| If | you haven't got pay-TV ... | then | ... scrap and scrounge to get it by 4.40pm AEST Sunday. Or find a mate who does. One of the season's most anticipated matches. |
| If | you've got Hipwood, Andrews, Schache and McStay ... | then | ... the spine, in a few years, may be vying to be the best in the comp. Need to keep Schache. |
The Lions need to keep Josh Schache. Picture: AFL Media
| If | you set up too defensively for too long ... | then | ... you're going to lose your players. Understand why Bolton did that against Power last week, but the Swans are vulnerable in round six and he needs to attack from the outset. |
| If | the Pies lose to the Cats ... | then | ... the round seven game against the Blues will loom menacingly. |
| If | James Kelly is out of this game, rested ... | then | ... we're buying that. He's 33, and into his 16th AFL season. But Aaron Francis "rested" too? That's more difficult to buy. |
Aaron Francis (right) was 'rested' after his first game this season. Picture: AFL Media
| If | Ross The Boss can lift the Dockers to a fourth straight win ... | then | ... we'll conveniently forget we were considering abandoning our undying faith in him after the opening two weeks of the season. |
| If | Hawkins keeps kicking bags ... | then | ... Harry will keep playing forward. |
| If | you're already without May, Thompson and Hanley ... | then | ... you can ill afford to lose Swallow. Would've been a big chance against the Roos if fully fit, might still be anyway. |
David Swallow is being 'managed' this week. Picture: AFL Photos
| If | Leon Cameron's got the keys to a Ferrari ... | then | ... on Friday night he'll be racing against Bevo's equally appealing American muscle car. As it was in last year's prelim final, a fascinating, tactical race awaits us. |
| If | Clarko finally got a result he wanted after a week of punching on with journos and commentators ... | then | ... he'll probably plan to do it again at some stage of 2017. Look out. |
| If | there's one thing that doesn't matter to Jesse right now ... | then | ... it is footy. Hope he takes every single minute he feels he needs, before again running out on an AFL venue. |
Jesse Hogan should take all the time he needs before returning. Picture: AFL Photos
| If | you've found yourself five goals up in three of the five matches played and yet boast a 0-5 scoreline ... | then | ... it's a coaching issue as much as a player one. |
| If | Robbie Gray is indeed playing hurt ... | then | ... one can only wonder what will happen if his body repairs itself. Nothing he can't do on a footy field. |
| If | Rance has been more than serviceable without being his 2014-15-16 brilliant best ... | then | ... this match against the Crows looms as one where he will personally launch into 2017. |
| If | the Saints are to make something of this season ... | then | ... they have to beat the Hawks. Time to stop talking. |
| If | Buddy and the Swans need a circuit breaker ... | then | ... the Blues present themselves at the MCG on Saturday. Bud to boot eight. |
Lance Franklin is due a big game. Picture: AFL Photos
| If | the flat-trackers don't respond positively in the derby to last week's humiliation at the MCG ... | then | ... there's officially no hope of the big prize in 2017. |
| If | your memory is good ... | then | ... you'll recall the last Dogs-Giants game had Tom Boyd coming of age when he covered for the injured Roughead. Boyd will need to lift to help Campbell Friday night. |
And by popular request ...
| If | we're crystal balling ... | then | ... we can see a press conference next week to finally announce resolution to one of the most boring sagas of all time, the Collective Bargaining Agreement. |
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