THE 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership season is over, but never fear, Damian Barrett's Sliding Doors is still going full steam ahead.
So put your seatbelt on and enjoy the ride as Damo takes off the gloves and takes aim at your team.
So what is he saying about your club? 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 ...
there was more than $10 million to offer Zac Bailey ...
THEN ...
surely there is that, and a whole lot more, to offer Nick Blakey. Need to do something, the Crows, in the remaining days of the trade period, because they’re not going near winning the 2027 flag without adding a quality player.
IF ..
I was running Brisbane’s search for a new coach ...
THEN ...
I’d be making Hail Mary calls to Chris Scott and Craig McRae. I’d also be treating Nathan Buckley’s candidacy very, very seriously. Yes, many who support this club have long memories, and won’t be able to forgive him for wanting to leave the then-Bears even before he started his one and only season as a player there in 1993. Took off to the Leigh Matthews-coached Collingwood in 1994. The Lethal-Bucks bond has always been strong, and while there are seven names on the Lions’ coaching panel, the great Lethal will have the ultimate say.
IF ...
the Giants aren't accepting pick 23 for Whitfield
THEN ...
I'd suggest the Blues don't get too cute. They cannot let this opportunity slide.
IF ...
the Pies have already secured Lachie and Jesse
THEN ...
they also need Jayden. And maybe then even consider Jake. Neale and Hogan are done. Short getting closer to being done. And while initially very cold on the idea, there is time for a rethink on Stringer.
IF ...
the new and decisive attitude in trade period makes for a refreshing change, and was greatly appreciated by Merrett and Ridley ...
THEN ...
reality bites even harder than it has for the past 20 years when you look at a possible starting line-up for round one next year. Ouch.
IF ...
Alex Pearce's major football priority over summer will be to repair his damaged Achilles
THEN ...
his second focus will be the offer to captain the Tassie Devils in their inaugural AFL season. A lot to play out here.
IF ...
the Zak Butters snub was a jolt
THEN ...
so what. Come on down Greene, Marshall and Ridley. And while there seems to be next to zero capital remaining for a crack at Nick Blakey, I am not ruling them out.
IF ...
Brand 'Trac was Dimma's big play in the 2025 trade period
THEN ...
in '26, and after seeing Ben King walk out the door, it's Nick Blakey. I get it, but the Brand 'Trac move didn't work in year one. And I wonder what Daniel Rioli and John Noble, the resident half-back flankers already recruited by Dimma, think of it.
IF ...
Toby, Jesse, Jake, Kieren and most likely Lachie are no longer part of the Giants' operations
THEN ...
there's still a lot of talent on this list. But there is no X-factor. And in a growth AFL market, that is highly problematic.
IF ...
the Hawks’ efforts in the trade period have been outstanding, with Bomber Merrett and Sun King being added ...
THEN ...
there’s still some collateral. On June 22 this year, the club’s website trumpeted the re-contracting of 2025 national draft first round pick Aidan Schubert. “Aidan possesses all the traits needed to develop into a genuine key forward in the years ahead,” said Hawks list boss Mark McKenzie on that day. Fast forward to trade week, and poor old 18-year-old Schubert isn’t as required as others, and is a central figure in one of those supposedly frowned upon murky free agency side deals, with the Suns.
IF ...
the Dees missed on Dear
THEN ...
they're still all-in on Duursma. Just need to get serious with their final offer.
IF ...
the renowned North recruiters back in late 1992 made the very astute decision to recruit a 26-year-old who would go on to help secure two premierships ...
THEN ...
the current recruiters are now duty bound to do the same thing with another 26-year-old. Nick Blakey will cost a whole lot more than John Blakey. But North cannot let this possibility disappear without throwing everything, including one of their own valued players, at it.
IF ...
the Power talked the talk all year about matching a bid for restricted free agent Zak Butters ...
THEN ...
even as we enter the final day of the 2026 free agency window, it still has the right to do so. Can’t wait to see the finer details of the side deals attached to a free agent leaving this club and wanting to go to the Bulldogs. Last time I checked, there could be no free agency side deals.
IF ...
I've had major reservations from day one of the Tigers' extreme rebuild plan
THEN ...
I've got even more major reservations, with Jayden Short also clearly having had enough. But I also kinda admire how dedicated this club is to its plan. There's a whole lot more on-field pain to come, regardless of how this ends up.
IF ...
you go back just 12 months ...
THEN ...
Jack Steele had just completed a fifth season as captain of the Saints. But the club, in the midst of a recruiting cash splash, wanted him out. I am all for aggressive recruiting sprees. But not the way St Kilda has gone about it. Cal Wilkie seized that Steele moment and while already contracted, demanded a ramped-up deal. And the club then made him captain. Rowan Marshall wanted out immediately, and had to wait another 12 months to actually get out. Josh Battle had already exited. And Nas is out of contract, again, at the end of next season. Ross The Boss has never, ever, been under more pressure.
IF ...
the Swans thought there would be no movement on Nick Blakey ...
THEN ...
they were very wrong. They also thought there would be no movement on The Chad. Interesting times between now and Wednesday night.
IF ...
I've been saying it for weeks
THEN ...
I'll keep saying it until Wednesday night, the close of trade period. The Eagles simply must throw every possible resource at wrenching The Chad out of Sydney. Don't simply assume you will get him as a free agent next year, because the Dockers will be preparing for that, too.
IF ...
the Dogs have got the nod from free agent Zak Butters ...
THEN ...
they’re somehow waiting until the final day of the free agency window to lodge the paperwork. We all know why. The side deals. Aaah, the side deals. Which should have nothing to do with free agency.
AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL
IF ...
the AFL has already quashed one aspect of the dodgy side deals attempted between the Dogs and Power connected to Zak Butters’ free agency ...
THEN ...
well done. But I cannot wait to read the fine print on the seven-club mega deal that is being constructed to accompany it. There is no reason for the player exchange system to be this complicated, nor open to such ridiculous scenarios.
