IN THIS week's Sliding Doors, made possible by ventraip australia, our chief football correspondent Damian Barrett puts North Melbourne mid Shaun Higgins, the Crows, Clarko's trade plans, Freo's 'mess', Ben King and brother Max, and more in the Doors' spotlight.

What's Barrett saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.

If everyone on the inside of this club for the past two seasons angrily and arrogantly kept telling everyone on the outside that there was nothing to see here, move on ... then everyone on the inside was either lying or unaware. Not sure which is worse.

If the deficit at the MCG last weekend against the Tigers was 27 points ... then the venue change to the Gabba for next weekend's qualifying final match against the same mob automatically erases 18 of those points.







If it was chips-in on Coniglio ... then no doubt there's a big-name recruiting Plan B.

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If you've found yourself in conversations about the best premiership prospects with key officials from other clubs in the past week ... then it's the Magpies who emerge from those chats as the most feared team.

If Heppell's foot is OK, if Stringer's soreness has abated, if Hurley's shoulder can be strapped up tightly, if Orazio's hip allows him to return to top speed, and if the ankles of Francis and Zaharakis can survive the rock-hard Optus Stadium surface ... then the Bombers will be a sneaky chance in Thursday's elimination final.

If we've all known it has been coming for some time ... then stop and think about it now that it is right in front of us. Lachie Neale and Bradley Hill have both wanted out of this mess, despite contracts. That's some serious talent no longer prepared to put up with the mess.

If anyone believes Chris Scott's words about the Cats' rights to a home final at GMHBA will have any bearing on his players' ability to deal with a final at the MCG ... then you're kidding. Please factor in to your thoughts that his players are more than capable of compartmentalising the issue, and right now don't actually care.

If the question is guaranteed to be asked by St Kilda when his contract is up this time next year ... then it will also be asked early next month. 'Ben King, would you like to join twin brother Max at Moorabbin?'

If Coniglio staying was huge news ... then an unexpected win against the Dogs in next Saturday's elimination final would be nearly as big.

If Coniglio saying 'no' was a setback ... then I can only imagine who Clarko is about to harass next. Bradley Hill maybe?

If the AFL was worried before the Demons' presentation to the commission on Tuesday ... then it is even more worried now. And unlike the Suns, it won't be offering priority national draft assistance.

If Shaun Higgins is at North next year ... then it's only 50-50 right now. Lot going on behind the scenes. Hello Geelong?

If the Power have done more than a few things wrong in 2019 ... then they did a lot right last Monday when they came out and publicly guaranteed Ken would be coach in 2020. Instant end to the scrutiny.

If he's ineligible for the Brownlow because of suspension ... then that doesn't mean he's ineligible for All Australian. Granted, 2019 wasn't his best year, but Dusty still deserved a spot in the All Oz 22.





If Higgins goes to Geelong ... then that may not be ideal for Jack Steven, who wants to.

If Nick Blakey won't be winning this year's NAB AFL Rising Star award ... then it doesn't mean he won't one day be the best of the 2019 crop. Could be anything.

If Hurn misses with his hamstring problem ... then that's a semi-disaster for the already sputtering reigning premiers.

If the Dogs rightly got two players into the All Oz team ... then it could easily have been three. Dunkley had just about done enough to be there with Bont and Macrae.