IF the Roos abruptly ended Boomer's extraordinary career in 2016 ... THEN. Picture: AFL Media

WITH the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership season up and running, naturally, Damian Barrett's Sliding Doors is also up and about.

So what's Damo saying about your club? Who is in the firing line? And what's he saying about the AFL? You can't say that, Damo, can you?

Oh, and be sure you tune in to AFL Daily as Nat and Damo put the spotlight on all the big issues. Check it out.

IF ...

the start to 2021 was very good ...

THEN ...

the past two matches – bad losses to the Giants and Power - have been worrying. With West Coast in Perth on Sunday, and Melbourne and Richmond to follow, this could still be a very looooong season for the Crows.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:51

    Is Lycett in trouble for this tackle on young Crow?

    Port Adelaide's Scott Lycett could come under scrutiny for this tackle on Ned McHenry

    AFL
  • 00:37

    Murphy out with ankle injury

    Lachie Murphy has been taken from the field after suffering this ankle injury

    AFL
  • 00:43

    Drew extends Power lead with snapping finish

    Willem Drew's snapping goal has extended Port's advantage midway through the second quarter

    AFL
  • 00:55

    Crows go coast-to-coast as Thilthorpe finishes

    Riley Thilthorpe has finished off a great end-to-end team play with a much-needed goal

    AFL
  • 00:47

    Farrell intercepts and goes bang from 50

    Kane Farrell has made the Crows pay with this intercept mark and long range goal just before the three-quarter time siren

    AFL
  • 06:25

    Highlights: Port Adelaide v Adelaide

    The Power and Crows clash in round eight

    AFL
  • 10:27

    Hinkley on guernsey switch: 'It's a show of respect for our heritage'

    Watch Port Adelaide's press conference after round eight's match against Adelaide

    AFL
  • 14:35

    Nicks: 'We definitely brought the fight'

    Watch Adelaide's press conference after round eight's match against Port Adelaide

    AFL

IF ..

Brandon Starcevich is not yet in the All-Australian team ...

THEN ...

he deserves to be. Not one opponent of his in 2021 has finished a match with more than one goal, and that list includes Gray, De Goey, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Walters, Betts and even Papley (though in round one he did manage nine score involvements).

Brandon Starcevich gets a handball away from Andrew Brayshaw in round eight, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

IF ...

your plan is to shoot down a media story, specifically that Cripps had suffered a fracture in his back and had required injections to play ...

THEN ...

there are many better ways to do it than the dismissive and indignant manner David Teague embraced on Thursday.

07:18

Kennett angry, Cripps latest, Magpie mission

Nat Edwards with all the latest news

IF ...

Bucks wants to throw an unexpected curveball into the conversation about his future ...

THEN ...

leading the Pies to upset victories in the next three matches – Swans on Saturday at the SCG, Power and Cats at the MCG in rounds 10 and 11 – would have that effect.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley addresses his players against North Melbourne in round eight, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

IF ...

there was one player the Bombers could least afford to lose with injury out of round eight ...

THEN ...

it was Jake Stringer. Was putting together his best season since 2015, now out for a month with a hamstring.

00:43

Star Bomber bombs one from 50m

Jake Stringer sends one long and delivers a beauty

IF ...

reality hit in the form of bad losses against West Coast and Brisbane, following good wins against the lowly trio of Hawthorn, Adelaide and North ...

THEN ...

the Dockers need to beat Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday if they want to be taken seriously. After that, a very tough stretch awaits – Swans, Power, Dogs.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:39

    Lions punish the Dockers through great linking play

    Fremantle turns the ball over in defensive 50, as Hugh McCluggage finishes a nice piece of Brisbane play

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Jumping Lion reaches over Lobb to haul in this incredible effort

    Callum Ah Chee pulls down a great grab from behind the Dockers tall

    AFL
  • 00:45

    Lions pair light up the Gabba with brilliant team play

    Lincoln McCarthy provides a perfectly weighted handball to set up Rhys Mathieson for a goal

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Daniher takes a MOTY contender with this fantastic speccy

    Joe Daniher pulls down this huge grab early in the last, but will he get the MOTY nomination?

    AFL
  • 00:25

    Not even umpires are safe from Daniher's leaps

    Joe Daniher attempts to stop a goal going through, in the meantime climbing all over the goal umpire

    AFL
  • 07:36

    Highlights: Brisbane v Fremantle

    The Lions and Dockers clash in round eight

    AFL
  • 06:18

    Fagan: 'I'd like to think we could defend better than that'

    Watch Brisbane's press conference after round eight's match against Fremantle

    AFL
  • 04:53

    Longmuir: 'It didn't always look perfect, but I'd rather us play that way'

    Watch Fremantle's press conference after round eight's match against Brisbane

    AFL

IF ...

the Cats were, indeed, the Victorian club which asked a genuine question about Aaron Sandilands' availability for the mid-season draft ...

THEN ...

it would make sense. Now that they've answered their forward line questions with Cameron, the ruck remains the biggest worry.

IF ...

there have been many false promises and dawns in the Suns' 11 years in the AFL ...

THEN ...

Saturday afternoon's match against Brisbane in a QClash at Metricon Stadium presents itself as the perfect occasion to stand for something meaningful.

02:57

'They've got a lot to lose': Suns and Lions set for QClash

Gold Coast and Brisbane players discuss what's at stake in the upcoming QClash

IF ...

the last time this season Toby and his Giants ventured to Melbourne resulted in a belated kick-start victory to the 2021 season, with a round four win against Collingwood ...

THEN ...

they will be expecting the same outcome on Saturday night, against the Tigers. Both teams are 4-4, separated by 4.5 per cent.

01:53

Greene steals the spotlight with a handful

Watch as Toby Greene tears up the 'G as acting captain for the Giants

IF ...

you're familiar with how Jeff Kennett operates ...

THEN ...

it would have been no surprise when he last year got personal against Jordan Lewis for daring to express the truth about the sorry plight of the Hawks' list. And even less surprise to see him now attempting to spin his way into the future, and in so doing actually agreeing with Lewis.

Jordan Lewis (left) and Jeff Kennett back in 2016. Picture: AFL Photos

IF ...

all the pre-season plans had big Ben Brown and Sam Weideman in the key forward posts ...

THEN ...

it's yet another massive positive for the Demons that they boast an 8-0 scoreline before getting the chance to unleash this combo. Weideman in for the injured Jackson for Sunday's game against Carlton.

02:38

VFL Showreel, R3: Four-goal Weideman knocking on door

Melbourne young gun Sam Weideman continues to mount his AFL selection case with another dominant VFL hitout

IF ...

the Roos abruptly ended Boomer's extraordinary career in 2016 ...

THEN ...

they should consider selecting him in the looming mid-season draft. He'd not only still get a game in this side, but be one of the better players.

05:43

Fantastic Five: Brent Harvey's best moments

Diminutive in size but huge in impact, 'Boomer' holds the record for most VFL/AFL games with 432 across two decades at North Melbourne. His ever-present speed to burn made him a handful for the opposition

IF ...

you're already battling a sprained MCL in one knee and a torn medial meniscus in the other ...

THEN ...

Tom Rockliff could have done without deep vein thrombosis in a calf and even more worryingly subsequent blood clots on the lungs. Hope there is enough time for him to recover for finals.

00:36

Silky Rockliff squeezes it through space

A quick pick-up and goal from Tom Rockliff sees Port Adelaide score its first and only goal for the third term

IF ...

it wasn’t Richmond sitting in eighth place on entry to round nine ...

THEN ...

I'd be totally writing off that eighth placed team's premiership chances. It has looked ordinary in losing four of its past six matches. But I made the embarrassing mistake of writing off the Tigers after round one 2019, the day after Rance went down. So I'm not writing them off again until mathematics proves they can be written off.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:50

    This Higgins kick is just pure gold

    Cats recruit Shaun Higgins shows his absolute class with a beautiful delivery to Gary Rohan, who finishes off his work

    AFL
  • 00:56

    Rioli lights up the 'G with some serious wheels

    Daniel Rioli gets the MCG rocking after a brilliant burst on the wing leads to another Jake Aarts goal

    AFL
  • 00:25

    Is Selwood in trouble for this clash?

    Joel Selwood collects Richmond's Rhyan Mansell high after a ferocious attack on the footy

    AFL
  • 00:27

    Smith snappy at the scene, Cats on fire

    Isaac Smith continues a barrage of goals for the Cats with a silky snap on his trusty left

    AFL
  • 00:41

    Jezza is a man possessed with number four

    Jeremy Cameron notches his fourth goal of the game after a truly dominant performance

    AFL
  • 00:24

    Edwards limps off to add more misery for Tigers

    Richmond have suffered a big injury blow with Shane Edwards leaving the field after this incident

    AFL
  • 10:23

    Scott: 'We're not falling in love with ourselves'

    Chris Scott refused to get ahead of himself after his side dismantled the reigning premiers, but did highlight the pleasing cohesion between his star-studded forward line

    AFL
  • 06:29

    Dimma: Injuries aside, 'we still expect to be better'

    Damien Hardwick refused to attribute his side's lack of regular personnel to the loss, instead declaring they were out-pressured by 'the best side we've played all year'

    AFL
  • 07:46

    Highlights: Richmond v Geelong

    The Tigers and Cats clash in round eight

    AFL
  • 02:35

    Jezza has arrived for the Cats and it's frightening

    Jeremy Cameron proved how much damage he can cause with a mesmerising six-goal performance against the reigning premiers

    AFL
  • 01:44

    Shai's staggering MOTY contender is an absolute classic

    Shai Bolton heaves himself on top of Mark Blicavs for an unbelievable Mark of the Year contender

    AFL
  • 14:20

    Mini-Match: Richmond v Geelong

    Extended highlights of the round eight clash between the Tigers and Cats at the MCG

    AFL

IF ...

a 2-4 start to the year has become 4-4 after wins against Hawthorn and Gold Coast ...

THEN ...

the jury is still out on the Saints' credentials. It will return with a favourable verdict in the event of a surprise win versus Geelong under the Friday night lights.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:30

    Brother Ben off to flyer in King clash

    Gold Coast's Ben King draws first blood for the Suns after mark and tidy conversion

    AFL
  • 00:21

    Big Sun soars to bring down high-quality hanger

    Caleb Graham rises over the pack and is paid a memorable mark

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Skipper brilliance finally gets Saints on the board

    St Kilda captain Jack Steele gives Saints their first goal of the afternoon with high, bending snap

    AFL
  • 00:51

    Could key Sun be in MRO trouble for high hit?

    Nick Coffield left dazed following this high hit from Touk Miller

    AFL
  • 01:44

    Lemmens body slams Butler as tempers flare after half-time siren

    Gold Coast and St Kilda players in heated half-time fight

    AFL
  • 01:00

    Three goals in three minutes sees Suns take control

    Gold Coast put scoring gap on St Kilda with quick scoring blitz

    AFL
  • 00:54

    Ryder gets Saints rocking with big grab, go-ahead goal

    Paddy Ryder shows his class with high mark and important goal in close final term

    AFL
  • 06:46

    Dew: 'It was just glimpses of the team that we have been'

    Watch Gold Coast's press conference after round eight's match against St Kilda

    AFL
  • 05:36

    Ratten on Ryder: 'He gives our group a lot of confidence'

    Watch St Kilda's press conference after round eight's match against Gold Coast

    AFL
  • 07:49

    Highlights: Gold Coast v St Kilda

    The Suns and Saints clash in round eight

    AFL

IF ...

some have been prepared to write off Bud after a lacklustre performance in round eight ...

THEN ...

I'm not. Backing him in for a big second half of 2021.

01:53

Franklin puts past five in dominant performance

Lance Franklin put in a dominant outing with this five-goal display in his side's nailbiting loss

IF ...

the Eagles were to tear up their contract with Willie Rioli after another drug related issue ...

THEN ...

they'd be more than justified. But I reckon they will give him one last, last chance.

04:54

Sack, support, suspend: Eagles' Rioli options, Saints' primetime 'blindspot'

Damian Barrett with the latest on Willie Rioli, an unsung Lion, and St Kilda's horror stat

IF ...

there are still some who doubt the Bulldogs' premiership credentials despite their 7-1 start ...

THEN ...

there will be no one unsure if Port Adelaide, at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, is added to the hit list. A massive game for this club.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:38

    Betts kicks a ripper out of mid-air for Carlton's first

    Eddie Betts turned back the clock with this brilliant major to open the Blues' account

    AFL
  • 00:42

    Blues unite for this Owies snap

    Carlton's fantastic ball work from the backline results in an easy snap for Matthew Owies

    AFL
  • 00:50

    Brilliant Bont play leads to a much-needed major for the Dogs

    Marcus Bontempelli uses his composure to his advantage to clear the ball, resulting in a Josh Bruce goal

    AFL
  • 00:34

    Treloar turns on the afterburners and seals the deal from 40m

    Bulldog Adam Treloar finishes a great run down the wing with a ripping goal

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Carlton forward will miss the rest of the game after head clash

    Jack Silvagni has been subbed out after copping a knock to the head by teammate Jack Newnes

    AFL
  • 00:23

    Crowd gives a standing ovation for this ripper Keath mark

    Alex Keath takes a stellar grab right in front of the boundary, bringing the crowd to their feet

    AFL
  • 01:24

    Five-goal Eddie turns back the clock at Marvel

    Eddie Betts got the Blues faithful rocking with a vintage showing against the Bulldogs

    AFL
  • 05:57

    Highlights: Western Bulldogs v Carlton

    The Western Bulldogs and Blues clash in round 8

    AFL
  • 11:42

    Bevo on Hunter: 'It was a great effort to keep playing'

    Watch the Western Bulldog's press conference after round eight's match against Carlton

    AFL
  • 11:26

    Teague: 'Putting four quarters together is a challenge'

    Watch Carlton's press conference after round eight's match against the Western Bulldogs

    AFL

AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL

IF ...

the AFL spends more than 45 seconds analysing a North Melbourne bid for a priority draft pick ...

THEN ...

it's about 44 seconds too long. No. No. No.

North Melbourne coach David Noble and his players leave the field after the loss to Collingwood in round eight, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

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