MADE POSSIBLE BYVentraip

IN THIS week's Sliding Doors, made possible by ventraip australia, our chief football correspondent Damian Barrett puts Peter Bell, the Pies, Orazio Fantasia, Sydney, compensation picks, North Melbourne, and more in the Doors' spotlight.

What's Barrett saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.

Adelaide Crows

If

there's going to be 10-plus departures from this year's list ...

then

that leaves a lot of room for at least one big arrival. Problem is no one wants to be a Crow right now.

 

Brisbane Lions

If

Lions fans instantly fell in love with Hodgey ...

then

they'll do the same with Birch.



Carlton

If

Eddie was 13th on the Blues all-time goalkicking list with 290 when he departed at the end of 2013 ...

then

he returns six seasons later in the same spot, 17 short of 'Big Nick' in 12th place, and with 600 in total to his name.

Collingwood

If

it's not Mason Cox ...

then

there's a fair chance it will be another player on OK money who is forced to make way before Wednesday's trade deadline in order to clear cap space for the massive demands of the end-of-2020 out-of-contract De Goey, Grundy, Moore and Pendlebury.

Essendon

If

Orazio wants to change professions ...

then

a three-ring circus would be an option. Hope his actual footy ability in the 2020 season can create at least five per cent of the headlines of the past month.

Fremantle

If

the feather never made its way to Peter Bell's hat after Lachie Neale exited this time last year ...

then

we'll give him two feathers this year if his all-in tactics on Bradley Hill work. But, he'll be hat-less if he stuffs this up. 



Geelong Cats

If

there wasn't a really high-end draft pick among the offerings from the Eagles for Kelly ...

then

it didn't matter. Stephen Wells can work magic with what he received.

Gold Coast Suns

If

you've already got picks 1, 2, 15 and 20 and you possibly add 21 for sending Callum Ah Chee to the Lions ...

then

the remaining days of the Telstra AFL Trade Period are going to be very interesting. Picks one and two will be used in the draft on Rowell and Anderson, the others to target opposition players.

GWS Giants

If

anyone needed more convincing that the compensation for a loss of a free agent simply has to go ...

then

the fact the Giants will trade for Sam Jacobs rather than take him as a free agent is the proof. Trading out a free agent in the same player exchange period as trading one in was meant to void compensation, but the Giants will keep the compo for losing Tomlinson.   



Hawthorn

If

Birchall couldn't get a new deal ...

then

it's difficult seeing Puopolo and Schoenmakers getting one.    



Melbourne

If

Ed Langdon and Tomlinson are the ins ...

then

that at least balances the loss of Frost.

North Melbourne

If

the Roos can't bring in someone of note in the remaining days of the player exchange ...

then

it's difficult envisaging a 2020 finals berth.   

Port Adelaide

If

Fantasia thinks the Power is an option for him in the future ...

then

he'd best stop thinking that. Won’t be twice getting burnt by the same flame.    

 
 

Richmond

If

Trade Period inactivity is normally dangerous for a team in the premiership mix ...

then

for the Tigers it simply doesn't matter. Have already got the "recruit" of next year in Rance.

St Kilda

If

the Saints stormed out inside three minutes of meeting Dockers officials over Bradley Hill ... 

then

I'm surprised they didn't exit after 30 seconds, given the ridiculousness of Freo's demands.  

Sydney Swans

If

you don't engage properly with Carlton and its pick nine over Papley ...

then

big Joe will stay in limbo.    

West Coast Eagles

If

a second-week finals exit is still difficult to stomach ...

then

Tim Kelly being confirmed for 2020 and beyond works as a natural antacid.  

 

Western Bulldogs

If

there ends up being no room on the list for Tory Dickson ... 

then

surely he gets another chance elsewhere.

 

If

we thought there were a few problems with umpiring and video reviews in the AFL this season ...

then

in comparison with the NRL, operations were near-faultless.