WITH the AFL season in the business end of the season, 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.

IF ...

Crouch was staying at the Crows ...

THEN ...

the club would find a way to not suspend him after his recent early morning run-in with police. But he's not, so they probably will.

IF ...

big Joe's headed to the Lions ...

THEN ...

that's going to create a crowded forward line. Daniel may McStay. But Daniel may want to McGo.

IF ...

Williams and Saad are big fish already in the recruitment bag ... 

THEN ...

there needs to be room in that bag for a third. Still got money to burn, the Blues, and they want to spend it. 

 

IF ...

Sidebottom left Melbourne today for Queensland ...

THEN ...

he'd be ready for a potential Collingwood captain's run on Friday October 23, the day before the Grand Final.

 

IF ...

big Joe this week followed Adam out the door ...

THEN ...

Orazio should move quickly from here and also declare his long-desired need to leave. Wonder if Cale will attempt to follow them all.

IF ...

the Dockers part with Hogan after finally making genuine progress in 2020 ... 

THEN ...

I'd be very surprised. Despite another off-field mishap, I saw more than enough in the latter games to believe there's still a potentially outstanding footballer poised to break out.

IF ...

Saturday night's match at the Gabba is indeed the final one of Gaz's 355-game career ...

THEN ...

make sure you soak it up. Whenever that moment comes – Saturday night, post a preliminary final or after the Grand Final – footy just won't feel the same.

 

IF ...

Two-Metre Peter is on the market, again ...

THEN ...

there are a few Melbourne clubs which should give him deep consideration. Can play. Might just need a fresh start.

IF ...

Jez Cameron hasn't yet committed ...

THEN ...

there's clearly an issue. But I still expect him to stay. Cats the only option.

IF ...

you go back to 2015, James Frawley's first as a Hawk ... 

THEN ...

that year's premiership winning team had a back six of Birchall, Gibson, Lake, Frawley, Stratton and Burgoyne. As good a back six as there's been in the modern era. Frawley, who retired on Thursday, was crucial to its workings.

IF ...

big Ben Brown ends up at the Dees ... 

THEN ...

I wouldn't be surprised. Can see him working nicely along Weideman.

 

IF ...

Robbie Tarrant wasn't contracted for 2021 ... 

THEN ...

he too would be out. There are even less happy North players right now than there are happy Essendon players, which actually takes some doing. The direction of this club's football department is out of control, has been for 18 months.

IF ...

you look up "courage" in the modern footy dictionary ...

THEN ...

the accompanying picture is of Xavier Duursma.

IF ...

he'd managed 14 of a possible 18 matches with the reigning premier and been praised throughout ... 

THEN ...

it came as a mild shock to see Jake given the Aarts for the Tigers' semi-final against St Kilda on Friday night.

IF ...

the 2020 season has been a very good one for the Saints, with a sixth place on the ladder and a finals win ...

THEN ...

it nevertheless will come to an end against Richmond. Would've loved to have seen what they might have been able to achieve with Ryder, Carlisle and Long.

IF ...

Stevie J and now John Blakey have exited as Swans' assistant coaches ...

THEN ...

that's some serious footy nous that John Longmire needs to somehow replace.

IF ...

you look up "waste" in the modern footy dictionary ... 

THEN ...

the definition is "Eagles of 2020" .

IF ...

I was head of Dogs' recruiting ... 

THEN ...

I'd be ringing Todd Goldstein and asking him two things – would he consider breaking his North Melbourne contract, and what would he need to head to Whitten Oval?

AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL

IF ...

this was a normal season ...

THEN ...

there'd be 90,000 fans at the MCG on both Friday night and Saturday night for Tigers-Saints and Cats-Pies semi-finals. And yet in this extraordinary season, the respective 15,000 and 22,000 at Metricon and the Gabba will be a beautiful thing.