IF Clarko applied the formula he used on Mitchell, Hodge and co. ... THEN

WITH the AFL season nearing its climax, Sliding Doors is in top form.

>> 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 ...

Sholl shoulda been a shoo-in for the round 17 NAB Rising Star nomination after his 24-disposal, two-goal, 600m-plus gained performance against Carlton ...

THEN ...

I feel for him but at the same time get it that at this late stage of a season the judging panel opts for a body of work over a single performance. One way to do a Teddy Whitten and stick it up that panel would be for Sholl to back it up against the defending premier.

00:59

How's that for a first goal, Sholl?

Adelaide youngster Lachlan Sholl snares his first major in the AFL after a delightful step and snap

Brisbane Lions

IF ...

you go to the evidence ...

THEN ...

Chris Fagan is right. The Brisbane Lions are not the Harris Andrews Football Club. Under Fagan's watch, they've now won eight of nine matches missed by Andrews, the only loss a narrow one. And yet I still can't see them reaching even a third week of finals without him.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 25:15

    R17: Swans v Lions Q2

    Watch the full replay of the second quarter

    AFL
  • 06:36

    Longmire: 'We gave ourselves a real chance'

    John Longmire regrets his side's poor finish to the game after giving themselves a fair opportunity to snatch an upset victory

    AFL
  • 05:35

    Fagan: We're not reliant on Lachie Neale

    Chris Fagan dismissed the notion his side needs star midfielder Lachie Neale to dominate each week, stating there's plenty of others who can shine through when he has a quiet game

    AFL
  • 05:44

    Highlights: Sydney v Brisbane

    The Swans and Lions go head to head in round 17

    AFL
  • 00:41

    Hipwood has everyone stunned after this eye-catcher

    Eric Hipwood produces a sensational goal on his non-preferred foot to put the result well beyond doubt

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Tempers flare between fiery Zorko and young Swan

    Dayne Zorko takes out his frustration on Swans youngster James Bell and receives something in return

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Lions go wild after Coleman's dazzling first goal

    Keidean Coleman sends teammates and fans into a frenzy after a stunning first ever AFL goal

    AFL
  • 00:32

    Aliir shows some serious gears, Swans are here

    Aliir Aliir inches Sydney one step closer after his blistering run on the wing helps set up a crucial goal

    AFL
  • 00:43

    Zac zips through for ripping solo move

    Zac Bailey initiates the play in the forward line and works hard to fetch the ball back for a classy major

    AFL
  • 00:23

    Charlie cashes in from crashing McStay

    Charlie Cameron is on hand to snap through a crumbing goal after Dan McStay's awesome marking attempt

    AFL
  • 00:37

    Hipwood's hands help him on his way

    Eric Hipwood pushes aside a Swan in contentious fashion, but is allowed to continue on and bag his side's opening goal

    AFL

Carlton

IF ...

I've been surprised by some decisions of Carlton footballers in 2020 ... 

THEN ...

I was very surprised during the week when the playing group overlooked the competition's 2019 MVP for a spot among their three representatives for the 2020 award. He hasn't been at his best this year, Patty Cripps. But Jack Martin, Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh ahead of him? Wasn't aware Cripps had slipped that far.

01:37

Cripps' crazy GOTY contender, simply stunning

Patrick Cripps weaves some absolute genius and produces an effort which will surely go down as a contender for Goal of the Year

 Collingwood

IF ...

Quaynor qualified for the 2020 Rising Star intake after a round 17 nomination ...

THEN ...

well done. It was a very sound match and followed other encouraging performances this year. Yet lined up against Sholl's performance in the same round, it seemed inferior. Winner if the body of work view, not necessarily the one-off game.

01:00

NAB AFL Rising Star: Round 17 nominee

The NAB AFL Rising Star round 17 nominee is Collingwood's Isaac Quaynor. Check out his highlights

Essendon

IF ...

"Essendon people" have indeed contributed to the Bombers' misery of the past 16 years ...

THEN ...

those same "Essendon people" have had enough of a non-Essendon person lecturing them about a need for patience. And no point sugar coating John Worsfold's five seasons at the club. It just didn't work, this final year a total waste of a season, especially after a 4-1 start (and the loss being by one point) before moving to 5-2.

10:26

Worsfold: 'Success not a given' for big clubs

Essendon coach John Worsfold says 'no one team has any more right to be successful quicker than any other team' in the competition

Fremantle

IF ...

you're ever again tempted to adversely prosecute footballers in their first and second seasons ... 

THEN ...

Exhibit A in the defence case is Andrew Brayshaw and Exhibit B is Adam Cerra. The second and fifth picks in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft were always going to take a little time to have impact for a rebuilding club. That time is clearly up. Both becoming guns.

00:43

Cerra's banana from the pocket almost unbelievable

Fremantle's Adam Cerra casually snaps a GOTY contender

Geelong Cats

IF ...

you're in the camp that says the selection of an underdone Gary Ablett could upset the Cats' flow ...

THEN ...

you don't know Chris Scott. Or Gary Ablett. Nor have a sense of fairytale or nostalgia. This could be a story for the ages.

04:09

Senior v Junior: Which Gary Ablett would you choose?

Who is the best Ablett do have played the game? Mitch Cleary and Nat Edwards take a look at the career of Gaz senior and junior, thanks to Hostplus.

 Gold Coast Suns

IF ...

it was initially his great mate and teammate Matt Rowell who was always going to beat him to this year's Rising Star before injury ...

THEN ...

now it's the Dockers' Caleb Serong. It doesn't matter, though. Noah Anderson goes very, very nicely, and will for a very, very long time.

00:59

Young Sun proves he'll be a gun

Noah Anderson impresses everyone with a terrific solo goal

GWS Giants

IF ...

Aidan Corr was the first Giant to depart in 2020 ...

THEN ...

he won't be the last. And all focus now goes onto Jeremy Cameron. Cannot read this one.

Hawthorn

IF ...

Clarko applied the formula he used on Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis and Roughead ... 

THEN ...

there's no way Burgoyne goes around again in 2021. Maybe Clarko, even in this 2020 season where has seemingly had a weekly sook, is softening afterall.

01:41

Yokayi Footy: Why one more year for Silk makes perfect sense

A tribute to Hawthorn champion Shaun Burgoyne as he prepares for a jaw-dropping 20th season

Melbourne

IF ...

your memory goes back to round three .. 

THEN ...

you'll recall the Dees were going to play the Bombers, until Conor McKenna had a problem with a COVID-19 test. That match was ultimately rescheduled to Saturday. Demons were 1-1 back then, still in no man's land now, a game outside the eight.

01:27

Match Previews R18: Essendon v Melbourne

Sportsbet's Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson preview the game between the Bombers and Demons at Metricon Stadium

North Melbourne

IF ...

anyone at the Roos dares to think there were a lot of positives out of Thursday's loss to West Coast ... 

THEN ...

please tell them to stop. The game was the deadest of dead rubbers, the last of a North Melbourne season which would rank somewhere among its all-time worst.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 11:08

    Shaw: 'The way we finished off was fantastic'

    Rhyce Shaw was 'really pleased' with his side's effort tonight, stating it was a welcome change compared to the last few weeks and a positive way to end their season

    AFL
  • 07:50

    Simmo on JK: 'It's a new injury to his ankle'

    Adam Simpson explains Josh Kennedy 'rolled his ankle' but will wait for further scans before commenting on the extent of it

    AFL
  • 05:35

    Highlights: North Melbourne v West Coast

    The Kangaroos and Eagles clash in round 18

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Anderson's fair whack from 50 a sight for North fans

    Jed Anderson comes up with a stunning effort from the 50m arc on his left

    AFL
  • 00:46

    This is the last man you want to turn a ball over to

    Todd Goldstein makes a serious error in defence by handing the footy straight to Liam Ryan, who makes him pay full price

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Allen key to Eagles spree

    The Eagles were crying out for someone to take control of the game and Oscar Allen delivers with two consecutive goals

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Enormous Eagles blow as Kennedy forced off

    West Coast have suffered a massive injury concern with key forward Josh Kennedy leaving the field with an ankle complaint

    AFL
  • 00:34

    Ryan, never stop supplying

    Liam Ryan continues his hot run of form with two beautiful kicks, one to set up a teammate and the other to earn a classy goal

    AFL
  • 00:38

    That's one dazzling Darling dribbler

    Jack Darling produces a moment of magic with a mesmerising goal from a tight angle

    AFL
  • 00:20

    Jed proves he has a hard head following this falcon

    North Melbourne's Jed Anderson brushes off a crunching falcon from short distance

    AFL

Port Adelaide

IF ...

anyone has contact details of the Ollie Wines Appreciation Society ...

THEN ...

can you please send them this way? Want to get on the subscription list. Putting together a ripping back half of 2020, Wines.

00:30

Wines dines out with two quick goals

Port Adelaide break away from the Roos, thanks in large part to hard nut Ollie Wines

Richmond

IF ...

the full-forward and ruckman broke down in the second last home and away round of any season at any other club ... 

THEN ...

it'd be a crisis. Just a small speed bump for the big-game, premiership-proven Tigers after round 17 of 2020.

00:37

Soldo limps off with knee concern

Ivan Soldo has come straight from the ground after taking a hard knock to the knee in a marking contest

St Kilda

IF ...

you're playing Hannebery for the first time since round five, and after he's just been restricted to training for two weeks on a patch of grass no bigger than 50m by 35m while in a jam-packed Gold Coast quarantine hub ...

THEN ...

it's the season's biggest selection dice roll. But I'd be rolling those dice the same way, too.

Sydney Swans

IF ...

the biggest Trade Period circus last year was the Joe Daniher event ...

THEN ...

coming in at No.2 was the Top Papley show. The Swans are very happy that one's been cancelled this year, and Papley already committed for 2021.

00:29

Papley produces another moment of brilliance in standout season

Sydney gets its first goal of the day thanks to Tom Papley, who makes the most of this opportunity

West Coast Eagles

IF ...

the Eagles are to go deep in the finals ... 

THEN ...

Liam Ryan and Nic Naitanui need to have a huge four weeks. Have become – by some distance – the Eagles' two most important players.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 11:08

    Shaw: 'The way we finished off was fantastic'

    Rhyce Shaw was 'really pleased' with his side's effort tonight, stating it was a welcome change compared to the last few weeks and a positive way to end their season

    AFL
  • 07:50

    Simmo on JK: 'It's a new injury to his ankle'

    Adam Simpson explains Josh Kennedy 'rolled his ankle' but will wait for further scans before commenting on the extent of it

    AFL
  • 05:35

    Highlights: North Melbourne v West Coast

    The Kangaroos and Eagles clash in round 18

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Anderson's fair whack from 50 a sight for North fans

    Jed Anderson comes up with a stunning effort from the 50m arc on his left

    AFL
  • 00:46

    This is the last man you want to turn a ball over to

    Todd Goldstein makes a serious error in defence by handing the footy straight to Liam Ryan, who makes him pay full price

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Allen key to Eagles spree

    The Eagles were crying out for someone to take control of the game and Oscar Allen delivers with two consecutive goals

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Enormous Eagles blow as Kennedy forced off

    West Coast have suffered a massive injury concern with key forward Josh Kennedy leaving the field with an ankle complaint

    AFL
  • 00:34

    Ryan, never stop supplying

    Liam Ryan continues his hot run of form with two beautiful kicks, one to set up a teammate and the other to earn a classy goal

    AFL
  • 00:38

    That's one dazzling Darling dribbler

    Jack Darling produces a moment of magic with a mesmerising goal from a tight angle

    AFL
  • 00:20

    Jed proves he has a hard head following this falcon

    North Melbourne's Jed Anderson brushes off a crunching falcon from short distance

    AFL

Western Bulldogs

IF ...

you've been a crucial member of a premiership team and have won a best-and-fairest ... 

THEN ...

is it still possible to be underrated? In Tom Liberatore's case, it may well be. Has put together a sizeable season, and is as crucial as anyone to what may lie ahead.

00:46

Lethal Libba on the left while falling down

Tom Liberatore produces a first-class goal on the run while under pressure

AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL

IF ...

I sometimes use this space to have a crack at someone or something within the AFL system ...

THEN ...

not this time. Nothing but praise for how it somehow took everyone with it on its ridiculous 2020 journey and has managed to get everyone to the final round of a season which loomed as impossible when the state of Victoria broke under the COVID-19 pandemic. With extraordinarily minimal major setbacks.

IN AFL ON DEMAND NOW