Resting Players

[cowcar]

I had a thought...(insert humourus remark). IF the Swans win against North (dont start jumping up and down about jinxing the team), then the Swans meet Hawthorn at the MCG. Now depending on how StKilda go, then this game wont matter whether the swans win or lose. They will still be in 4th. So, would it not make sense to rest some of the key players before the finals? Below are the players i would rest:
Barry Hall - niggling back complaint
Leo Barry- lots of niggles
Jude Bolton- Shoulder
Michael O - injury prone!(remember melbourne last year!)

And possibley a few others, such as L Ablett, Kirk etc.
The plus side with this would be that first of all they woudl be rested before having to travel interstate. Second it would allow a send off game for a few players (Schuable perhaps?) and it woudl also allow S Maxfield a chance for some senior game time.
What do you think?

[Sanecow]

If St Kilda and /or Adelaide lose on the W/E then that may affect the decision, but otherwise I would bring Schuable and Maxy in and rest Shagger (2003 shudders) and maybe Bolton, J.

Cows are so 2004.

[hammo]

The idea has merit but our match against Hawthorn is played before St Kilda vs Brisbane.

If we still have a shot at 3rd then it would be risky resting players.

I am wary of changing a winning line up. Its probably better to keep the same team rather than rest Hall or O'Loughlin who are crucial to our forward set up, then win in week 1 of the finals and have a week off.

[Dave]

Are you talking about resting them for whole games or just at the ends of the quarters?
They are working well together at the moment and I dont think it would would be useful to start messing with team structure too much.

Maybe for the ends of quarters.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by hammo
The idea has merit but our match against Hawthorn is played before St Kilda vs Brisbane.

If Brisbane beat St Kilda I will dance naked through downtown Perth.

[cowcar]

I'm talking about not selecting them at all. Let them have the game off. A weeks rest before the finals would work wonders for some of the small injuries players are generally carrying at this time of year.
The flip side, as has been pointed out, is that it might upset the team balance and spirit going into the finals. But would it?
As for stkilda and going for 3rd. I would say the Swans would be better off finishing 4th. Eagles first week, home final, then away at AAMI, which is more achievable. (again, depending on results).

Besides which, with rested players against an Eagles outfit that would have had a very tough contest against adelaide the week before, would seem to be a big plus.

[Snowy]

Resting has some merit re. the fatigue factor but IMHO one of the best recipes for success is having the same unit out there on the park week in, week out familiarizing themselves with their teammates' style of play etc.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Sanecow
If Brisbane beat St Kilda I will dance naked through downtown Perth.

Until this minute I was looking forward to a Lions victory.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Until this minute I was looking forward to a Lions victory.

Makes you glad, we don't live in Perth.

[Go Swannies]

Before last week's game, Aker was saying that Roos rotation of player through the bench was a large part of the Swans' success as the opposition seem to always have fresh players on them. I bet we stick with the tried and true method - but there was a while last week when our bench was Goodes, Hall, Willo and Jude (I think).

[Newbie]

Originally posted by hammo
The idea has merit but our match against Hawthorn is played before St Kilda vs Brisbane.

If we still have a shot at 3rd then it would be risky resting players.

I am wary of changing a winning line up. Its probably better to keep the same team rather than rest Hall or O'Loughlin who are crucial to our forward set up, then win in week 1 of the finals and have a week off.

Winning over us would deny Hawthorn of a priority pick so I doubt that is going to happen. They would probably try harder to lose than to win the game. We could put the whole of 2nd team and still win that game, I reckon.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Newbie
Winning over us would deny Hawthorn of a priority pick so I doubt that is going to happen. They would probably try harder to lose than to win the game. We could put the whole of 2nd team and still win that game, I reckon.

Not according to the Clarkson. "Win at all costs".

[Newbie]

Originally posted by ScottH
Not according to the Clarkson. "Win at all costs".

what else could he say?

[barry]

I'm for this idea. Only for the fact that we need our back-up players to get some AFL standard match fitness. I'm talking about Schuable mainly, but McVeigh, Malceski, Saddo, Maxfield, Moore too..

No doubt some will be called on in the finals, so we need them prepared.

Even resting a few players against Hawthorn will still get us a win. They are on 5 wins. One more and no proirity pick.

[floppinab]

The Hawks game gives us really important exposure to the 'G, a big chance to structure up for the big ground and see how we go. Business as normal please barring perhaps some elevated bench times for some of the stars.