IF the Demons played in an American sports competition ... THEN

WITH the AFL season heading into finals, Sliding Doors is hitting its peak.

>> See more Sliding Doors here

So what's Damo saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.

Adelaide Crows

IF ...

it was a week later than it should have been ...

THEN ...

ultimately it didn't matter – Lachie Sholl a very deserving round 18 Rising Star nominee.

00:57

NAB AFL Rising Star: Round 18 nominee

The NAB AFL Rising Star round 18 nominee is Adelaide's Lachlan Sholl. Check out his highlights

Brisbane Lions

IF ...

Andrews, McCluggage and Neale were the worthy All-Australian nominees ...

THEN ...

Lyons was very unlucky not to have joined them. One of many unheralded guns in this team.

00:30

Attacking Lyons with a stoppage goal to savour

Jarryd Lyons attacks the ball and snaps a beauty and extends Brisbane's lead

Carlton

IF ...

Zac Williams has already been secured for 2021 and beyond ... 

THEN ...

the only question now is: who is next? Seemingly prepared to go all mid-1980s-style, the Blues, in this Trade Period. Obviously, without the brown paper bags.

01:01

Half-back Zac transforms into midfield beast

Regular rebounding defender Zac Williams gets thrown into the midfield and has the game of his life

 Collingwood

IF ...

the Pies beat West Coast on Saturday week ...

THEN ...

the hottest ticket on the Gold Coast that night will be to Ed's private party at the now famous Pink Flamingo.

 

Essendon

IF ...

you line up some of new president Paul Brasher's words off the Bombers' website from Thursday night with some of Joe Daniher's on and off field moves in the past two years ...

THEN ...

he's clearly played his last game for the club.

03:12

Daniher dazzles in crazy comeback

Returning Bomber Joe Daniher was the catalyst in his side's remarkable fightback against the Hawks

Fremantle

IF ...

you listened to a few key recruiters last year as they were assessing the credentials of Caleb Serong, the official 2020 NAB AFL Rising Star ... 

THEN ...

a regular observation was an uncanny likeness to a former Docker, Lachie Neale - a 2020 All-Australian (for the second time), AFLPA MVP and AFLCA Champion Player of the Year.

01:05

NAB AFL Rising Star: Round eight nominee

The NAB AFL Rising Star round eight nominee is Fremantle's Caleb Serong. Check out his highlights

Geelong Cats

IF ...

it was a massive unknown and at times insurmountable problem in an otherwise very good 2019 ...

THEN ...

a year later it hasn't gone away. The ruck position. Stanley will return, but until they get back to a Grand Final, the doubts won't.

00:29

Slick Stanley with a soccer special

Rhys Stanley kicks a much needed goal for Geelong

 Gold Coast Suns

IF ...

it was 18 consecutive losses to close the 2019 season ...

THEN ...

the one-win-one-draw-eight-loss close to 2020 wasn't much better.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 12:18

    Clarko: 'A fitting farewell for Poppy and Stratts'

    Alastair Clarksons says it was 'a special moment' having retiring club champion Ben Stratton earn a rare farewell goal, along with Paul Puopolo who starred with three of his own

    AFL
  • 09:16

    Dew: 'We let them run rings around us'

    Stuart Dew says he was 'extremely disappointed' to finish the season on a sour note after an 'unacceptable first-quarter', but is optimistic his young squad will improve again next year

    AFL
  • 03:29

    Poppy steals the show, with some help from Jack

    Retiring Hawthorn small forward Paul Puopolo ends his outstanding career with a superb performance, alongside his forward compatriot Jack Gunston

    AFL
  • 07:00

    Highlights: Hawthorn v Gold Coast

    The Hawks and Suns clash in round 18

    AFL
  • 01:48

    Amazing scenes after Stratton's fairytale achieved

    Departing Hawthorn captain Ben Stratton gets swarmed by teammates after earning a much-anticipated goal to complete an emotional ending

    AFL
  • 00:46

    Departing Poppy gets everyone off their seats

    Paul Puopolo has the whole Hawthorn club buzzing after scoring another stylish goal in his final game of AFL

    AFL
  • 00:39

    Rankine reaps rewards after ball thrown at him

    Izak Rankine applies some great pressure and produces a stunning checkside on the boundary, following a free kick

    AFL
  • 00:43

    Gunston pulls yet another Jack out of the box

    Jack Gunston continues his hot form with another major to his name, this time a soccer special on his left

    AFL
  • 00:33

    Hawks just wanted one Moore on the buzzer

    Hawthorn end a dominant first term with a last-ditch goal on the siren through Dylan Moore

    AFL
  • 00:55

    Jy Farrar with an absolute eye-catcher, first AFL goal

    Suns debutant Jy Farrar produces a moment of brilliance to notch his first ever AFL goal

    AFL
  • 00:41

    Oh Poppy, we'll miss these ones

    Paul Puopolo conjures a stunning early dribbler in his farewell game

    AFL

GWS Giants

IF ...

Corr and Williams have already walked ...

THEN ...

they won’t be the last. But Stevie J as an off-field "in" is a very good counter balance.

03:20

Stevie J's derby quiz: Papley v Greene

Quiz master Steve Johnson tests star forwards Tom Papley and Toby Greene on their knowledge of the Sydney derby ahead of the clash between the crosstown rivals

Hawthorn

IF ...

season 2020 saw the Hawks finish equal third last ... 

THEN ...

 there was at least one positive. Will Day. Officially fifth in the NAB AFL Rising Star. Just as Bailey Smith (fourth last year) has reached star status already, Day has the potential to be anything

01:00

NAB AFL Rising Star: Round 16 nominee

The NAB AFL Rising Star round 16 nominee is Hawthorn's Will Day. Check out his highlights

Melbourne

IF ...

the Demons played in an American sports competition ... 

THEN ...

they'd be receiving some credit for having a "winning" season (nine wins, eight losses). But they don't, and therefore they're judged harshly. Which I reckon is wrong. Sure, they were capable of making finals, but they didn't do a lot wrong in 2020.

Steven May and Christian Petracca were among the coaches' votes in round 14. Picture: AFL Photos

North Melbourne

IF ...

Ben Brown and Shaun Higgins (and Goldstein, for that matter) all had genuine trade currency 12 months ago ... 

THEN ...

they don't now. Had no idea how this club felt it was at least top six-bound back then, have less idea now. What's going on right now is a partially self-inflicted, near-rock bottom status in a 96-year VFL/AFL life.

Port Adelaide

IF ...

you believe in omens ...

THEN ...

prior to this season, the last time the Power finished top of the AFL ladder after a home and away season was their (only) premiership one of 2004. But wait, there's more. As happened this year, the Lions finished second then, the Cats fourth. Those omens are positive right now.

Richmond

IF ...

Harris Andrews is back for the Lions in next Friday's qualifying final ... 

THEN ...

Tom Lynch had better get himself right, too. And while his odds right now are 33-1, reckon Prestia will be at the Gabba on that night, too.

00:38

Sharp Lynch pivotal in two quick goals

Tom Lynch involved in a pair of Richmond goals

St Kilda

IF ...

the 2020 season has been a good one for the Saints ...

THEN ...

in the brutal way the industry rates itself, only a finals win – against the Dogs on Saturday week – will allow the club to say it was a very good one.

  • 07:13

    Full post-match: Saints

    Watch St Kilda's press conference after round 18's match against GWS

    AFL
  • 12:15

    Full post-match: Giants

    Watch GWS's press conference after round 18's match against St Kilda

    AFL
  • 05:45

    Highlights: St Kilda v GWS

    The Saints and Giants clash in round 18

    AFL
  • 00:43

    Ryder rolls it home

    The ball spills from a great Jack Lonie tackle and Paddy Ryder soccers it home

    AFL
  • 00:34

    Surging Saint strolls into an open goal

    Jack Lonie puts St Kilda further in front

    AFL
  • 00:39

    Toby Greene's touch of class

    Giants superstar Toby Greene snaps truly

    AFL
  • 00:30

    Veteran forced from field after Giant blow

    Greater Western Sydney's Sam Reid cops a knee to his ribs

    AFL
  • 00:41

    Battle kicks a ripper from 50

    Josh Battle produces a great goal for the Saints

    AFL

Sydney Swans

IF ...

he hadn’t kicked 2.5 in the final round for a season tally of 26.27 ...

THEN ...

Tom Papley probably would've been a 2020 All-Australian. Love watching this guy play, hope he never loses his flair.

00:34

Papley simply too dangerous in this scenario

Tom Papley proves why he is one of the most-hyped small forwards in the business with this textbook crumbing goal

West Coast Eagles

IF ...

Yeo's already ruled out for the year ... 

THEN ...

the Eagles can’t do anything significant in 2020 if McGovern stays sidelined too.

00:28

It gets worse for hamstrung McGovern

The Eagles suffer another huge blow with an already sore Jeremy McGovern forced to leave the game with a hamstring injury

Western Bulldogs

IF ...

a 24-goal return from a forward pocket from 17 matches may not at first look seem sufficient enough for All-Australian consideration ... 

THEN ...

a deeper study of how, and when, those goals were kicked would be cause for a rethink. Reckon Mitch Wallis should've been in the 22, and certainly the squad of 40.

04:46

A bub in the hub: Colour blind dad Mitch Wallis learning by trial and error

See how Dogs star and new father Mitch Wallis has adapted to parenting in the hub

AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL

IF ...

a flexible fixture already seems to be one of the major take-outs of this COVID-19 interrupted season ...

THEN ...

Thursday night's rolled-into-one event of All-Australian, AFLPA MVP, AFLCA Champion Player, Rising Star (and Coleman Medal acknowledgement) should also be deeply considered.

IN AFL ON DEMAND NOW