WITH the AFL season in full swing, Sliding Doors is hitting its straps.
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So what's Damo saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.
IF ...
the Crows, as expected, finish last and then get pick two as free agency compensation for Brad Crouch ...
THEN ...
that would expose, yet again, the total farce that is the AFL free agency compensation system. Compo has to go, immediately.
IF ...
most things had gone perfectly to this point of the disrupted 2020 season ...
THEN ...
big Stef's unavailability for eight weeks with a back stress fracture will prove a massive test. Over to you, Archie Smith.
IF ...
they all click in the same game ...
THEN ...
the Blues' forward line will be unstoppable on that day. Eddie, Jack, Harry, Mitch, Levi, Michael. Can't see Carlton losing to the Roos.
IF ...
the most important defender is out for the year and arguably the most important forward out for at least the home and away season ...
THEN ...
at some stage that will play havoc with 2020 premiership hopes. No matter what he says publicly, it would be totally understandable if Bucks stayed curled up in his hub bed for a full day sometime in the next fortnight.
IF ...
the Bombers are to make serious impact in 2020 ...
THEN ...
I reckon big Bellcho needs to be part of it. Good to see him back this week. And if his opponent this week, Reilly O'Brien, two weeks ago mused that Nic Nat was "lazy and unfit", I wonder what his notes say about the big Bomber.
IF ...
you removed the final scores from the seven matches played by the Dockers this year ...
THEN ...
even at 2-5, they’re going more than OK. But a scalp would make people take notice. And a scalp presents on Monday night, in the form of Geelong.
IF ...
you were quick to write off the Cats as a 2020 premiership hope after last round's loss to Collingwood ...
THEN ...
I'd suggest a rethink. In it up to their eyeballs.
IF ...
the Thursday night full-time scoreboard said it was a loss ...
THEN ...
the big picture season-2020 scoreboard said it was a win. Suns lost nothing against the Dogs, in the belated first "primetime" slot of their AFL life. They stood up, but they now need to do it all again against GWS next week to frank it.
IF ...
it worked for Lethal and his Lions in 2001 ...
THEN ...
Leon Cameron should give the, "If it bleeds, we can kill it", Predator-inspired line a go this weekend. Giants' season going nowhere. Need some outside-the-norm inspiration. And desperately need to beat the Tigers.
IF ...
Clarko at some stage of 2020 doesn't punch another hole in a wall in a coaches' box ...
THEN ...
I'll be very surprised. Giving every impression he's about to explode. And maybe the Hawks need him to.
IF ...
the Dees are able to ensure matches are played in the style of their round seven demolition of Hawthorn ...
THEN ...
they will definitely be finals bound. But that's the challenge. The Gawn-Petracca combo looming as formidable.
IF ...
the Roos pride themselves, sometimes ridiculously, on their Shinboner spirit ...
THEN ...
it's time to actually act that out. Yes, there are injuries, yes, there's also a quality dearth. But there's four good players back in for Saturday's game against Carlton and the 22 need to this week have an unconditional crack.
IF ...
it was Kenny in the middle of the club song after round six and Robbie coolly slotting a long bomb from the boundary after the final siren last weekend and big Charlie strutting round with his chest out and the kids getting inside the heads of seasoned opponents ...
THEN ...
there are soooo many reasons to make sure you're in front of a TV for every game this team plays. It's a bit old-school, I love it, and I hope that outlook takes them a very long way.
IF ...
there's a lot of player unavailability at the moment for the Tigers ...
THEN ...
I can't understand how an available Sydney Stack can't break into the 22.
IF ...
there's an upset brewing in round eight ...
THEN ...
it could be the Saints against Port. Butler is on fire, gets some good match-ups here. Capable of kicking five.
IF ...
you go back to the 2012 Grand Final, which the Swans won ...
THEN ...
a 20-year-old key position player looked to have the footy world at his feet. And yet those feet belonging to Sam Reid have been forced to prop up wonky legs for a lot of the time since. Back for Saturday's game against the Hawks, still a very crucial player when fit.
IF ...
the season-saving three-win streak has come against teams currently placed 16th (Sydney), 18th (Adelaide) and 15th (Fremantle) ...
THEN ...
we don't yet know if the Eagles are flag worthy. But we will Sunday evening, after the match against Collingwood.
IF ...
every single 2020 season A-grader was lined up on the old schoolyard wall and I had one pick ...
THEN ...
I’m taking Bont. Just impacts every game he plays, and actually saved Thursday’s against the Suns with a telling reading of the play in the final minute. Still reckon he should have the 2016 Norm Smith Medal on his CV. Go back and watch it. Fourteen kicks, 100 per cent efficiency, a couple which were mind-boggling. Eleven contested possessions, seven tackles and just to prove versatility as a then-20-year-old, nine hitouts as the then-allowed third man-up. Already an all-time great, and still getting better.
AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL
IF ...
some of the on-field adjudications of holding-the-ball had been mind-boggling in the past three rounds ...
THEN ...
this week's admission from the AFL's football department that some free kicks had been both "missed" and unwarranted" was a big step in the right direction. Well done for the admission. And Thursday’s Suns-Dogs game was much better.