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.

IF ...

they've lost 10 of 10 already and still have GWS, Richmond, Collingwood and Western Bulldogs to come ...

THEN ...

the last winless VFL/AFL season by Fitzroy in 1964 starts to come into unfortunate focus.

IF ...

it wasn't obvious before Tuesday night's very disappointing loss to Richmond ...

THEN ...

it is now. The Lions are under the psychological spell of the dominant team of the past three seasons. Round 23 and a qualifying final last year, and now round 10 of 2020. It's a worry.

IF ...

the people selecting the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian team haven't done so already ... 

THEN ...

they need to realise Jacob Weitering is putting together the type of season that is worthy of a jacket.

 

IF ...

dad Peter kicked one of the all-time great goals with a banana from the boundary line of the left pocket of VFL Park in a qualifying final in 1990 ...

THEN ...

son Josh kicked the 2020 season's best with a banana from the right pocket of the Gabba on Thursday night. The Pies' entire season was on the line at the moment the ball left his boot. It is alive – again – because of that Daicos kick.

IF ...

the Bombers want to get the doubters off their back ...

THEN ...

it's simple. Beat the Giants on Friday night. With that postponed match from round three still up their sleeve, it'd set them up nicely. But having struggled against the Crows and then being smashed by the Lions in the past two matches, I'm now in the doubt camp.

IF ...

it was a 'dead' kick last Sunday post-final siren for David Mundy, with the Dockers having already secured the win against the Pies ... 

THEN ...

of course he kicked the goal anyway. That’s what he does. Tigers supporters will remember him doing that when it mattered, in 2017. Even at 35, a gun, and hope he keeps going for another couple years.

IF ...

we haven't yet seen him in the navy blue and white hoops ...

THEN ...

Josh Jenkins might still emerge as a key to the Cats' premiership surge. Going very nicely, this club. Jenkins a potential X-factor in the run to, and through, finals.

 

IF ...

you get the chance to be near a TV whenever the Suns are playing this year ...

THEN ...

plonk yourself on a couch, relax, and watch the guy in No.22. We're witnessing the debut season of a young man with near-magical talent in Izak Rankine.

IF ...

this club wants to re-ignite its pursuit of a flag ...

THEN ...

it needs to belt Essendon on Friday night, take stock in a round 11 bye, beat Sydney in Perth in round 12, and get Toby properly fit.

IF ...

the Hawks can maintain the form they found from late in the first quarter against Carlton in round nine, when they retrieved a 31-point deficit to win easily ... 

THEN ...

they'll be thereabouts as a finals prospect. We'll know if they're the real-deal soon – Fremantle and West Coast, both in Perth, then the Power in Adelaide.

IF ...

there were some nervous moments in the first three quarters for the Dees against the Crows on Wednesday night ... 

THEN ...

when it was all played out, they did exactly what they needed to do. At 4-5, with the postponed round three match against Essendon up their sleeve, still have potential to make a run in 2020.

IF ...

Ben Cunnington doesn't play again this year ... 

THEN ...

deeper questions need to be asked why he was cleared to play when barely able to walk even before the start of round five - the last time he's been seen this year.

IF ...

you're familiar with the phrase "moment of truth" ...

THEN ...

for Port Adelaide, it arrives on Saturday night in the form of the again rampant, two-flags-from-the-past-three-seasons, Richmond. I'm backing the Power in. Reckon there's something special unfolding for Kenny this year.

IF ...

the club itself has awoken from its little slumber (five wins from the past six matches) ... 

THEN ...

the big man up forward, Tom Lynch, exploded back to life on Tuesday in the big victory against Brisbane. Dangerous signs for the rest of the comp.

IF ...

Dan Butler was on the open market right now ...

THEN ...

he'd be worth about 40 picks higher than the pick No.56 the Saints gave the Tigers last year. Forget Jack Martin and Tim Kelly. This guy, to this point of 2020 anyway, is the recruit of the year.

IF ...

the Swans have now lost six of the past seven and will seemingly finish round 10 in second last place on the ladder ...

THEN ...

I don't see any reason to risk Buddy Franklin in 2020, even if he's declared fit.

IF ...

big Josh Kennedy has bagged 11 in the past two matches and has a bye this round ... 

THEN ...

he's going to be primed for the seven-match run home. A big three matches present immediately – Carlton, Hawthorn, GWS.

IF ...

Naughton doesn't get back soon ... 

THEN ...

this season will slip away. Massive match on Saturday against Brisbane.

ISSUE OF THE WEEK

IF ...

anyone missed it during the week ...

THEN ...

I'll repeat what I've been saying seemingly forever. There is no pure independence in any major media organisation, anywhere in the world. Spare me the pathetic straw man argument trotted out by Tim Watson, the "without fear or favour" rubbish that never actually existed anyway offered by so many others, and realise your own organisations are even more conflicted than this one.