AFL journalist Damian Barrett is back in 2018 with 'Sliding Doors'. Here's his first instalment...

ADELAIDE

If

Lever leaving was a massive blow ...

then

Brad Crouch's prolonged early-season absence will be only marginally less impactful.

BRISBANE

If

there was an off-season prize for selling hope ...

then

give it to the Lions

New Brisbane recruit Charlie Cameron. Picture AFL Photos

CARLTON

If

the Charlie Curnow stock was a speculative one before Friday night ...

then

it's blue chip today. It always was.

Below: Charlie Curnow celebrates one of his five goals against the Tigers. Picture: AFL Photos

COLLINGWOOD

If

there are two players Bucks can least afford to be sidelined for round one ...

then

it’s Elliott and Wells. Two match-winners in a team that doesn’t have enough of such type.

...

ESSENDON

If

we were in charge of this team ...

then

Hooker would be played down back. Every. Single. Week.

FREMANTLE

If

we were in charge of this team ...

thenwe’re giving Bennell an absolute-last chance, and at the same time getting him back to the seniors ASAP.

Harley Bennell needs a big year. Picture: AFL Photos

GEELONG

If

you go back to the corresponding weekend in 2007 ...

thenyou will recall a young bloke was picked for a Cats debut. 249 games later for that guy, and his impact in the AFL has been as profound as any other player in that time.

Star Cat Joel Selwood is about to play his 250th game. Picture: AFL Photos

GOLD COAST

If

the Elliott-Wells unavailability hurts Bucks at Collingwood ...

thenthe Hanley-Hall absence is just as big a blow to Dew. And when you add Peter Wright to the outs, it’s a far from ideal list for his coaching debut. 

GWS

If

everyone else seems to be jumping off, declaring the premiership window is closed ...

then

we’re going the other way. Might even double down. The Giants have their best chance yet in 2018.

HAWTHORN

If

we’re going to make a ridiculously early crow ...

thenJarman Impey is the recruit of the year.

Former Port speedster Jarman Impey during the JLT. Picture: AFL Photos



MELBOURNE

If

anyone has lingering doubts about the superstar credentials of Jesse Hogan ...

thenremove them. You’ll be looking silly if you don’t.

NORTH MELBOURNE

If

Goldstein has a quiet night ...

thenPreuss has to play round two. This is not the season to play safe.

PORT ADELAIDE

If

you dare to have a proper crack during trade period ...

then

we love it and hope that you get an injury-free run and go really deep into September.

Jack Watts and Paddy Ryder celebrate a goal during the JLT: Picture: AFL Photos



RICHMOND

If

there’s one thing we really like in footy ...

then

it’s a low-key, old-fashioned, football-brained goalsneak. We like Butler. A lot.

ST KILDA

If

the Saints players display the same stake-in-the-ground, confrontational yet controlled attitude as their president did against Jeff Kennett at last week’s meeting in Melbourne ...

then

finals here we come. But is there someone who will do that? Carlisle, yes. Geary, yes. Anyone else?

SYDNEY

If

we went way too early on declaring Callum Mills a superstar ...

thenwe don’t back off now. But we would like him to reassert himself on the competition early in 2018.

WEST COAST

If

Kennedy doesn’t get his body right really quickly ...

then

this will be a very long season for the Eagles.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

If

two senior football department officials from other clubs can vividly recall conversations about Dahlhaus in trade period last year, without being prompted ...

thenwe’ll let you make up your own mind.

Bulldog forward Luke Dahlhaus: Picture: AFL Photos


If

we’re liking one thing to this point of the AFL year ...

then

it’s that the Match Review and Tribunal are on the same page. Gray, then Brennan. That hasn’t always been the case, inconsistency in the past between the two bodies leading to mixed messaging.