IF
 		THEN
 
Adelaide
 		the Crows want to make a real statement …… this weekend’s match against the reigning premier provides a perfect opportunity. Tipping they will go for broke here, as they did in last year’s prelim final.
Brisbane Lions
 		only 26,000 fans bothered attending a Friday night match against Collingwood …… the Lions’ appeal in Brisbane has slumped to worrying levels. No sign of any real spark, either.
Carlton
 		after the Blues went 0-3 to open the 2013 season, someone said this club would be 7-4 if it beat Essendon in Round 11 …… that person would have been told to go away. Massive stakes for the Blues on Friday night.
Collingwood
 		Heath Shaw is missing a match because of a bad skinfold result, and Dane Swan is being kept out of the midfield because of a perceived problem when he plays on the ball ...
… people will start asking loudly: why is Nathan Buckley being so hardline.
Essendon
 		Jobe Watson isn’t the best bloke in the comp …… he at least makes the Grand Final. Got a lot of problems at his own club, still finds time to chat with struggling opponent Jack Watts.
Fremantle
 		St Kilda officials had their time over again …… they would have not got complacent in 2011 when it came time to locking away Ross Lyon as coach. Could be the greatest ever coup in footy poaching.
Geelong
 		it’s good enough for the Cats to actually publicly admit they will “rest” players from matches (Blicavs and Taylor are out for that reason this week against the Suns) …… hopefully every other club can be as honest in the future.
Gold Coast
 		Greg Broughton can’t get a game and is stuck in the NEAFL for a large chunk of the season …… what a waste it was recruiting him.
Greater Western Sydney

the Giants don’t devise a way to support Jeremy Cameron in the forward line ...
... he’s entitled to ask, loudly, what his coaches are doing.
Hawthorn
 		Brian Lake had exited the Dogs 12 months earlier than he actually did …… would the Hawks have won the 2012 Grand Final? Yep.
Melbourne
 		anyone knows if president Don McLardy is still alive …… can they please tell us. Clearly and very questionably in these trying circumstances, Don is adopting a bunker-down policy. Are you there, Don?
North MelbourneAaron Black continues to develop the way North insiders believe he will …… a true superstar will be evident in the next 12 months. Could be absolutely anything.
Port Adelaide
 		this club doesn’t use the break to re-group and emerge with a 15-goal win against GWS in round 13 …… by round 16 they will just about be shot. Very tough draw ahead.
Richmond
 		it was fair game to attack Richmond’s recruiters during the past 10 years …
… it is only fair that we all acknowledge they’ve got a lot of decisions very, very right in recent years.
St Kilda
 		some form of positive message about the future isn’t delivered publicly by the Saints very soon ...… this club will be a very hard “sell” in seasons to come.
Sydney Swans
 		Tom Mitchell only reaches 50 per cent of the most lofty expectation assessments of him …… he is still going to be a very, very good player. If he reaches 75 per cent, he’ll be a superstar.
West Coast
 		the whispers are right …… John Worsfold, by his own determination, will not be involved at any football club in 2014.
Western Bulldogsthe Bulldogs really want to get inside Stewart Crameri’s head …… they should go even harder than their $1.8 million, four-year offer to him. He’s a gun.