Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

[Dry Rot]

See http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-31/dockers-get-green-light-to-rest-up-to-11-players-in-final-round

Should this be allowed? And what if say Carlton at the other end of the table did it against Brisbane to tank.

Thoughts?

[Remi Moses]

Got no issue with it personally, as the only people Lyon is accountable to is his membership base.
Not accountable to betting agencies, and doing what's in the clubs best interests

[jeemak]

If he was potentially engineering a result that impacted his team's prospects it would be an issue, but he isn't and he should be able to do what he wants with his side as a result of that.

Top end sport has a way of working things out. Not many can get away with taking the piss, and if he was, he'd get found out pretty quickly.

[Sedat]

Not many can get away with taking the piss, and if he was, he'd get found out pretty quickly.
He did exactly the same thing 2 years ago and was taking the piss that day - they lost to St Kilda and conceded a world record number of disposals, such was the bruise-free nature of that match. And yet Freo had a magnificent win in the QF down at Geelong the week after. Clear method to the madness.

[1eyedog]

They've earned the right to do it. I would be encouraging it if it was us. We even joked about taking the VFL side up to Brisvegas if our ladder position was fixed.

[bornadog]

If he was potentially engineering a result that impacted his team's prospects it would be an issue, but he isn't and he should be able to do what he wants with his side as a result of that.

Top end sport has a way of working things out. Not many can get away with taking the piss, and if he was, he'd get found out pretty quickly.

Hit the nail on the head. Whether Freo win or lose it doesn't effect any other results nor gain/lose any advantage over other teams.

[bulldogtragic]

I'd rather than honesty and allow betting houses to shut the market than allow media and fringe types to put in big bets. I'd have issues if betting markets were allowed to continue or a draft or other benefit arise out of losing. It's not the prettiest picture, but our club has acquired the services of Brigadier General Soreness this year and we've not had an issue. I'd hope Bevo would do the same thing and that Dave and Peter would give Gil a call to tell him what we are doing. All clear for me.

[jeemak]

He did exactly the same thing 2 years ago and was taking the piss that day - they lost to St Kilda and conceded a world record number of disposals, such was the bruise-free nature of that match. And yet Freo had a magnificent win in the QF down at Geelong the week after. Clear method to the madness.

That's my point. He clearly believes it to be an important part of his team management strategy.

[Flamethrower]

He did exactly the same thing 2 years ago and was taking the piss that day - they lost to St Kilda and conceded a world record number of disposals, such was the bruise-free nature of that match. And yet Freo had a magnificent win in the QF down at Geelong the week after. Clear method to the madness.

On their way to their 1st premiership...oh wait.

I have played sport for over 30 years, and have teams rest players en masse at all levels from the AFL to Z grade to "freshen up" players for a finals campaign. And all those teams have one thing in common - finals failure. I have never seen it work.

It is ok to rest a handful (max 20% of team) with niggling injuries without a negative impact on team continuity, but any more than that and the Karma bus always seems to be waiting to run you over.

Bevo has done it perfectly - we have been resting players when they have needed it since our trip to Launceston in round 3, and have kept our team fresh by using virtually every player on the list. That way the core of the team has remained stable, and we don't need the radical resting of players being considered by the Shockers and Norf.

Yet another reason why the inspired choice of Luke Beveridge as head coach may be the most significant event in the history of the Footscray/Western Bulldogs Football Club.

[Scraggers]

I like Carlton's response :-

662

[Happy Days]

On their way to their 1st premiership...oh wait.

I have played sport for over 30 years, and have teams rest players en masse at all levels from the AFL to Z grade to "freshen up" players for a finals campaign. And all those teams have one thing in common - finals failure. I have never seen it work.

It is ok to rest a handful (max 20% of team) with niggling injuries without a negative impact on team continuity, but any more than that and the Karma bus always seems to be waiting to run you over.

Bevo has done it perfectly - we have been resting players when they have needed it since our trip to Launceston in round 3, and have kept our team fresh by using virtually every player on the list. That way the core of the team has remained stable, and we don't need the radical resting of players being considered by the Shockers and Norf.

Yet another reason why the inspired choice of Luke Beveridge as head coach may be the most significant event in the history of the Footscray/Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Nah this is self fulfilling prophecy. Maybe Fremantle resting their players threw them off so much that that only had it in them to beat 2 top 4 teams in a row instead of 3 before succumbing to GLORY BOY LACTIC ACID from too many days off, or maybe Hawthorn, that side that made the Grand Final the previous year (and should have won it), and then won the next one were just better.

[Greystache]

I don't have any issue with it. They've earnt the right and should be free to do as they see fit.

It's actually refreshing to see something obvious in the AFL called what it is. Normally they'd have a carefully stage managed charade of trying to pretend something isn't what it is that only succeeds in insulting supporters intelligence.

[LostDoggy]

I don't have any issue with it. They've earnt the right and should be free to do as they see fit.

It's actually refreshing to see something obvious in the AFL called what it is. Normally they'd have a carefully stage managed charade of trying to pretend something isn't what it is that only succeeds in insulting supporters intelligence.

Totally agree.

Surely clubs are free to play whoever they like off their list.

If he is told he has to play sore players so the AFL doesn't look bad, that's just plain wrong.

I can see merit in the integrity rule if a club is apparently putting out a weak team because it would benefit from a loss (better draft pick, more favourable finals match up), otherwise clubs should be left to manage their own affairs. Especially when they are being completely open about it.

As for the argument that it makes it harder for betting agencies to frame markets - spare me.

[The Doctor]

Barrett says Freo should forfeit.

Can he be merged with outer space somehow?

[bornadog]

At least 6 for starters.


ROSS Lyon has confirmed that six senior players will definitely miss Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide and that youngster Connor Blakely will make his AFL debut.

The AFL gave Fremantle the green light on Monday to rest up to 11 players for Saturday's round 23 clash after the Dockers secured top spot last weekend with one round to play.


Lyon confirmed that skipper Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Stephen Hill and Lee Spurr would definitely not play this week. The Dockers will discuss any further changes over the coming days.


Lyon confirmed that Michael Walters would not be risked against Port Adelaide after missing last week with calf tightness.


Cam Sutcliffe is set to miss with his dislocated shoulder although Lyon said he would be available for the first final.


Hayden Ballantyne trained on Tuesday morning at Fremantle Oval and Lyon said the forward was on track to return for the week one of the finals.


He said Nat Fyfe was also recovering well from the inflammation in his fibula.

[Remi Moses]

Big difference to Luke B seeing what's on our list, as to a team in its premiership window.
They travel basically 8 hours every 2 weeks( sometimes more) and are an ageing list.
We'd be doing the same thing if the circumstances were the same, and he's lost a couple of flags not because they rested players in the last round . I think he's record is pretty good in qualifying finals after resting players.

[westdog54]

I like Carlton's response :-

662

Firstly, that is *!*!*!*!ing awesome.

Secondly, absolutely no issue. They are being up front, no other results or matches will be affected, and as others have rightly pointed out, they have earned the right to do this by virtue of their dominance through the year.

As for Barrett, he's a great journalist and is arguably the best connected person in football, but his suggestion that Freo should forfeit the match was given the derision it deserved by Caro and LoneWolf.

[LostDoggy]

Barrett says Freo should forfeit.

Can he be merged with outer space somehow?

He can join up with Ross Oakley.
He's been out there since 1989. ;)

[boydogs]

We don't need the radical resting of players being considered by the Shockers and Norf

North is the big one. They're currently 8th, if they lose to Richmond they stay 8th and Richmond probably stay 5th
If North, Brisbane & Adelaide win, Adelaide gets a home final against North

[The Adelaide Connection]

Firstly, that is *!*!*!*!ing awesome.

Secondly, absolutely no issue. They are being up front, no other results or matches will be affected, and as others have rightly pointed out, they have earned the right to do this by virtue of their dominance through the year.

As for Barrett, he's a great journalist and is arguably the best connected person in football, but his suggestion that Freo should forfeit the match was given the derision it deserved by Caro and LoneWolf.

Like most I think it is fair enough seeing no results are impacted. But what would the AFL do if Port were one win ahead of where they are now? A win with a likely big percentage boost might have bumped the Kangaroos out of the eight should they lose to Richmond. Not a good look and extremely unfair in my opinion.

[LostDoggy]

Who's to say some young Docker may not surprise and put his hand up to keep his spot the following week?

[Dry Rot]

Like most I think it is fair enough seeing no results are impacted. But what would the AFL do if Port were one win ahead of where they are now? A win with a likely big percentage boost might have bumped the Kangaroos out of the eight should they lose to Richmond. Not a good look and extremely unfair in my opinion.

Good pint.

And it holds down the other end i.e. the second last team could "rest" weary players last round to get the spoon and the first draft pick.

[LostDoggy]

Good pint.

And it holds down the other end i.e. the second last team could "rest" weary players last round to get the spoon and the first draft pick.

Is there such a thing as a bad pint?