STRAP yourselves in, footy fans - Damian Barrett's Sliding Doors is back in full swing for 2026.
With the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season approaching a dramatic conclusion, Damo's got plenty of thoughts about all 18 clubs - and the AFL.
So what is he saying about your team? What's he saying about the AFL? You can't say that, Damo, can you? Check it out below.
>> ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION FROM DAMIAN BARRETT
IF ...
this club thinks 2027 is going to better than 2026, without adding someone of genuine note in the trade period ...
THEN ...
it is delusional. Has way too many nice players, nowhere near enough players capable of moving the needle.
IF ..
the Lions were capable of winning a third consecutive Grand Final without Lachie ...
THEN ...
they are very clearly a greater chance of securing that all-time greatness with him. As weird as this may sound, it would have been easy to replace him, though. Noah Answerth, I reckon, would have been elevated. And at some stage of Saturday's big match, Answerth's nous as a small back is going to be missed.
IF ...
the Blues are going shopping, again, in the trade period ...
THEN ...
I remain far from convinced that Joel Amartey should be the big ticket item. Reckon he's a nice player, but not a season-shaping one.
IF ...
Nick Daicos was finally able to crack it for a Brownlow on Monday night ...
THEN ...
I'm going out on a limb here and predicting he will finally jag a second Pies' best and fairest. Had unfortunately not been able to win one of the previous three Brownlows, and even more staggeringly, was overlooked by the Pies in their own award last year.
IF ...
there has been many confusing and even downright strange goings-on at the mess that is otherwise known as the Essendon Football Club ...
THEN ...
the internal obsession with Craig Vozzo is something I just don't get. Was CEO for three years under the David Barham presidency debacle before standing down for "family and personal commitments". But kept working for the Bombers on recruiting and list management, as well as being tasked with devising a "best practice" football department, something he might have considered doing when he was CEO. Wanted his voice heard in the coach search where he was anti-James Hird, and seems set to continue working for the joint.
IF ...
ever there was a player born to play at the MCG on Grand Final day ...
THEN ...
it was Luke Jackson. Has graced the Grand Final stage once before, in Perth in the second of the two COVID seasons in 2021, where in just his 30th match he changed the course of the game in the third quarter with a blistering burst that led to the Demons kicking 16 of the final 17 goals against Western Bulldogs. Was just 19 on that night. Will be 24 on Saturday. The Lions will have spent six months planning how to bring him down in this game. Good luck, Sam Draper and Darcy Fort.
IF ...
the Cats came second to the Bulldogs in the contest to get Zak Butters to publicly commit ...
THEN ...
that doesn't mean that they've conceded the race. A lot to play out in the official trade period.
IF ...
Brand Trac secured the best-afield three Brownlow votes in his first two matches as a Sun, and had another two three-vote performances by round eight ...
THEN ...
what a slump thereafter. Just three more votes after that. And could only manage equal 10th in the Suns' best and fairest count, too.
IF ...
the forward line is going to look very different next year, without Toby, Jesse and Jake ...
THEN ...
I don't mind it. Aaron Cadman is ready for the responsibility. 113 goals from 77 matches. Capable of 60 goals in 2027.
IF ...
Hawks people cut up rough after the 2024 semi-final loss to Port Adelaide ...
THEN ...
that was a mere rehearsal for last Saturday night, after a preliminary final loss to Brisbane. Dozens of "entitled" supporters acted disgracefully on the siren. Mind you, some of them merely followed the lead of their players Tom Barrass and James Sicily, who not only lacked class but embarrassed themselves in abusing an umpire whose "mistake" was to accurately pay a free kick against Jarman Impey. Barrass should have been suspended from the first two matches of next season, and the Hawks should be put on notice that a repeat performance from their spectators will result in a massive fine.
IF ...
you now need to poll in the 30s on Brownlow night to be guaranteed of winning ...
THEN ...
big Maxxy's 28 was both a career best and good enough for fourth placing last Monday. Tom Mitchell won with 28 in 2018. Matt Priddis with 26 in 2014, Gary Ablett 28 in 2013.
IF ...
I was tasked with framing a market on the next North coach ...
THEN ...
I'd have Jaymie Graham as favourite and Daniel Giansiracusa and Corey Enright joint second favourites.
IF ...
it was fantastic that Jason Horne-Francis was rewarded with an inaugural best and fairest award ...
THEN ...
I also found it staggering that Aliir Aliir could only place eighth. Thought his season was All-Australian worthy (he missed there, too) and at least top three consideration at Port.
IF ...
it’s the Tigers’ playing list that needs most bolstering ...
THEN ...
the acquisition of Brett Ratten as head of coaching and strategy is a very sound one. Coach Adem Yze is going to need all the help he can get in 2027.
IF ...
the Saints went on a player shopping spree this time last year ...
THEN ...
they need to go on an assistant coach splurge this year. Corey Enright knew a long time ago he needed to get out, and is officially back at Geelong (unless he secures the senior North gig). Ross The Boss needs a) support, and b) someone who properly and meaningfully challenges him. Good luck, though, because no one at this club does.
IF ...
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey were ripped out of the All-Australian team but were still eligible to win another AFL title, the Brownlow ...
THEN ...
that will never make sense to me. And now the Swans have a massive decision to make on their eligibility in their Bob Skilton Medal. But I'm very clear on my take. They should have been allowed to be named in the All-Australian team, as they had earned that right via their on-field performances in the home and away season, and they should be eligible for the Swans' best and fairest. I realise it's complex and sensitive. But they have been punished by the club with match suspensions, and they await Victoria Police findings.
IF ...
the Eagles aren't planning to make an immediate and compelling offer to wrench The Chad out of Sydney ...
THEN ...
they should. Yes, there are many complications. But this club has been going nowhere for an embarrassingly very long time now.
IF ...
Zak Butters indicated to Geelong on the Thursday night before it played its semi-final against Fremantle that all was good with the Cats' offer ...
THEN ...
I'd love to know the finer details of the final Western Bulldogs' Hail Mary deal. It was at least $3 million more than the Cats, for starters.
AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL
IF ...
the Lachie Neale saga created drama in Grand Final week ...
THEN ...
it also unfortunately highlighted, yet again, absolutely everything wrong with the judiciary system. Neale belts Ginnivan on Saturday night in a match won by his Lions, qualifying him for a fifth career Grand Final. Somehow, in 2026, the best vision of the incident is grainy footage that could have been from 1960s TV, and Neale is cited by an "independent" body known as the Match Review Officer. Sunday and Monday pass, and we get to Tuesday night, where somehow, four hours and 10 minutes are required for lawyers and a judgment panel to determine the incident was, indeed, worthy of a one-match ban, as set by the MRO. Wednesday is allowed to pass. We get to Thursday for an Appeals Board to hear it all again. Let's add here that Neale's representative is none other than lawyer Adrian Anderson, who in a previous job as AFL football operations boss introduced the ridiculously convoluted and lawyer-heavy MRO-Tribunal-Appeals Board judiciary structure. Another two-and-a-half hours elapse. And voila, magically, mysteriously, but unfortunately not surprisingly given how many times the impossible has happened in this mess of a judiciary system, Neale is cleared to play!! And we now await the messaging in the next off-season. Don't hit an opponent off the ball, because if you do, you will be guaranteed to be suspended. No you won't, and blah, blah, blah.