you choose to make examples of Jenkins and Gibbs only to bring them back when you start losing control of the season ...

you're panicking. And now that you've chosen to bring them back, realise they're in your best eight players, leave them in, and see where it takes you.

there's ever a week where Hodgey should be mic'd-up within a match ...

it's this one. Would love his - real - insights on how to get inside Clarko's head and unravel the Clarko gameplan (which the Lions did twice last year, once with him in the team, once without).

anyone can produce the clause in a player's contract where it says you can't do something legal and have a few drinks at a charity function ...

please forward it. Yep, get that it's a bad image. But that's all it is. If the Blues were 9-1 and not 1-9, they would've made this go away, and Daisy would be playing. Don't ever forget - Hawthorn, chasing a history-making third consecutive flag in 2015, allowed Hodge to play in a qualifying final a week after he was done for drink-driving. 

Taylor Adams "just fell short" of medical before round 10 only to now be declared as being on the sidelines for another two to three weeks ...

it would normally be eyebrow raising, but such is the Pies' depth, his adductor injury is not a problem.

Woosha was prepared to say during the week that "really, last year was my first year" as coach ...

I'm confused. Who steered the Bombers to the 2017 elimination final?

you've read this column over the past eight or so years ...

you'll know Walters has always been the favourite. And don't ever underestimate what he did last week after the siren, roosting that ball 49 metres to win the game and keep alive a top-four hope. Superstar. All Australian this year, surely, and belatedly. 

Gaz's rest came via a suspension ...

so be it. His 35-year-old body desperately needed one. And maybe his head did, too, given his arms had uncharacteristically found themselves making crude contact with the heads of three opponents in the past four weeks. 

you take a look at the Suns in round 12 last year and round two 2017 ...

you'll note there's a combined deficit of 210 points in the past two games against GWS. Suns go into this one on a six-game losing streak, too. 

it was 74-26 at the start of the year that Coniglio would stay ...

it's 51.09-48.91 now. Maybe 50.07-49.93. 

there's one thing among 100 things that really gets Clarko worked up into an uncontrollable frenzy ...

it's when a coaching understudy beats him in a match. He's 2-2 this season, and this weekend has to contend with not only an old mate as a coach (Fagan), but an old mate as a player (Hodge). The Gabba on Saturday night – an intriguing game on so many levels.  

Hibberd, Hannan and Salem are the ins ...

the Dees, despite their 16th place on the ladder, are a massive chance against the Crows.

the Roos blindly travel down the Shinboner path, without exploring other routes, in their search for a new coach ... 

it would be a massive mistake. A Shinboner may be the best available option, but non-Shinboners must be the priority, fully sought and fully explored.  

you go back to round 20 last year ...

the Power are 5-9 since. A win in China has never been more important for Ken Hinkley.    

Cotchin is back ...

Tigers will be winning. 

you look up "tough" in the dictionary ... 

up pops a picture of Jarryn Geary. A near-miracle he's back playing after having his leg sliced open.  

you want to totally shut down the speculation, Horse ...

this is how you'd do it: "I am contracted to the Sydney Swans for 2020 and under no circumstances will I be coaching North Melbourne next year. Repeat, no circumstances. And don’t ask me again."   

we've seen premiership defences go off the rails before they even begin ...

this ain't one of them, even when they were 3-3. In a wide-open season, going beautifully. And Nic Nat to return. 

the glass is half empty, you're looking at losses to the Roos, Suns and Blues this year, but if the glass is half full ... 

you're over-complicating things, but there is, though, a great story of toil in Ryan Gardner. Three years after no games as a Cat, gets a call-up in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft this week, on Sunday playing key position against the reigning premier.  

there is legislated and full-protection from all facets of the football industry for any player who takes illegal drugs – and let's be factual and adult about this, it happens a lot ...

it's getting increasingly difficult to get my head around the sanctioning by clubs of players who happen to have a social drink. Last time I checked, having a drink in moderation was legal. Let's all just pretend the drugs don't happen, and that Dale Thomas and Steven May are the only "bad" guys in the competition.