the acknowledgements and apologies about the camp had come earlier ...

the magnitude of the backlash would not have eventuated. But credit all the same now that you've done it. Everyone can finally move on. 

you don't ask the question ...

you don't know. But there's no way a priority pick is heading your way, and definitely not if you land Neale.

you get McGovern ...

you May as well double down on the disgruntled Gold Coast co-captain. McGovern and May in key back posts would brighten up the place! 

there's one thing we love in the finals ...

it's an aggressive roll of the dice at selection. Treloar, Goldsack in. Great stuff.

we reckon Heeney's is mark of the year ...

Francis' deserves to at least be on the shortlist. Mind you, Curnow was equally stiff.

Neale does depart ...

the Tim Kelly project becomes a necessity.

Stanley and Smith seek to stay at this club next year ...

they're silly.

May actually stays ...

we'd be taking the captaincy off him anyway. Swallow is the man.

we loved how Bucks rolled his selection dice ...

Leon's roll got our attention too. Greene was obvious, Williams a bold move, but really liked Deledio coming in.

you lost twice to Brisbane in the space of eight matches this season ...

not sure why we thought you were a chance against the Tigers in a qualifying final.

you've seen a caged lion ...

you'll note some similarities in Viney on Friday night. Look out everyone, teammates included.

you analyse this team's Brownlow credentials ...

there's only one name: Higgins. There are others equally valuable to the team, but no one with vote-demanding polish.

you thought this club wasn't planning to do much in Trade Period ...

watch this space. It needs to get as active as ever. And will.

something doesn't sit right with this mighty team ...

it is Caddy's occasional choice of words at opponents. He's a genuine, modern-day star with an old-fashioned footy brain who should have been an All Australian. But he must stop the verbal rubbish.

a club, say Geelong for instance – yes, let's say Geelong – was to throw a Hail Mary at the long-term contracted Jack Steven in Trade Period ...

things could get interesting.

there was one piece of re-contracting news we liked during the week ...

it was Grundy for 2019. Have always admired how he's carried himself throughout a very good career.

you dare to think, even for a fleeting moment, that Saturday night's game against Collingwood is in the bag ...

that's dangerous. You should win, but the other mob won't be an easybeat.

post-2014 was tumultuous with exits and additions of players and coaches ...

post-2018 might be similarly so on the playing side. Given the lofty standing he once held at the Bulldogs, Dahlhaus wanting out says a lot.

a concept is slowly creeping up on us in a positive way ...

it's the notion of the wildcard finals weekend - 7 v 10, 8 v 9 - to be held on what has, for the past three years, become the "bye" weekend.