| IF | THEN | |
| Adelaide | Richie Douglas doesn't return before round six... | … the Crows chances of finals will be massively reduced. Underrated gun, Douglas. |
| Brisbane Lions | we wind the clock back 10 years … | … this footy club was about to play its first match after completing a third consecutive premiership. Absorb that slowly, then compare with today. |
| Carlton | and this could be the biggest "if" of 2014 given recent history, Jarrad Waite can play 18 matches… | … the Blues will finish top six. |
| Collingwood | you missed the way-premature call this column made last year about a guy at this club... | … we'll repeat it here: Brodie Grundy will be a great of the game by the time he's finished. |
| Essendon | there's one player in the AFL who deserves a crack at a substantial patch of freedom from injury … | … it is Jason Winderlich. |
| Fremantle | Nat Fyfe does what we think he's ready to do in 2014 … | … he will be the competition's best player come late September. Maybe by a long way, too. |
| Geelong | Jimmy Bartel does indeed play as a permanent forward … | … he'll kick 50 goals for the season. |
| Gold Coast | Karmichael Hunt is playing AFL this time next year … | … we will be very, very surprised. |
| Greater Western Sydney | Tom Scully fails to fire again in 2014 ... | ... at least Melbourne fans will have something to be happy about. |
| Hawthorn | there has ever been an AFL person more driven than Clarko … | … well, there hasn't. Won't be his fault if there's premiership hangover symptoms. |
| Melbourne | Paul Roos can't get one of Clark, Hogan or Dawes on the field inside the first three games … | … he's not going to be too happy. |
| North Melbourne | Ben Cunnington continues his progress … | … he'll be in the elite bracket of AFL midfielders by season's end. Might already be there. |
| Port Adelaide | Jared Polec becomes a star … | … a lot of Brisbane Lions people need to ask a lot of questions. Of themselves. |
| Richmond | Jack Riewoldt kicks a bag on Saturday night, and is approached by the boundary rider post-match … | … it'll be interesting to see how his media ban plays out. |
| St Kilda | the Saints are winless from their opening two matches, against Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney ... | … oh boy. |
| Sydney Swans | the Swans knew then what they know now about Kurt Tippett's knee problems … | … they may not have committed to such big money for him. |
| West Coast | the Eagles are switched on … | … they'll quickly re-contract Nic Nat. Big offers are already in front of him. |
| Western Bulldogs | Stewart Crameri spends more time in the midfield than he does in goalkicking range … | … that would go against the reasoning in recruiting him. |
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Follow Damian Barrett on Twitter: @barrettdamian
