WITH the AFL season at the pointy end, Sliding Doors is flexing muscle.

>> See more Sliding Doors here

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

IF ...

there's something I've never understood about the Crows ...

THEN ...

it was the decision at the end of 2016 to ship out Jarryd Lyons to Gold Coast.

IF ...

the preliminary final opponent has a heap of big bodies in it ...

THEN ...

surely Cam Ellis-Yolmen is under selection consideration to play against Danger, Joel, Gaz, Mitch, Cam, Brandan and Sam on Saturday night.

IF ...

there's a player the Blues may still want to add to their list alongside the soon-to-be official acquisitions of Williams and Saad ... 

THEN ...

it may be the contracted Demon Clayton Oliver.

 

IF ...

Adam Treloar says he's staying at Collingwood ...

THEN ...

he might. But I don't believe a thing he says publicly about his future football homes. He was even more publicly adamant in 2015, a day after The Footy Show said he'd be at Collingwood from 2016, that he was staying at the Giants. Not long after, he was filmed wearing a Pies polo shirt, signing a big Collingwood contract. 

IF ...

there's a big hole in the forward line now that big Joe has exited ...

THEN ...

it is understandable that big Ben Brown is looming as a potential replacement.

IF ...

I'm going to go early on a season 2021 call ... 

THEN ...

the Dockers will be back in the top eight.

IF ...

Higgins is effectively done and Cameron is inching closer ...

THEN ...

Crouch has become an afterthought.

 

IF ...

there's something I've never understood about the Suns ...

THEN ...

it was the decision at the end of 2018 to ship out Jarryd Lyons to the Lions.

IF ...

there's one bloke in the AFL probably not that impressed with a lunch at Rockpool ...

THEN ...

it's big Jez Cameron. He'd rather catch fish than be served it in a swanky city restaurant. Dave Matthews won't be dying wondering, though, on his pitch to keep him in Sydney.

IF ...

Isaac Smith doesn't leave on his own accord this year ... 

THEN ...

Clarko will cut him next year. That's Clarko's right, but that's what he does, and almost certainly will do. He's got form. Leave now, Isaac. To the Dees.

IF ...

the name of the player is not yet known ... 

THEN ...

the type is. A left-footed wingman. That's what the Demons want, and two have the bait in front of them: Isaac Smith and Tom Phillips.

IF ...

Aidan Corr was afforded the luxury of revisiting a verbal pledge he made a long time ago to become a Roo ... 

THEN ...

with all the carnage going on he would be looking elsewhere.

IF ...

Ollie Wines has compiled a magnificent back half of season 2020 ...

THEN ...

he's poised to lead this team in Friday night's prelim final into a Grand Final. Backing him in for BOG.

IF ...

I'm going to say something this week that has the potential to leave egg on the face ... 

THEN ...

it's this: the Tigers will be eliminated on Friday night, the era's finished.

IF ...

there was a player acquisition frenzy this time last year ...

THEN ...

it won't be as frantic this year. But the Saints will definitely be chasing multiple proven talent again.

IF ...

Jake Lloyd knocked on your door ...

THEN ...

you probably wouldn't know who he was. The most low-key, least recognisable star in the comp. Two Bobby Skilton trophies now. Only one less than Goodes, Healy, Kennedy. (And seven less than Bobby himself.).

IF ...

the Eagles don't attempt to inject some genuine spark into their list during the player exchange period or national draft ... 

THEN ...

they won't be doing much more in 2021 than what they did in 2020. Yes, there were reasons for the problems this year, but conservatism and a woe-is-us attitude has never led to a premiership.

 

IF ...

the music may have been a tad too loud at the Royal Pines at the end-of-season party ... 

THEN ...

so be it. And not sure it was anyway. As in, I was two floors down and didn't hear a thing! Could not talk more highly of how this club carried itself in hub life in the past two months.

AND THIS ONE'S FOR THE AFL

IF ...

the cricket, and more specifically, cricket pitch-loving Gabba curator gets his way ...

THEN ...

he'll have the mower and big roller out before the Grand Final winners are presented with their medals. Don't dismiss that possibility.