| If | it's the Cats next week in a preliminary final ... | then | we reckon there won't be any great worries. But if it's the Swans, fear in the build-up might become the greatest impediment to reaching a Grand Final. |
| If | one club is going to have a proper crack during the trade period ... | then | it is this one. Money to burn, draft picks to throw around, even the No.1 pick, astute footy people assessing the market. Should be fun. |
| If | it's Out: Gibbs, and In: Rockliff ... | then | it's a good outcome. |
| If | there's one player we hope can make something of 2018 after a miserable 2017 ... | then | it is Chris Mayne. Didn't deserve to have his three-year-contracted future beyond here questioned by those on his own side. |
| If | the industry talk is to be believed ... | then | the Bombers will be big trade players. They need to be. After years of reasons for opposition players to not head this way, the club now appeals favourably. But, rival club officials have loooong memories of negotiation difficulties … |
| If | Nat Fyfe isn’t fully relaxing right now ... | then | the Dockers need to ensure he is. Without him at full power, then 2018 will be another torrid season. |
| If | the Cats lose against the Swans but then use the trade period to add Ablett and Stringer ... | then | things won't seem as dire. And even less if they beat Sydney. |
| If | we're hearing right ... | then | there's a left-field candidate among the Suns coaching shortlist. |
| If | there's one thing we'd really like to see this weekend ... | then | it is Stevie J bagging six. |
| If | the Hawks haven't made inquiries about Stringer just yet ... | then | we reckon Graham Wright is picking up the phone about now. |
| If | making the finals seemed a sure thing late in the season ... | then | so too does the securing of Jake Lever from the Crows. But we know what happened about the finals thing. |
| If | there was one contribution the Roos made to the AFL competition this season ... | then | it was financially haemorrhaging the Tigers in the near future during their unsuccessful, obsessive approach of Dusty. |
| If | we listen to the media commentary of most | then | we'll concede that in an ideal world, Kochie shuts up after last week's loss to the Eagles. But we won't resile from our strong view that he is entitled to do whatever he wants, and that his public words have regularly benefitted this club by giving it a national relevance and in sharpening up its internal operations. |
| If | it's the Giants next week ... | then | it'll be the cause of a restless build-up. If it's the Eagles, then it will be a week of nice sleep. Unless Nic Nat plays. |
| If | the Saints don't land some quality in the trade period ... | then | we can't see 2018 being any different to the disappointing 2017. |
| If | a corked thigh initially forced Bud to play closer to goal last weekend with telling effect ... | then | we can see merit this weekend in a fully fit Bud starting and staying closer to goal. |
| If | the talk started to get very loud late this week ... | then | it will be deafening next week should the Eagles defeat the Giants. Nic Nat to play in a preliminary final against the Tigers. We'd make him a late inclusion for the Giants game. |
| If | some Bulldogs teammates are annoyed with Jake Stringer ... | then | others are grateful of him for absorbing on their behalf all the negative commentary about certain behaviours and lifestyles. |
And by popular request ...
| If | the Power-Eagles elimination final proved one thing ... | then | it was that scores in an AFL match should never, ever, ever again be allowed to remain tied. Extra-time for home and away matches in 2018, please. |
Follow Damian Barrett on Twitter: @barrettdamian
