Footy Scores: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

STRAP yourselves in, footy fans - Damian Barrett's Sliding Doors is back in full swing for 2026. Footy Scores has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Australia.

Key facts

• STRAP yourselves in, footy fans - Damian Barrett's Sliding Doors is back in full swing for 2026.
• Sliding Doors is in full swing for 2026.. and Damo's got plenty on his mind.
• And my word did Brayden Cook deliver one of the greatest ever Showdown moments across its 59 instalments.
• Joel Peterson brings you the latest news in Footy Feed.
• With the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season underway, Damo's got plenty of thoughts about all 18 clubs.

What we know

Going deeper, Sliding Doors is in full swing for 2026.. and Damo's got plenty on his mind.

On the substance, And my word did Brayden Cook deliver one of the greatest ever Showdown moments across its 59 instalments.

Beyond the headlines, Joel Peterson brings you the latest news in Footy Feed.

More precisely, With the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season underway, Damo's got plenty of thoughts about all 18 clubs.

It is worth noting that there is an aged and world-weary 37-year-old among the ins for Saturday's match against Essendon at Marvel Stadium...

By the numbers

At this stage, And we also get to see Cody Curtin, the No.43 pick in last year's national draft, in the same round in which his highly touted older brother Dan makes his much-anticipated return from injury for the Crows.

On a related note, the Blues can somehow block out the mess and psychological weight of their 1-6 scoreline...

Going deeper, In the final 20 seconds, got to the right spot but dropped a mark, panicked and wrapped an arm around the neck of the Hawthorn Moore.

On the substance, I feel for Elijah Tsatas, the No.5 pick in the 2022 national draft.

What they're saying

“I have no idea, everything is just spinning,” Cook said.

“I don’t know (how many times I’ll watch it), I guess it depends how many times I get tagged on Instagram!”

“To have the ball in his hands at that point, I think most of us would be reasonably confident that he was going to finish the job.”

The wider context

On a related note, Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Pat Voss as the key forwards don't kick 12 between them against a Bulldogs backline minus Rory Lobb and James O'Donnell, and with Buku Khamis left as the main big back...

Going deeper, Shai Bolton collected 33 disposals along with two goals to claim the Arthur Leggett Medal.

On the substance, there are now 98 matches on the CV of Connor Macdonald...

Beyond the headlines, No.98, on Thursday night against Collingwood, was right up there with his very best.

More precisely, since the last game in 2025, a new coach, CEO and president, and now another new CEO.

The bottom line

• Since the last game in 2025, a new coach, CEO and president, and now another new CEO.
• At 4-3 after a very favourable fixture, need to jag a minimum one win from those five matches.
• And Josh Smillie, the No.7 pick in the 2024 national draft who hasn't yet played a game, was merely "kicking a light ball" when he "sustained a small re-tear of the injury he acquired in February".
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