IF
 
THEN
 
Adelaide
 
at the start of the year you had to pick just one of Sloane and Dangerfield...
…you would have probably gone with Paddy. Right now, you're taking Rory.
Brisbane Lions
 
Pearce Hanley played for a club based in Melbourne......he'd be edging toward AFL cult status. Should get there eventually, anyway.
Carlton
 
Daisy Thomas plays next week......well, he won't. He's done for 2014 and when it's all said and done, it was actually a good year for him personally - because having managed to get through most of it he'll be so much better in 2015.
Collingwood
 
Luke Ball's career is indeed coming to an end, and right now it is 50-50......he can be very proud of what he achieved, and of how he carried himself throughout.
Essendon
 
there's one thing that simply has to happen at Essendon this week...…it is Paul Little and James Hird needing to devise a Plan B. It may be too late. The show cause notices aren't going away, and 2015 is virtually upon us.
Fremantle
 
only the Dockers had their time over again. If only they opted to fight hard for Fyfe back in round two, because......there was a proper case to defend and a Brownlow to win. Embarrassing to see what they mounted at two Tribunal hearings this week.
Geelong
 
one player made a statement last weekend......it was Josh Caddy. Having started as the sub in three of 12 matches this year he stepped up to shape the Cats' win against the Blues.
Gold Coast
 
the Suns were to be ruthlessly honest with themselves...
...they cannot accept what has happened in rounds 17 to 21. Yet as bad as that has been, they can still make finals. They just don't seem desperate enough to really want to succeed.
Greater Western Sydney

 
the Giants have paid attention to the messaging coming out of Collingwood this week...
...they will be aware that Collingwood has shut down for 2014, and that this match is very winnable.
Hawthorn
 
you are getting dropped before the biggest home-and-away match of the year, on the eve of finals......you're in trouble. Don't know what's happened to Ben McEvoy.
Melbourne
 
you keep putting your hand out for freebies......you will never, ever succeed. You may not want to succeed.
North Melbournethis club allows the unavailability of a 36-year-old to ruin a season......it is kidding itself. The challenge for it now is to win an elimination final without that old guy. Not convinced it is up to it.
Port Adelaide
 
the signs of a comeback have been positive in the past two weeks......we'll know if it is real or not after tonight's match against a resurgent Blues.
Richmond
 
the Anthony Miles story can get any more remarkable...
...he will lift this team into the finals.
St Kilda
 
this team wins either of its remaining two matches......we will be gobsmacked. Probably not good enough to do so anyway, but there is no doubt it is very happy to be sitting last right now. Lot to gain from holding draft pick No.1.
Sydney Swans
 
it wasn't already official......it is now. Ryan O'Keefe isn't playing again for the Swans. Not when Kennedy and Bird go down, and you still can't get back in.
West Coast
 
you lead by 34 points, with your season on the line......you deserve to have your character questioned. Yet, still the finals are a chance.
Western Bulldogsyou thought Brendan McCartney was trying to make a statement by dropping Shaun Higgins......he's dropped a bomb with Will Minson. This time last year was about to receive thoroughly deserved All Australian status.

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Follow Damian Barrett on Twitter: @barrettdamian