| If | the Crows had their time over again ... |
| then | the badly injured Sloane wouldn't have played against Collingwood in round four. Hope it hasn't caused greater problems. |
| If | we have a bad feeling about a team this weekend ... |
| then | it's for the Lions against GWS. Fear it could get very ugly. |
| If | it's a given that the great servant Murphy won't be captain from next year ... |
| then | it's going to be fascinating watching Cripps mount his case with best-on-ground performances, while the unfortunately sidelined Docherty, still the clubhouse leader, is restricted to off-field mentoring roles. |
| If | we're yet to try to jump on a bandwagon this year ... |
| then | we're poised here. Beat the Tigers on Sunday, and we're on. |
| If | we were initially critical of Goddard for his demonstrative Anzac Day ways ... |
| then | we've done a re-think since, and have decided that we liked it. He cares. He hurts. Wish there were more like him. |
| If | Ross Glendinning has once before taken it upon himself to change the winner of his medal (just about our all-time favourite football story, by the way) ... |
| then | after the way the Dockers have dissed him this week, we reckon there's no chance a Freo player will win it on the weekend, even in the event of a 12-goal win. |
| If | there's going to be a late team change this weekend ... |
| then | we're thinking it's Scott Selwood out, with effects of the Thomas hit still being felt. |
| If | you've lost all 10 matches you've played against the Crows, with six of those 10 by an average of about nine goals ... |
| then | you're not winning this weekend. |
| If | Cameron has another bad day when kicking the football ... |
| then | we'll be certain he's got a serious injury problem with a toe on his left foot. |
| If | you're a Hawks supporter ... |
| then | you're going to be upset for some time with the unavailability of Rioli and Puopolo. But the hurt will be mitigated with the return of Burgoyne. |
| If | we were quick to doubt Howe and De Goey when they claimed hand injuries had been caused by dogs ... |
| then | naturally we had the same initial reaction on hearing the Petracca 'dog bite' yarn - except we're buying this one. |
| If | there's a bloke who deserves Virgin Australia AFL All Australian status but hasn't yet been given it ... |
| then | it's Tarrant. Been very unlucky in the past. Tracking well enough to have that situation rectified in 2018. |
| If | the week started badly with a loss to the Cats ... |
| then | it became a car crash thereafter. Thomas. Powell-Pepper. Hartlett. Ouch. |
| If | it was Jack Riewoldt and The Killers last year ... |
| then | it's Jack Higgins and Hall And Oates this year. Mr Brightside versus Rich Girl. Somebody Told Me versus Private Eyes. Love it. |
| If | there was one player interview we loved in the past week ... |
| then | it was Jake Carlisle's "I should've marked it" post-match offering after the draw with the Giants. |
| If | Bud and Dan are both sidelined beyond a fortnight ... |
| then | we're going to be worried about the Swans' credentials. |
| If | there's one player with a virtually impossible task this weekend ... |
| then | it's Yeo. As good as he is, good luck on Fyfe. |
| If | the Dogs win tonight ... |
| then | will they sing the song twice? Or maybe three times? |
| If | the AFL is going to continue becoming the 'police' on all forms of player misbehaviour off the field ... |
| then | we get it. But it is going to need to expedite its processes. Way too long to rule on Sam Powell-Pepper. |
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