Freo request to 'rest' players

[bloodspirit]

You are right.......just bias and the wish for something to go our way for a change. My stance has nothing legal to back it up, much like our trade ban......

I love the concession! What's wrong with bias as a reason anyway!? Especially if you own it.

However, I don't think it's beneficial to feel too much like we're victims. Really we Sydney clubs should feel that we have the upper hand and make that clear to the powers that be in Melbourne (albeit perhaps it might work better if we do it behind closed doors because, dare I say it, the Victorians (Swans' & Lions' fans excluded) have a bit of a chip on their shoulders). We are key to the AFL's success and I think that just became more apparent with the massive TV rights deal. Does the AFL think they would have done that well without the growing Sydney market?? It is entirely possible that the Buddy deal and the Swans academy in particular had tangible impacts on that deal. They certainly seem to have helped growing the game in Sydney and the Swans' membership numbers which are higher now than they were after 2005 or even 2012. The Swans' success is due in significant part to those factors and the Swans' success is vital to securing audiences in Sydney, which is Australia's biggest market and population - and that is what, in significant part is bringing in the big $$ for the AFL. We can be the next BCCI and should throw our weight around!

[The Big Cat]

Swans can play it by ear. Both top four contenders play before us. Unless Richmond has a massive win (may lose) or bullies have a massive massive win the Swans will hold fourth on % even with a small loss. They may be tempted to play their emergencies and leave out a few fatigued guns.

[barry]

Swans can play it by ear. Both top four contenders play before us. Unless Richmond has a massive win (may lose) or bullies have a massive massive win the Swans will hold fourth on % even with a small loss. They may be tempted to play their emergencies and leave out a few fatigued guns.

Swans cant afford to flirt with form, and some under-done players need gametime (buddy, Rohan, etc), so not a case of who to leave out, but who to squeeze in.

It will be a case of playing full strength this week. Get the 1st final 22 playing together one week out. We can rest in week two of the finals.
Week one is our grand final.

[Mug Punter]

Swans can play it by ear. Both top four contenders play before us. Unless Richmond has a massive win (may lose) or bullies have a massive massive win the Swans will hold fourth on % even with a small loss. They may be tempted to play their emergencies and leave out a few fatigued guns.

I wouldn't tempt fate but IF the Tiges lose and there is plenty of margin for error I wouldn't mind seeing some minor tinkering.

I would expect that any players carrying niggkes would be rested and I'd be keen to see Rose and maybe Hewett given runs. Apart from that I wouldn't make any major changes

[Triple B]

It's simple. Regardless of other results, if resting a given player improves our chances of winning the flag, they should be rested, otherwise they play...

[Hotpotato]

Rest someone to give Rose a full game.
It's a no brainer .
He's a beauty .

[barry]

If you are not in the best 22 now you won't be playing till 2016.

[annew]

I wouldn't tempt fate but IF the Tiges lose and there is plenty of margin for error I wouldn't mind seeing some minor tinkering.

I would expect that any players carrying niggkes would be rested and I'd be keen to see Rose and maybe Hewett given runs. Apart from that I wouldn't make any major changes

Well Tigers won't lose because Roos are going to rest players and I think it is ironic that the AFL allows this to happen and yet punished the swans with trade ban and restrictions when they did nothing wrong.

[Zlatorog]

I think they should introduce a week off between regular H@A season and the finals for all teams in top 8 and all this crap about resting players wouldn't be required. Just my opinion.

[YvonneH]

I think they should introduce a week off between regular H@A season and the finals for all teams in top 8 and all this crap about resting players wouldn't be required. Just my opinion.

Sounds like a good idea.

[Doctor]

The difference is that Freo are based in Perth and they have to make 10 trips across the country each season. Even considering that a couple of them are only as far as Adelaide, that's a hell of a lot of travel and adjustment to time differences when you are also playing elite level sport. Had their last game been at home, they may have played more regulars. Some clubs (not us mind you) moan about backing up the week after a game in WA and the Eagles and Dockers have to do it all season. If they want to rest players, they can rest them. They've earned it by finishing first.

It's also not much different to being drawn against a lower ranked team at this time of year that is sending its star players off for end of season surgery etc.

[Ajax]

The difference is that Freo are based in Perth and they have to make 10 trips across the country each season. Even considering that a couple of them are only as far as Adelaide, that's a hell of a lot of travel and adjustment to time differences when you are also playing elite level sport. Had their last game been at home, they may have played more regulars. Some clubs (not us mind you) moan about backing up the week after a game in WA and the Eagles and Dockers have to do it all season. If they want to rest players, they can rest them. They've earned it by finishing first.

It's also not much different to being drawn against a lower ranked team at this time of year that is sending its star players off for end of season surgery etc.

I think this whole thing of having to travel so much is a little overblown. I've been travelling back and forward between Perth and Sydney for many years and it seriously isn't such a drama. Flying from West to East at 10,000 metres you have the constant Westerly jetstream which can cut your flying time down to 3 hours. A little intelligent planning and flying at the right time of day means you arrive feeling fine. But Ross Lyon will milk it for everything he can and so we get this sob story about Fremantle being 'fatigued'. Give me a break. If that's the case the Sydney Swans should get some sort of compensation for having to sit in traffic for two hours just to get to the airport when we fly to the west.

[Doctor]

The same jet stream can mean it takes you 5 hours plus to go back in the other direction, which is really where the problem arises - post-game.

[Xie Shan]

Freo have earned the right to rest players this weekend since they are guaranteed top spot and it won't change the first week finals matchups. Don't like the AFL's decision to let North rest up to 10 players against the Tigers though. If the Kangaroos were to win this week, they could play an elimination final in Adelaide, but if they lose they will play at the MCG next week. Not a good look I would have thought.

[Ludwig]

Gold Coast don't have much incentive to win as they would likely drop a place in the draft order to Essendon. Most of their best players are out for the season anyway, so not many to rest.