WITH the AFL season in full swing, Sliding Doors is hitting its straps.
>> See more Sliding Doors here
So what's Damo saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.
IF ...
you're winless and last on the ladder to this point of 2020 ...
THEN ...
there won't be a better chance of victory than a game against the 17th-placed team. Crows v Roos, who are on a six-match losing sequence, Saturday afternoon. An intriguing match-up.
IF ...
you were asked to list the most important Lions on the 2020 list ...
THEN ...
Andrews, Neale, Cameron, McCluggage, Martin and Zorko would all be prominent. Mitch Robinson probably wouldn't be in the top dozen. And yet, pound for pound, and when giving off-field effect equal weight to on-field skill sets, he may be the No.1 most important. In owning his past mistakes at another club, has brilliantly transformed his own life, and has significantly shaped the extraordinary rebuild of this top-four bound club. A massive well done on reaching 200 matches.
IF ...
the win against North Melbourne last week was better than most realised ...
THEN ...
it won't matter anyway if the Blues fail against the Hawks on Friday night. In any given season, for a team wishing to have genuine impact, there are must-win games. For the Blues, round nine is one of those matches.
IF ...
everyone in life, within reason, is deserving of a second chance ...
THEN ...
Steele Sidebottom is deserving of at least five when it comes to his time as a Magpie. Sure, he stuffed up big time. But who hasn't done something they regret? Back for Sunday's game against the Dockers. Would be staggered if he played as the stand-in skipper (for the injured Pendlebury), but would also be staggered if he's not among the best three afield.
IF ...
James Stewart hasn't been seen at the top level since round 11, 2018 and the 'big fella' Sam Draper not seen at all in four years on the list ...
THEN ...
the Bombers are embracing the possibilities of fairytales in this fairytale-required journey through 2020, with both to play against the Lions. Love the stories that have perseverance as the theme.
IF ...
the rounds five and six wins against the Crows and Saints were well deserved reward for a solid start to 2020 ...
THEN ...
the rounds seven and eight losses to the Eagles and Cats were very ordinary. Need to be competitive, at the very least, against the Pies on Sunday.
IF ...
the Cats play their cards right from here ...
THEN ...
they'll be in a prelim final. It's that sort of season. Jenkins, who probably misses one more, maybe two, could yet be the wildcard.
IF ...
the Suns can stop Toby Greene ...
THEN ...
their match-up against the Giants will become very winnable.
IF ...
Toby runs amok, again, as he did last round against Richmond ...
THEN ...
the Giants will be winning easily against the Suns.
IF ...
Clarko took a moment to reflect on his offerings in Thursday's media conference ...
THEN ...
he'd hear a man presenting excuse upon excuse upon excuse. Yeah, you won some matches late last season. Dead-rubber matches. Sure, you've had a few injuries this year. Every team has. And yep, we get it, you've been on the road. So too has everyone. Way out of his comfort zone, Clarko, and presenting so-called excuses is not the answer.
IF ...
I've kept believing in Goody's Dees ...
THEN ...
'’m only just hanging on after Thursday night. They are brittle. Gawn and Petracca aside, too many let you down. It's all words. Crisis times seem near. Again.
IF ...
playing his first game in the AFL back in 2013 was a virtual Mission Impossible for Majak Daw ...
THEN ...
match No.51 this weekend may be his Everest. One of the all-time great AFL stories, this comeback.
IF ...
you're 18 years old, having five shots at goal in your third game, looking like you belong and talking like a seasoned pro on live TV post-match ...
THEN ...
can't see why Mitch Georgiades won't play a key role from here in Port's 2020 push for a second flag. Ridiculously composed, on and off the field. (Sidenote: dad John had kicked 15 goals after his first three games – eight, two and five – for the Bulldogs in 1989.)
IF ...
one of the many qualities of all-time great sportspeople is to respond when their standing and status is challenged by rivals and questioned by commentators ...
THEN ...
Dusty, not that he really needed to, has in his past two matches (Giants in round eight and Dogs in round nine) showed up both the desperate wannabes and the headline seekers.
IF ...
the Saints should actually be top of the ladder with a 7-1 scoreline (led both the lowly North and Dockers respectively by five and six goals-plus before losing) ...
THEN ...
that's something that will play on their minds all season. As would a loss to Sydney on Saturday. If they are, indeed, finals bound in 2020, then no excuses on this one.
IF ...
I've been craving the next box-office drawcard ...
THEN ...
I've found him. Tom Papley. Knew he was very good before 2020, didn't realise he had the capacity to be outstanding. Really hope he continues to play in his - sometimes and appropriately arrogant - way. Please don't curtail him, Horse. Let him loose! Walters still my favourite movie star, Toby a very close second, this guy closing hard.
IF ...
it took him seven, maybe eight, matches to properly find his best form ...
THEN ...
look out from here. Tim Kelly now ready to roll.
IF ...
the Dogs' best – including wins against GWS, Essendon and Gold Coast – appears top-four worthy ...
THEN ...
their worst – losses to Collingwood (52 points), St Kilda (39), Carlton (52) and Richmond (41) – is bottom-six woeful. Identity crisis looming.
AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL
IF ...
you're an AFL player in 2020 ...
THEN ...
it's OK to recklessly throw an elbow into the neck of an opponent. You won't even miss a game. The AFL Tribunal approved such actions this week, with the Hawkins decision. Thanks, Tribunal, for yet again throwing a stupidly mixed message into the otherwise strong messaging of 2020 on what is, and isn't, allowed on head-contact matters. Time to get rid of the Tribunal. It's run its race.