WITH the AFL season in full swing, Sliding Doors is hitting its straps.
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So what's Damo saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.
IF ...
the ugly five weeks of Gold Coast hub are behind them ...
THEN ...
there's no reason the Crows can’t get their first win of 2020 on Monday night. At home, against the brittle Saints. Let's see if they have some fight.
-
02:34
Did O'Brien back up his inadvertent Naitanui sledge?
There was plenty of spice in this battle between Nic Naitanui and Reilly O'Brien - decide for yourself who took the points
-
08:08
Nicks: 'We've got to score more'
Watch Adelaide's press conference after round six's match against West Coast
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06:02
-
07:59
Simpson: 'O'Brien poked the bear'
Watch West Coast's press conference after round six's match against Adelaide
-
00:16
Nic Nat's hilarious post-game gift for O'Brien
After Reilly O'Brien's Twitter blunder, Nic Naitanui offers the Crow a present to ensure it doesn't happen again
-
00:39
Sublime finish on the run from accurate Eagle
Jamie Cripps takes advantage of this half-chance to extend West Coast's lead
-
00:33
Long-kicking Crow launches from centre square
Swift ball movement through the middle of the ground by Adelaide and Brodie Smith lets loose with a mighty roost
-
00:27
Ryan with the smarts, Darling with the class
Liam Ryan keeps the ball in play with a great tap to Jack Darling, who finishes from a tight angle
-
00:33
Eagle apologises after robbing teammate of certain goal
West Coast tall Oscar Allen says sorry to Jamie Cripps after marking on the goal-line
-
00:20
Just a 'lazy' goal from the ruck for Nic Nat
After Reilly O'Brien's accidental tweet calling Nic Naitanui "lazy and unfit", the Eagle gets first points in their intriguing duel
IF ...
they were viewed by some as Grand Final certainties before the last round ...
THEN ...
the Lions look vulnerable going into round seven. It is that sort of season. And an "old-fashioned" away game against the Giants on Saturday will be very challenging.
-
02:48
Danger and Ablett transform when asked upon
Geelong superstars Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett rise to another level when their team needed it most
-
00:36
Angry Cat placed on report for late hit
Gary Rohan concedes two free kicks in quick succession for late contact, with the second earning him a report
-
11:26
Scott: 'The odds were against us'
Chris Scott was pleasantly surprised and proud his side overcame early injuries to shock the Lions after half-time
-
05:26
Fagan: 'I didn't see that coming'
Chris Fagan admits he was surprised his side fell off so drastically, after appearing to have the ascendancy before half-time
-
06:00
-
00:46
Robbo goes down while Cats go to town
Geelong add to their impressive goal streak while the Lions suffer another blow with Mitch Robinson injuring his ankle
-
00:37
Big worry as star Lion injures shoulder
Important Brisbane midfielder Hugh McCluggage limps off the ground after taking a hard hit to his shoulder
-
00:47
Give it to Gaz and he'll do the rest
The Cats take the lead after feeding the ball to Gary Ablett, who finishes superbly on the run
-
00:38
Is there anything Neale can't do right now?
Early Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale conjures a stunning dribbler from tight on the boundary
-
00:29
Is Gary in trouble for another hard hit?
Gary Rohan could face further MRO scrutiny for an incident following his earlier report
-
00:56
Hungry Lions eat up nervy Cats through Charlie
Geelong eventually succumb to some tenacious pressure from a few key Lions and are made to pay by Charlie Cameron
IF ...
the 2020 Blues were a stock ...
THEN ...
I'd be buying it before Sunday's match against ladder leader Port Adelaide. It's still a speculative proposition, but getting in early, buying low.
-
07:09
Beveridge: 'We fell apart a bit at the end'
Luke Beveridge says his side let Carlton get 'too much fluency' from their midfield and didn't run with them enough down the stretch
-
08:57
Teague: 'Our best four-quarter performance'
David Teague says his team 'believes in themselves' and was pleased they managed to string together their most consistent effort all season
-
07:50
-
01:54
McGovern and McKay reach for the sky
Blues fans will be delighted to see both Mitch McGovern and Harry McKay producing tireless performances in the forward line
-
00:27
Victory soured as ex-skipper hobbles off
Carlton have been dealt a late blow with Marc Murphy limping off the ground after appearing to injure himself in an innocuous incident
-
00:34
Blues somehow survive ferocious wave, Gibbons goals
Carlton withstand a series of tenacious tackles from the Bulldogs and manage to muster another goal through Michael Gibbons
-
00:38
Buzzer-beater Betts, if you don't mind on the left
Eddie Betts hits the ball with pace and steals one before half-time following a neat little dribble kick
-
00:38
Mega mess turns into mega McKay
Carlton nearly squander a simple opportunity but eventually recover and feed the ball to Harry McKay who dobs it
-
00:37
New Blue Newnes lures a Dog in with candy
Jack Newnes sells a beautiful dummy and his snap on goal is equally as impressive
-
00:33
Betts benefits after another Blue brings the heat
Harry McKay does brilliantly to run down Jason Johannisen and Eddie Betts does the rest
-
00:34
Angry Dog lets Blue guns know about his goal
Bailey Smith dribbles through an awesome goal only moments after getting involved in a fierce tangle with Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh
IF ...
you have ever doubted the footy talent of De Goey ...
THEN ...
don’t do it again. Anyone who can kick two, three, four and three goals respectively in qualifying, semi, preliminary and Grand Finals has elite talent. Yes, he doesn’t produce it every week, and yes, he’s been involved in a lot of highly questionable off-field situations, one which is serious and will play out in the courts in October. Among the best half-dozen players in the game when at his best, and his five goals (of the Pies’ eight) in a big win on Thursday night was more proof of that.
IF ...
you combine Hurley, Hooker, Ridley, Saad, McKenna and Redman ...
THEN ...
you have one of the game's very best backlines. Up to those six to prove if they're the actual best. They seem capable of doing that.
-
06:38
Shaw: 'We didn't take our chances'
Watch North Melbourne's press conference after round six's match against Essendon
-
05:34
Worsfold: 'We've changed a lot we're doing'
Watch Essendon's press conference after round six's match against North Melbourne
-
06:47
-
00:14
-
00:25
Exquisite finish from Townsend to seal it
From as deep in the pocket as it gets, Jacob Townsend extends Essendon's lead with a skilful snap
-
00:21
Star Bomber set for MRO scrutiny
North youngster Curtis Taylor was on the end of this big hit from Dylan Shiel
-
00:28
How on earth did Zacka kick this?
Underfire Bomber David Zaharakis snaps a goal from an impossible angle
-
00:20
Essendon defender crunched by Roo hard man
Michael Hurley on the end of a massive, and fair, hip-and-shoulder from Cam Zurhaar
-
00:24
Tough Roo with the steal and makes Bombers pay
Cam Zurhaar takes the footy from Essendon right in front of goal and nails it
IF ...
this time last week I wrote this: "IF Nat Fyfe has had some problems with soft tissue issues in the past THEN no idea why he's playing this weekend, just one match after he felt hamstring soreness" ...
THEN ...
with Fyfe choosing to play last weekend and aggravating that same problem and now missing several weeks, the Dockers medicos and Fyfe himself need to properly debrief on what the heck happened in him being cleared for round six.
IF ...
his stats look sort-of OK ...
THEN ...
his impact has been something far less. After 11 seasons at one club – where he won four best-and-fairests in teams which never made finals - it was never going to be easy coming into a new, well-established team. Jack Steven yet to have any impact for the Cats.
IF ...
after round one, following the Suns' belting by the Power, which came on the back of nine seasons of results no better than 12th, there were people calling for the end of AFL involvement on the Gold Coast ...
THEN ...
three months later the region has become the sport's heartbeat. And maybe forever a key plank of big picture plans, with - or even without - the 2020 Brownlow and Grand Final being held there.
-
05:44
Dew: 'That will sit in our stomachs'
Watch Gold Coast's press conference after round six's match against Melbourne
-
05:42
Goodwin: 'Incredibly proud of our club'
Watch Melbourne's press conference after round six's match against Gold Coast
-
08:12
-
02:11
Rankine electrifies on debut
Gold Coast finally got to unleash Izak Rankine and he didn't disappoint
-
00:47
Emotional scenes as Bennell goals after siren
The perfect ending for Melbourne as Harley Bennell boots his first goal since round 23, 2017
-
00:36
Star Dee nails clutch goal
Christian Petracca stays calm under pressure to extend Melbourne's lead
-
00:38
Stunning snap from Suns recruit sails through
Former Tiger Brandon Ellis takes advantage of this half-chance after getting the assist from Izak Rankine
-
00:39
The best two first goals ever?
His second might have been better than his first - debutant Izak Rankine's career is off to an outstanding start
-
00:21
Dee left red-faced after this shock miss
Christian Petracca somehow fluffs this attempt from close-range
-
00:15
Smooth smother from Salem and Suns pay
As clean a smother as you'll see from Christian Salem and he finishes it off
-
00:16
Injury concern for key Dee after eye issue
Tom McDonald in trouble after copping a poke to his right eye
-
00:29
Magic start for Rankine with incredible debut goal
On debut, Izak Rankine shows why there's so much hype around him with a magnificent sidestep and snap
IF ...
Taranto is back ...
THEN ...
the Giants are back. Best-and-fairest in a Grand Final finish in 2019. And I'm backing Coniglio to be best afield against the Lions on Saturday.
IF ...
anyone thinks Clarko will give up on the 2020 premiership before it becomes mathematically impossible to win ...
THEN ...
they don't know Clarko.
-
12:03
Clarkson: 'We're realistic about where we sit as a footy club'
Watch Hawthorn's press conference after round six's match against Collingwood
-
06:33
-
12:25
Buckley: 'I think our work inside was the biggest improvement for us'
Watch Collingwood's press conference after round six's match against Hawthorn
-
00:41
Injury concerns for two young Pies
Will Kelly and Matt Scharenberg both leave the field with injury concerns late in the match
-
00:23
Gunston with the breakthrough goal
Jack Gunston finally kicks a goal for the Hawks late in the fourth
-
00:32
Hawks forward left devastated after another injury
Jonathon Patton breaks down on the bench after another injury rules him out for the rest of the match
-
00:24
Son of a gun gets Pies off to dream start
Will Kelly kicks his first goal with his first kick in the AFL
IF ...
the Demons beat the Hawks on Sunday, which for what it's worth I'm tipping them to do ...
THEN ...
that mathematical challenge for Clarko becomes more problematic.
-
05:44
Dew: 'That will sit in our stomachs'
Watch Gold Coast's press conference after round six's match against Melbourne
-
05:42
Goodwin: 'Incredibly proud of our club'
Watch Melbourne's press conference after round six's match against Gold Coast
-
08:12
-
02:11
Rankine electrifies on debut
Gold Coast finally got to unleash Izak Rankine and he didn't disappoint
-
00:47
Emotional scenes as Bennell goals after siren
The perfect ending for Melbourne as Harley Bennell boots his first goal since round 23, 2017
-
00:36
Star Dee nails clutch goal
Christian Petracca stays calm under pressure to extend Melbourne's lead
-
00:38
Stunning snap from Suns recruit sails through
Former Tiger Brandon Ellis takes advantage of this half-chance after getting the assist from Izak Rankine
-
00:39
The best two first goals ever?
His second might have been better than his first - debutant Izak Rankine's career is off to an outstanding start
-
00:21
Dee left red-faced after this shock miss
Christian Petracca somehow fluffs this attempt from close-range
-
00:15
Smooth smother from Salem and Suns pay
As clean a smother as you'll see from Christian Salem and he finishes it off
-
00:16
Injury concern for key Dee after eye issue
Tom McDonald in trouble after copping a poke to his right eye
-
00:29
Magic start for Rankine with incredible debut goal
On debut, Izak Rankine shows why there's so much hype around him with a magnificent sidestep and snap
IF ...
I'm to analyse it brutally ...
THEN ...
absolutely nothing has changed since Glenn Archer and Ben Buckley sacked Brad Scott. That is an assessment of Glenn and Ben, not new coach Rhyce Shaw. Hope Glenn and Ben have several detailed layers to their plan to properly rejuvenate the joint.
-
06:38
Shaw: 'We didn't take our chances'
Watch North Melbourne's press conference after round six's match against Essendon
-
05:34
Worsfold: 'We've changed a lot we're doing'
Watch Essendon's press conference after round six's match against North Melbourne
-
06:47
-
00:14
-
00:25
Exquisite finish from Townsend to seal it
From as deep in the pocket as it gets, Jacob Townsend extends Essendon's lead with a skilful snap
-
00:21
Star Bomber set for MRO scrutiny
North youngster Curtis Taylor was on the end of this big hit from Dylan Shiel
-
00:28
How on earth did Zacka kick this?
Underfire Bomber David Zaharakis snaps a goal from an impossible angle
-
00:20
Essendon defender crunched by Roo hard man
Michael Hurley on the end of a massive, and fair, hip-and-shoulder from Cam Zurhaar
-
00:24
Tough Roo with the steal and makes Bombers pay
Cam Zurhaar takes the footy from Essendon right in front of goal and nails it
IF ...
Port was ultra impressive last weekend against GWS ...
THEN ...
it needs to frank the performance on Sunday against the Blues. And doing so won't be as easy as some think. Big game.
-
06:00
Hinkley: 'We were the better team'
Ken Hinkley believes his players fully deserved their impressive win against GWS and thought the margin could have been bigger
-
05:21
Cameron: 'We didn't want it'
Leon Cameron was disappointed his side didn't seize their opportunities as well as Port Adelaide in the final term
-
05:00
-
00:29
Hinkley pumped up after Todd dobs one
Ken Hinkley can see the finish line as Todd Marshall snaps through a crucial goal
-
00:41
Farrell unleashes weapon kick to light Power
Kane Farrell lands an absolute beauty from distance and gets surrounded by his teammates
-
00:21
Charlie beats the buzzer and Power have another
Charlie Dixon hauls in a great grab on the siren and edges his side in front before the final term
-
00:32
Wow, Rozee and Gray, what more can you say?
The class of Connor Rozee and Robbie Gray is on show after some a stunning display of skill on the boundary
-
00:19
Port report sparks some fireworks
Brad Ebert goes in the book after contacting Harry Perryman high in a fierce clash
IF ...
Dimma had a crack at Horse, and Horse had a crack back ...
THEN ...
so be it, I absolutely loved it. Two strong individuals who won’t back down. Should be more of it. Both contributed to that ugly game. And there was no need to publicly smooth things over, either. It's OK, and natural, to have a verbal stoush when you're legitimately fired up. Actually wish everyone would stop wanting to present as choir boys to the public.
IF ...
the Saints are 3-3 ...
THEN ...
that's nice. But they've thrown away two matches – round one v North and last week against the Dockers, both when they were five goals up. Which leaves them no margin for error against the 18th-placed Crows on Monday night.
-
05:43
Ratten: 'Too many blokes we carried'
Watch St Kilda's press conference after round six's match against Fremantle
-
06:56
-
08:31
Longmuir: 'We've got players who never give up'
Watch Fremantle's press conference after round six's match against St Kilda
-
01:00
Another mare for Walters, Saints draw level late
After starting the game by kicking it the wrong way, Michael Walters concedes a 50m penalty in the dying minutes
-
00:29
Important Saint's high hit, Docker goes down
St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall could be scrutinised by the Match Review Officer for this incident with Nathan Wilson
-
00:19
Great way for Serong to notch first career goal
An impressive mark from first-round draftee Caleb Serong and he finishes it off as Fremantle hit the lead
-
00:28
Superstar Fyfe leads Fremantle fightback
A brilliant pack mark from Freo skipper Nat Fyfe and he finishes it off just before half-time
-
01:17
Big Docker down after crunching bump from Long
Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy grounded after copping a heavy hit from Ben Long
-
01:08
Cheeky Saint with the no-look goal and glare
Dean Kent sprints away from James Aish and runs into the post but kicks it from the goal-line
-
00:46
Wrong-way Walters as Freo makes horror start
Tim Membrey takes advantage of a couple of Docker blunders to slot St Kilda's first goal
IF ...
everyone is writing this mob off ...
THEN ...
I'm clearly in the minority. Will concede they won't make finals now, with Heeney and Kennedy joining Bud and Reid on the long-term sidelines, but there's still high-end talent. With Aliir, Sinclair and McCartin returning this week, Saturday's game against Gold Coast won’t necessarily be the Suns' for the taking.
IF ...
the season was slipping away ...
THEN ...
the Swans (17th on ladder) and Crows (18th) presented themselves at beautifully opportune time. Dockers (14th) are next.
-
02:34
Did O'Brien back up his inadvertent Naitanui sledge?
There was plenty of spice in this battle between Nic Naitanui and Reilly O'Brien - decide for yourself who took the points
-
08:08
Nicks: 'We've got to score more'
Watch Adelaide's press conference after round six's match against West Coast
-
06:02
-
07:59
Simpson: 'O'Brien poked the bear'
Watch West Coast's press conference after round six's match against Adelaide
-
00:16
Nic Nat's hilarious post-game gift for O'Brien
After Reilly O'Brien's Twitter blunder, Nic Naitanui offers the Crow a present to ensure it doesn't happen again
-
00:39
Sublime finish on the run from accurate Eagle
Jamie Cripps takes advantage of this half-chance to extend West Coast's lead
-
00:33
Long-kicking Crow launches from centre square
Swift ball movement through the middle of the ground by Adelaide and Brodie Smith lets loose with a mighty roost
-
00:27
Ryan with the smarts, Darling with the class
Liam Ryan keeps the ball in play with a great tap to Jack Darling, who finishes from a tight angle
-
00:33
Eagle apologises after robbing teammate of certain goal
West Coast tall Oscar Allen says sorry to Jamie Cripps after marking on the goal-line
-
00:20
Just a 'lazy' goal from the ruck for Nic Nat
After Reilly O'Brien's accidental tweet calling Nic Naitanui "lazy and unfit", the Eagle gets first points in their intriguing duel
IF ...
the Dogs players wanted to form an '80s cover band ...
THEN ...
they've got Bailey Smith and this weekend's debutant Cody Weightman as lead singer and lead guitar. Hair everywhere. Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Poison, Van Halen, Motley Crue covers at Star Bar. Smith, the Dogs' first pick in the 2018 draft, is already a (rock) star. Weightman, taken with the corresponding selection in 2019, is going to be. Bont can be the third string and play drums, because as Poison reminded us, Every Rose Has Its Thorn.
AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL
IF ...
it's 10 years too late ...
THEN ...
it's still better than never. Finally, the Match Review Officer has it right with head-high incidents. Forever more, stop prioritising the "evidence" relating to the damage caused by the act, and adjudicate on the act itself, particularly the intent.
