Adelaide Crows

If

it took until round 17 to get your 2018 house in order ...

then

well done, finally. The quality of Sloane, the person as much as the footballer, had a lot to do with that. Embarrassingly messy for too long, though. And having said all that, would love for you to dare to dream.

Brisbane Lions

If

you make it a third consecutive win or at the very least stay competitive for four quarters against the significantly more favoured Hawks ...

then

we will begin to believe your own favourable assessments of progress being made.

Carlton

If

you stubbornly refuse to play Harry McKay for weeks on end but then, out of nowhere, select him for round 17 ...

then

you've blinked. And you've also ensured he will be - whether he's good, bad or indifferent – an otherwise unnecessary media focus in the match coverage. But we like it all the same, got him down for four.

Collingwood

If

Maxy may have edged ahead of our man Brodie in the race for All Australian ... 

then

there's no better way to play catch-up than a dominant performance against Nic Nat in a second v third clash at the MCG on Sunday.

Essendon

If

you check the rules ...

then

you'll see that umpires are not actually required to award an even amount of free kicks to the competing teams in each match. Get over it, Woosha. Nice media diversion, but you've got bigger problems in this self-inflicted wasted season.

Fremantle

If

the Dockers are playing on the weekend ...

then

can someone please tell us? Lost all relevance.

Geelong Cats

If

you're seeking a snapshot of where you're actually at ...

then

you got it at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night. Impressively thereabouts, but a long way off from actually winning the whole thing, as you have been for some time now.

Gold Coast Suns

If

there's not a proper, end-of-season think-tank to thrash out every possible scenario relating to this club's standing, and even existence ...

then

the AFL is not serious about its operations. Not being dramatic, just realistic.

GWS Giants

If

the last time the Giants played the Tigers – 2017 prelim final - was arguably the most important game in this club's history ...

then

the significance the next time round – Spotless Stadium, Saturday night - is strangely nearly as great. The Giants are hanging in there through great adversity this year, and a win will mean finals are real.

Hawthorn

If

there's a guy we've always admired for how he keeps smiling and toiling and dreaming and keeping his head held high ...

then

it's Whitecross. Back in this week. Will give it his all, as he always does.

Melbourne

If

most others have dropped off ...

then

we haven't. We've still got you in the premiership conversation.

North Melbourne

If

Waite, then Wood, going down has been a major setback for the hope the Roos had of making finals ...

then

Daw being used as a forward could reignite it. Whatever Scott does up forward, Brown needs real help.

Port Adelaide

If

you don't get Jonas back before the finals ...

then

you won't be winning the whole thing.

Richmond

If

you see Vlastuin, Houli and Bolton as the ins ...

then

it at least squares the outs of Broad, Butler and Graham.

St Kilda

If

our gut feel is right ...

then

the Blues won't be easybeats on Friday night. Look out. Will be a very messy week if you don't win.

Sydney Swans

If

rival clubs know one thing about Hannebery ...

then

it is that he is contracted to the end of 2021. But some have already asked the question, and others will do so in the off-season. There's something strange going on here.

West Coast Eagles

If

Kennedy and Darling both play on Sunday ...

then

the Eagles win and we've got the official challenger to Richmond.

Western Bulldogs

If

back soreness is the real reason Boyd is not playing this weekend ...

then

that's a shame. Would've liked to have seen him up against Gawn. Instead, Roughead, who Bevo has developed a set against, will go up against a guy who may be the best ruckman in the game.

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If

virtually all of the high-profiled, key people advocating for a team in Tasmania are themselves based in Melbourne ...

then

that's fine. We get it. But the push will never gain proper momentum, and it's not happening.