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 ...

Matty Nicks was able to carry himself with class during a 13-match losing sequence to open his coaching career ...

THEN ...

bring on the good times now that he's off the mark.

IF ...

Annastacia and Gill did the right thing by the Lions in announcing a Gabba 2020 Grand Final ...

THEN ...

it's now over to two other leaders, Fages and Zorks, in ensuring this season is never forgotten in the minds of every single Queenslander. No pressure!

IF ...

you factor in all the hype, the hope, the promises, the projections and ... 

THEN ...

inject the most important ingredient – reality – nothing has actually changed under Teague Train. Another derailing against a GWS outfit which itself was all over the place on Thursday night. But wait, there's always noise that next week and next year will be better. It's all just words.

 

IF ...

Brodie Grundy in recent matches has been slightly down on the All-Australian and Copeland trophy form of the past two seasons ...

THEN ...

I sense he will have a massive closing stretch to 2020, starting with a Martin-less Lions on Friday night.

IF ...

Andy McGrath is going to miss the remainder of the year ...

THEN ...

he might've already done enough to win the Crichton Medal. Ridley, Merrett, Shiel also in the mix.

IF ...

the match was lost against Richmond on Thursday ... 

THEN ...

nothing was lost when it came to Caleb Serong's personal claims on the 2020 NAB AFL Rising Star. Now going to be very, very hard to catch.

IF ...

you reckon Danger can't win the Brownlow ...

THEN ...

think again. The man just polls, and he will poll plenty – again – in 2020. Absorb this slowly – he hasn't been out of the top 10 in the past eight seasons, has polled an average 25 votes in those eight seasons, has won or been runner-up in three of the past four years.

 

IF ...

Weller and Collins will be among those vying for the Suns' 2020 on-field best-and-fairest award ...

THEN ...

the chairman, Tony Cochrane, has already taken out the entire state of Queensland's off-field honours, after playing a key role in the successful pitch to have the Grand Final played at the Gabba.

IF ...

you write off this mob ...

THEN ...

that's OK, I get it. I'm soooo tempted to, too. They often look a long way off it. But they always make, and usually win, finals.

IF ...

it's now well known that Clarko likes strumming a guitar ... 

THEN ...

it seems he wants others to get the violins out for him, too. In 2020, if he's not sooking about umpires, it's opposition players. This week it was the draft system, which he and his club greatly personally benefitted from when he first started coaching in 2004. Poor Clarko.

IF ...

they win all three of their remaining matches - Dockers, Giants, Bombers .. 

THEN ...

they will make the eight. But losing to the Swans on Thursday night indicates they're officially not up to it.

IF ...

matches against the top (Port) and fifth (West Coast) teams still remain, as well as another one against the very competitive Fremantle ... 

THEN ...

the Roos are not adding to their three wins of 2020. And the white flag went up too easily a long time ago.

 

IF ...

the Power's percentage is healthy at 128.4 ...

THEN ...

it's not as healthy as the Cats, who are four premiership points behind, at 138.7. (Second placed Tigers are irrelevant in this debate, as per their draw in round two.) Saturday night's match against the hapless Roos presents as a problem solver.

IF ...

Dusty was quiet against his old teammate Conca on Wednesday night ... 

THEN ...

it mattered little, given the Tigers' ability to fight through their lethargy. And I really liked seeing him fire up, when he felt the tactics crossed the line. It sent a very loud "do not dare mess with me" to those who may have planned to do the same in coming weeks.

IF ...

Max King had a downer against Steven May last Saturday ...

THEN ...

the Hawks next Sunday present as his chance to bounce back hard.

IF ...

I had no clear idea of this team's credentials at the start of 2020 ...

THEN ...

my view is even more obscured after 14 matches. Was clearly very wrong in having it in my top eight in pre-season predictions, and yet still feel they could be way better than their current 15th-place on the ladder would suggest.

IF ...

North Melbourne has made some questionable calls this year in playing someone who couldn't actually walk properly (Cunnington) and another equally underdone with soft tissue problems (Ziebell) ... 

THEN ...

the Eagles have some big questions to ask a lot of their people in this space, too. Two-time best-and-fairest and Norm Smith Medal winner Shuey complained of soreness in the third quarter last round, was put back on the ground in the final term, since diagnosed with hamstring strains in both legs. Potentially a premiership-costing development.

IF ...

the Dogs can upset the Eagles on Sunday ... 

THEN ...

the finals are still a chance, with the Hawks and Dockers to come. But to this point of 2020, even their absolute best has proven to be short of the very best.

AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL

IF ...

Gill is committed to letting the mullet run wild ...

THEN ...

by the Grand Final he will be rocking a man-bun.