| If | Luke Beveridge made a tough call in axing Libba ... | then | ... Don Pyke has made an equally tough one in dropping Jenkins. |
| If | Schache's management had any idea how to properly play his out-of-contract situation ... | then | ... it would immediately cease shopping him round to Melbourne clubs at five years times $700,000. The 19-year-old deserves better guidance from those supposedly in his corner right now. |
Young forward Josh Schache celebrates a goal with Mitch Robinson. Picture AFL Photos
| If | Murph was let down by Saints players last weekend ... | then | ... he was let down even more by the inaction of the AFLPA in the days which followed. It was all just a little bit too difficult to be really strong, wasn't it? Opportunity missed. |
| If | there's no Birchall, Rioli, Frawley, Stratton, O'Meara ... | then | ... there are no excuses. Last chance saloon for Pies. |
| If | his best two games of his 78-game career have arguably come in the past four weeks ... | then | ... we greatly anticipate Joe Daniher's next 150. |
Joe Daniher was in ripping form against the Cats. Picture: AFL Photos
| If | Fyfe, who is doing more than OK by the way, can actually get back to near his 2015 brute dominance ... | then | ... the Dockers can lock in finals. Loving the arrogance of Brad Hill, Walters' new role, the progress of McCarthy, the coolness of Mundy. |
| If | the Cats don't lift in this marquee slot which will showcase the latest stage of their home ground redevelopment ... | then | ... we can write off 2017 for them. We're just not sure any more about what this outfit will produce on a weekly basis. |
| If | one of the co-captains can't yet commit beyond this year ... | then | ... we wonder what's required for him to do so. He clearly May leave. |
Steven May in the face of Jack Riewoldt in 2016. Picture: AFL Photos
| If | you ever doubt Stevie J again ... | then | ... stop it. |
| If | Rioli was unlucky in damaging his knee when he rammed it into Josh Walker's back ... | then | ... he was actually lucky that the mess wasn't compounded with a two-week MRP suspension to boot. |
| If | Petracca maintains this rate of progress ... | then | ... look out. Could be unstoppable. |
Former No.2 draft pick Christian Petracca in action for the Demons. Picture: AFL Photos
| If | you're Todd Goldstein ... | then | ... you're looking at your opposition here in Pedersen and Watts and you're backing yourself in to return to your 2015 form (when you were the best big man in the comp). |
| If | you look at this side's percentage after eight rounds ... | then | ... you'll see it's beyond 150. An historically meaningful number more than a third of the way through a season. |
| If | it was any other club last weekend ... | then | ... it wouldn't have lost. Couldn't have lost. And yet, because it was this club, not even a surprise that it happened. |
Freo celebrates behind a dejected Shane Edwards. Picture: AFL Photos
| If | McCartin comes back into the team and kicks a bag ... | then | ... there's no reason the Saints can't dream mightily this season. He'll probably be pitted against Grundy, who is rarely beaten. |
| If | there's a match-up we're really looking forward to this weekend ... | then | ... it's Bud versus Jake. |
| If | you beat Freo, Port and Dogs in consecutive weeks ... | then | you're going as well as any team right now. Imagine if Kennedy starts kicking straight. |
| If | you're prepared every single week to make the tough calls most other coaches baulk at when it comes to team selection ... | then | ... you deserve the success you've already had and which no doubt lies ahead. |
Tom Liberatore scratches his head after the Dogs' loss to the Eagles. Picture: AFL Photos
And by popular request ...
| If | another set of players this weekend make disparaging comments about an opponent's wife ... | then | ... would the AFL act? No. The inaction this past week was effectively precedent. Missed opportunity to send the strongest of messages. |
Follow Damian Barrett on Twitter: @barrettdamian
