IF you're six wins and 21 losses since a prelim final finish ... THEN

WITH the AFL season in full swing, Sliding Doors is hitting its straps. 

>> See more Sliding Doors here

So what's Damo saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.

Adelaide Crows

IF ...

Reilly O'Brien's ultra-awkward Twitter post was cleverly and classily rectified with a video explanation ...

THEN ...

there's still the small problem of a resurgent, and lippy, Eagles midfield waiting for him on Saturday. Really hoping for his sake that his "absolute mare" on social media isn't followed by an "absolute mare" against Nic Nat.

Brisbane Lions

IF ...

the straight sets Gabba finals exit from the 2019 finals series left some nasty questions in the Lions' minds ...

THEN ...

Thursday night's bad loss to Geelong has only added to the list of queries that now need to be addressed when this team plays a big game in a primetime slot.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 02:48

    Danger and Ablett transform when asked upon

    Geelong superstars Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett rise to another level when their team needed it most

    AFL
  • 00:36

    Angry Cat placed on report for late hit

    Gary Rohan concedes two free kicks in quick succession for late contact, with the second earning him a report

    AFL
  • 11:26

    Scott: 'The odds were against us'

    Chris Scott was pleasantly surprised and proud his side overcame early injuries to shock the Lions after half-time

    AFL
  • 05:26

    Fagan: 'I didn't see that coming'

    Chris Fagan admits he was surprised his side fell off so drastically, after appearing to have the ascendancy before half-time

    AFL
  • 06:00

    Highlights: Geelong v Brisbane

    The Cats and Lions clash in round six

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Robbo goes down while Cats go to town

    Geelong add to their impressive goal streak while the Lions suffer another blow with Mitch Robinson injuring his ankle

    AFL
  • 00:37

    Big worry as star Lion injures shoulder

    Important Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage limps off the ground after taking a hard hit to his shoulder

    AFL
  • 00:47

    Give it to Gaz and he'll do the rest

    The Cats take the lead after feeding the ball to Gary Ablett, who finishes superbly on the run

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Is there anything Neale can't do right now?

    Early Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale conjures a stunning dribbler from tight on the boundary

    AFL
  • 00:29

    Is Gary in trouble for another hard hit?

    Gary Rohan could face further MRO scrutiny for an incident following his earlier report

    AFL
  • 00:56

    Hungry Lions eat up nervy Cats through Charlie

    Geelong eventually succumb to some tenacious pressure from a few key Lions and are made to pay by Charlie Cameron

    AFL

Carlton

IF ...

the Blues want the footy world to take them seriously ... 

THEN ...

they will challenge Western Bulldogs in the Sunday twilight fixture. I have a lot of doubts, though.

 Collingwood

IF ...

Bucks has played and coached in dozens of history-shaping games for Collingwood ...

THEN ...

as weird as it may sound, Friday night's match against Hawthorn looms as one of his most crucial. They're in a mess, the Pies, on and off the field. Need a whole-of-club stabilising four premiership points.

Essendon

IF ...

it was only three weeks ago that some in the media ridiculously and pathetically launched into Conor McKenna for recording a positive COVID-19 test ...

THEN ...

rapt that he gets to play his first game of 2020, against North Melbourne on Saturday night. A crucial component of this emerging Bombers team.

01:01

Conor McKenna trains 24 hours before positive COVID-19 test

Essendon defender Conor McKenna hits the track with his teammates the day before returning a positive COVID-19 test

Fremantle

IF ...

Nat Fyfe has had some problems with soft tissue issues in the past ... 

THEN ...

no idea why he's playing this weekend, just one match after he felt hamstring soreness.

00:32

Fyfe out with hamstring injury

Nat Fyfe's hamstring injury to be the talk of the night

Geelong Cats

IF ...

there were doubts after the bad loss to GWS back in March ...

THEN ...

it's now fact the Cats were the big beneficiaries of the COVID-19 shutdown. Four wins from five since. The one loss by two points. Thursday night's performance against the Lions the most impressive of the year. Danger, Hawk, Gaz, Joel, Blitz were huge, Simpson and Parfitt equally impressive. Chris Scott in his element in this season of uncertainties.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 02:48

    Danger and Ablett transform when asked upon

    Geelong superstars Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett rise to another level when their team needed it most

    AFL
  • 00:36

    Angry Cat placed on report for late hit

    Gary Rohan concedes two free kicks in quick succession for late contact, with the second earning him a report

    AFL
  • 11:26

    Scott: 'The odds were against us'

    Chris Scott was pleasantly surprised and proud his side overcame early injuries to shock the Lions after half-time

    AFL
  • 05:26

    Fagan: 'I didn't see that coming'

    Chris Fagan admits he was surprised his side fell off so drastically, after appearing to have the ascendancy before half-time

    AFL
  • 06:00

    Highlights: Geelong v Brisbane

    The Cats and Lions clash in round six

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Robbo goes down while Cats go to town

    Geelong add to their impressive goal streak while the Lions suffer another blow with Mitch Robinson injuring his ankle

    AFL
  • 00:37

    Big worry as star Lion injures shoulder

    Important Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage limps off the ground after taking a hard hit to his shoulder

    AFL
  • 00:47

    Give it to Gaz and he'll do the rest

    The Cats take the lead after feeding the ball to Gary Ablett, who finishes superbly on the run

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Is there anything Neale can't do right now?

    Early Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale conjures a stunning dribbler from tight on the boundary

    AFL
  • 00:29

    Is Gary in trouble for another hard hit?

    Gary Rohan could face further MRO scrutiny for an incident following his earlier report

    AFL
  • 00:56

    Hungry Lions eat up nervy Cats through Charlie

    Geelong eventually succumb to some tenacious pressure from a few key Lions and are made to pay by Charlie Cameron

    AFL

 Gold Coast Suns

IF ...

the hype was massive on Izak Rankine when he was pick three overall in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft ...

THEN ...

it's still very big, 20 months later when he gets to play his first AFL match, against Melbourne on Saturday night. Rowell out, Rankine in. Really excited to finally see him in the big time.

00:20

Rankine's ridiculous debut goal

Talented youngster Izak Rankine scores a stunning dribble goal with his first kick

GWS Giants

IF ...

Nick Haynes hasn't yet been a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian ...

THEN ...

he will be in 2020.

Hawthorn

IF ...

it wasn't fact before last weekend's matches were umpired very differently to the previous four ... 

THEN ...

it now is. When Clarko sooks it up, everyone listens and acts.

01:32

'Absolutely ridiculous': The on-field impact of Clarko's comments

Matthew Lloyd and Damian Barrett take a close look at how 'holding the ball' was adjudicated following Alastair Clarkson's comments

Melbourne

IF ...

you're 6-21 since a prelim final finish to 2018 ... 

THEN ...

you're horrendously broken. And yet season 2020 is not yet a write-off. Really keen to see what Bennell can do this weekend.

North Melbourne

IF ...

the Roos medicos don't fix Cunnington ... 

THEN ...

this is going to be a very long year. Still can't believe those medicos cleared him to play last weekend.

Port Adelaide

IF ...

the wins have been against the Suns, Crows, Dockers and Eagles, and the one loss - a big one - against premiership contender Brisbane ...

THEN ...

as impressive as the 2020 start appeared to be, there's now a lot of question marks. We'll know everything about this team after Sunday's massive match against GWS.

Richmond

IF ...

you were unsure of the origins of that guttural noise you heard last Sunday ... 

THEN ...

it was this sleeping giant, just starting to stir after a little snooze. A massive amount of star talent will be absent for a while, but the renowned Tigers' system and attitude has returned.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 05:45

    Goodwin: 'It was a familiar tale'

    Simon Goodwin says his side's execution with the ball and inability to win contests forward 'killed' them

    AFL
  • 05:02

    Dimma on injuries: 'It's come at a hefty price'

    Damien Hardwick admits his side's win against Melbourne was marred by injuries to three key Tigers

    AFL
  • 06:24

    Highlights: Melbourne v Richmond

    The Demons and Tigers clash in round five

    AFL
  • 00:54

    Oliver embarrassed, Tigers are home

    Melbourne's Clayton Oliver produces a kick to forget and is made to pay by Tom Lynch

    AFL
  • 00:29

    Huge Tiger blow as star mid injures ankle

    Richmond face a massive concern with important midfielder Dion Prestia limping off the ground

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Costly smother and Kane adds another

    The Dees don't see Kane Lambert coming and are made to pay full price

    AFL
  • 00:50

    Broad an old hand at dislocations

    Tiger Nathan Broad finds some humour in a dislocated pinky

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Lambert sneaks out and makes them pay

    Tigers on a roll after Kane Lambert whizzes past the contest and snaps a nice goal

    AFL
  • 00:52

    Review denies debutant's special backheel

    Richmond first-gamer Jake Aarts nearly bags a goal to remember but is denied by the post

    AFL
  • 00:50

    Lynch drop salvaged by handy Higgins

    Jack Higgins finds himself around the spillage and slots through a timely goal

    AFL
  • 00:52

    Dees' dare rewarded through Jake

    Jake Melksham finds himself on the end of a brave Melbourne move

    AFL

St Kilda

IF ...

Hannebery is the "out" and Jones the "in" ...

THEN ...

it's not like for like, but the net result may well be even. On a nice roll, the Saints. I expect it to continue against the Dockers on Saturday.

Sydney Swans

IF ...

you take a close look at the as-named forward line of the Swans for Sunday's match against Richmond ...

THEN ...

you wonder where the goals will come from. Need a trick, but can't identify who is to provide it.

00:41

Priceless Papley mesmerising again

Tom Papley continues to impress, snaring his fourth goal of the game in dazzling style

West Coast Eagles

IF ...

the sleeping giant that is the Richmond Football Club reawakened last weekend ... 

THEN ...

so too did this one. Finally got out of its woe-is-us outlook, and returned to 2018-19 attitude and impact.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 09:14

    Simpson praises emerging tall forward duo

    Watch West Coast's press conference after round five's match against Sydney

    AFL
  • 04:37

    Longmire: 'We're playing a bit undersized'

    Watch Sydney's press conference after round five's match against West Coast

    AFL
  • 07:36

    Highlights: West Coast v Sydney

    The Eagles and Swans clash in round five

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Injury sours a good day for West Coast

    Ice on Jamaine Jones' left hamstring after a late goal attempt

    AFL
  • 01:06

    Tall Eagle crumbs and snaps like a small

    Oscar Allen shows he can get it done at ground level

    AFL
  • 00:21

    Brilliance from Barrass to take a screamer

    Eagles backman Tom Barrass submits his nomination for the rebel Mark of the Year

    AFL
  • 00:47

    Did Kennedy's beard cost West Coast a goal?

    The score review system might have gone Nic Nat's way if Josh Kennedy had a shave

    AFL
  • 00:33

    How did the dual Coleman medallist miss this?

    A great grab from Josh Kennedy but he fluffs a sitter

    AFL
  • 00:55

    Waterman loves his work after roosting it home on the siren

    A bad Ryan Clarke turnover and Jake Waterman makes the Swans pay

    AFL
  • 01:12

    Redden on report, Swans take advantage

    West Coast onballer Jack Redden could be in trouble for this incident

    AFL

Western Bulldogs

IF ...

Bevo has sometimes horrendously missed the mark with his media musings ... 

THEN ...

he absolutely nailed it on Thursday. Certain people – hello to some umpires - did indeed flinch last weekend after Clarko's big sook.

04:48

Bevo's AFL warning, move over Uncle Tony, Hawks' selection shock

Nat Edwards with a news update

AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL

IF ...

you take yourself back to the momentous March day when the AFL commission decided to reduce the 2020 season to 17 matches per club to be played whenever convenient and lessen the length of quarters to 16 minutes (plus time-on) ...

THEN ...

the foresight of the people who made those calls was extraordinary. The 2020 season will hang by a thread until the moment it is completed, but without the calls made in that meeting, it might have already been called off.

IN AFL ON DEMAND NOW