was to join Carlisle at the Saints ... | ... you're talking finals in 2017. |
Sydney Swans | Mitchell becomes aware of Hawthorn's very real interest in Prestia ... | ... he'd be entitled to seek clarity in the Hawks' full plans for himself. |
West Coast | you keep dishing up the sort of dismal stuff of last weekend ... | ... the 2016 season is going to end very quickly and very badly. |
Western Bulldogs | there was one piece of news we really enjoyed hearing this week ... | ... it was Dale Morris' re-signing. One of the very good players. One of the very good guys. |
And wait, there's more, as per constant reader request ... | ||
AFL | the AFL ever needed compelling evidence to reduce the home and away season from 22 to 17 rounds ... | ... it has come this year. Everyone is just going through the motions now, and of the remaining 36 games, only a handful that will actually mean anything. Oh yeah, and then we shut the comp down for a week before finals. Wake us up, please, on September 2. |
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Follow Damian Barrett on Twitter: @barrettdamian