View Full Version : Top 2 is almost assured - do we rest players?
Ruddiger
12 Aug 2006, 23:54
I'm sure they'll bring out the best squad for Round 20 and 21.
Would we rest some of the squad in Round 22 (vs Richmond at the G) if we win next week?
Maybe rest two of the key midfielders (Judd,Braun,Kerr,Cuz,Stinger) ?
Or a key backline player like Chick or Wirra?
Of course, if Adelaide drop a couple of games might it be worth having a crack at top spot? But that's a big if...
Gunnar Longshanks
12 Aug 2006, 23:57
Of course, if Adelaide drop a couple of games it might be worth having a crack at top spot ?
1) That's not a question.
2) Why is 1st spot better than 2nd?
94_Eagles
12 Aug 2006, 23:57
Well, looks like Hansen's done for a while. We'd want to be settled from round 21 on, at the latest, IMO.
Ruddiger
13 Aug 2006, 00:02
1) That's not a question.
2) Why is 1st spot better than 2nd?
1 day longer break between round 22 - QF and PF - GF.
Can you be any more anal retentive?
BarcaRulz
13 Aug 2006, 00:06
I think that would be the best thing to do. There would be nothing worse than losing the all-important midfielders 1 week before the finals begin.
IMO if we mathematically lock up 2nd spot next week that should be it. They should be played sparingly or none at all. It would mean we would minimize any risk of them having injuries, we would have them nice and fresh for the finals, and we can have a looksee how the younger players do when they are called upon.
rest players that need it, leave the rest. As anyone in that position would do.
Good form, just hope we haven't hit it too soon (fingers crossed)
Gunnar Longshanks
13 Aug 2006, 00:22
1 day longer break between round 22 - QF and PF - GF.Not necessarily. Anyway, that's such a marginal advantage that it's not worth discussing.
Can you be any more anal retentive?Definitely.
If players need the rest, give it to them. Don't have anyone carrying injuries or little niggles into the finals if at all possible. Also, who gives a crap if Adelaide drop off, as long as we finish second.
Round 22 last year when we were playing for top spot, Adelaide won, but they lost so much more than the Eagles when Ricciuto was suspended (possibly costing them a GF spot). I said at the time I'd rather lose and have no injuries/suspensions in a pointless game.
First place means nothing.
Total_Juddshanks
13 Aug 2006, 01:15
If players need the rest, give it to them. Don't have anyone carrying injuries or little niggles into the finals if at all possible. Also, who gives a crap if Adelaide drop off, as long as we finish second.
Round 22 last year when we were playing for top spot, Adelaide won, but they lost so much more than the Eagles when Ricciuto was suspended (possibly costing them a GF spot). I said at the time I'd rather lose and have no injuries/suspensions in a pointless game.
First place means nothing.
Depends who finishes 3rd and 4th.
The way things are looking, Sydney are in line for 3rd- given how well they play subi, I would much prefer to play whichever Victorian side scrapes into 4th and leave Adelaide to account for the Swans.
larrikin
13 Aug 2006, 01:24
Based on the replay I just saw on 10 Chicky might get a week's rest anyway
Id give Wirra a week off and that is it. Stenglein maybe aswell, the rest shouldnt get a week off and should be fine.
Depends who finishes 3rd and 4th.
The way things are looking, Sydney are in line for 3rd- given how well they play subi, I would much prefer to play whichever Victorian side scrapes into 4th and leave Adelaide to account for the Swans.
We can't control who finishes 3rd and 4th. What if Sydney finish 4th? Then we should tank round 22 to make sure we finish 2nd? We've sewn up the top 2 spot, the rest of the ladder will fall where it will.
I'm confident we can take Sydney, or any other team in the league for that matter. They play Subi well, but not as well as the Eagles. If we can't beat them over here in a final then we don't deserve the flag anyway.
Total_Juddshanks
13 Aug 2006, 03:09
We can't control who finishes 3rd and 4th. What if Sydney finish 4th? Then we should tank round 22 to make sure we finish 2nd? We've sewn up the top 2 spot, the rest of the ladder will fall where it will.
I'm confident we can take Sydney, or any other team in the league for that matter. They play Subi well, but not as well as the Eagles. If we can't beat them over here in a final then we don't deserve the flag anyway.
Looking at the fixtures, Sydney are looking very likely to finish 3rd.
They have a percentage break on the other top 8 sides, and of the teams on 48pts (Them, Melbourne, and potentially St Kilda and Freo depending on results tomorrow), they have by far the easiest run home, with games against Geelong, Brisbane and Carlton. Melbourne play Adelaide, St Kilda and Freo play each other, basically, upsets happen, but at this stage it is almost certain that Sydney will finish 3rd.
I agree to a certain extent about not worrying too much about things beyond your control, but its just plain good sense to try and get the finals opponent you can handle better. We do have control over how we finish the season, and if we have a chance of snaffling top spot from Adelaide, and thus giving us an easier first up finals opponent, we should take it.
The reason I wouldn't want to play Sydney if we can avoid it, is because with 3 of our last 4 finals against them, they have done their homework big time, and know exactly how to negate our gameplan. The last three times we've played sydney, it's been completely even money, and extremely low scoring contest with less than a goal in it at the end of it. If we have to play them again, I have a nasty feeling it will be exactly the same kind of situation, with a kick or two in the dying minutes deciding the result- that may or may not go our way, but if we can avoid that we should.
Basically, both us and Adelaide have a bogey side we'd like to avoid in the finals- for us, it's Sydney, for Adelaide, it's us- obviously a team with flag aspirations is going to hope you can beat anyone on their day, but I think the Crows would be ecstatic if Sydney knocked us off in the first round, and vice versa- No matter how good a side you are, a lot of what happens to September is down to chance, and every advantage we can screw weighs the odds a bit further in our favour
I definitely understand what you're saying and you have a point. However, I'd hate to bust our chops trying to get a top spot which may be out of our reach, and pick up an injury to a Braun or a Stenglein along the way, when we could've just cruised to second and gone in full strength with no niggling injuries at all.
Say we field our best team and play our guts out every week over the last few rounds. It's more than likely we'll finish second anyway. There's a slight chance we'll finish first, but even then we may still draw Sydney.
I'd say the chance of us finishing first is far less than the chance of Sydney not finishing third, if you get what I'm saying? If not I apologise, it is late.
Total_Juddshanks
13 Aug 2006, 04:07
I definitely understand what you're saying and you have a point. However, I'd hate to bust our chops trying to get a top spot which may be out of our reach, and pick up an injury to a Braun or a Stenglein along the way, when we could've just cruised to second and gone in full strength with no niggling injuries at all.
Say we field our best team and play our guts out every week over the last few rounds. It's more than likely we'll finish second anyway. There's a slight chance we'll finish first, but even then we may still draw Sydney.
I'd say the chance of us finishing first is far less than the chance of Sydney not finishing third, if you get what I'm saying? If not I apologise, it is late.
Yeah I get where you're coming from, and I wouldn't say I totally disagree, but I think we should do our damndest to remain in striking distance of Adelaide at least over the next 2 rounds- Adelaide do have a toughish run home and they are undermanned at the minute, so if they are going to drop a game, you'd expect it to be in the next few weeks.
Given we need to make up a game + percentage on them, I think we'll have a fair idea of whether or not 1st is possible (and whether or not Sydney will finish 3rd) by end of rd 21- then we can plan for our last game accordingly.
Eagles 4 Mine
13 Aug 2006, 11:25
Depends who finishes 3rd and 4th.
The way things are looking, Sydney are in line for 3rd- given how well they play subi, I would much prefer to play whichever Victorian side scrapes into 4th and leave Adelaide to account for the Swans.
Look guys who cares who we play I think that any other side in the comp would not want to play us a Subi.
If we are good enough we will take on any team and beat them it is as simple as that. I don't care if we finish first or second as the same result stands.
Look guys who cares who we play I think that any other side in the comp would not want to play us a Subi.
If we are good enough we will take on any team and beat them it is as simple as that. I don't care if we finish first or second as the same result stands.
Exactly right! The players would know that they have to beat any and every potential top side to win the flag. If "tanking" or playing for a ladder position even slightly entered their minds, they will be gone - as they don't have the right mindset to win a flag.
No team is going to "tank" in my opinion.
JinmboJones
13 Aug 2006, 12:06
I would suggest we would want our best 22 on the park in rnd 22. It is a great chance to get the feel of the MCG under the boy's feet again and given it is so close to finals and potentially playing there on the last day in september i would think would be too good an opportunity to ignore.
I would suggest the most likely game for resting players would be the derby. If we take a full strength squad to Brisbane we should account for them easily and this leaves the top two spot ours. There is a far higher chance of players getting injured in the derby and really there's nothing much for us to gain by winning it, assuming we beat brisbane next week.
Trying to win this game or lose that game to try and change who we may or may not play come finals won't happen. The only decision that needs to be made is who to rest and when.
wce4premiership
13 Aug 2006, 12:22
i think cousins kerr and judd have had enough games off already through injury and those who have played every game should get a rest.
yatesie
13 Aug 2006, 14:01
no argument #1 is best #2 second best
no argument #1 is best #2 second best
Why?
94_Eagles
13 Aug 2006, 16:18
Why?
I guess the only reason is that you get to play 4 who, in theory, is an inferior team to 3.
natlovestheswans
13 Aug 2006, 16:25
Look guys who cares who we play I think that any other side in the comp would not want to play us a Subi.
Personally as a Swans supporter i would love to another chance to take you on at Subi. :thumbsu:
I guess the only reason is that you get to play 4 who, in theory, is an inferior team to 3.
Yes but, in theory, communism works.
Personally as a Swans supporter i would love to another chance to take you on at Subi. :thumbsu:
Why?
You know we have the umpires on our side when we play you at home. ;)
Just jokes, dont really care but would rather face someone else.
Your guys just cramp our running game too much.
Yes but, in theory, communism works.
Ha, one of my favourite sayings in the real world. :thumbsu:
Mr Eagle
13 Aug 2006, 19:16
Why?
How did you feel last season when we got overtaken by Adelaide at the last minute?
A minor premiership from where we are now would be a great psychological boost for the squad (however unlikely...)
How did you feel last season when we got overtaken by Adelaide at the last minute?
A minor premiership from where we are now would be a great psychological boost for the squad (however unlikely...)
Did not care one bit. Just like I didn't care when we lost to Sydney at the SCG when we already had the top two spot locked up, or any other game we lost. I said after the game that Adelaide lost far more than we did (due to the Ricciuto suspension), and it proved to be so.
I dont like resting players unless they really need to be rested. You dont want Cuz, Judd or Kerr resting when they dont need to and then losing form. If they are healthy you play them. If they do in fact have general soreness or are particularly tired then by all means rest them. But if they are fit and firing and ready to go I dont like to rest players and mess with their form.
Lynch drops a mark
14 Aug 2006, 00:00
if we cant beat the swans in week 1 then we don't deserve a premiership
materamagic
14 Aug 2006, 00:04
do not tinker with something that is working good for you, that is all i am saying. if it ain't broke, dont fix it
I dont like resting players unless they really need to be rested. You dont want Cuz, Judd or Kerr resting when they dont need to and then losing form. If they are healthy you play them. If they do in fact have general soreness or are particularly tired then by all means rest them. But if they are fit and firing and ready to go I dont like to rest players and mess with their form.
Sorry disagree...look at Kerr after one weeks rest...he blitzed it so too cousins..even Juddy after his hammie (which is a rest) he played well.....Cox said it also....
buckley for pies rested then playerd really well
Embley has been rested already.
He was just on the field at the time! :D
All of our stars (Kerr, Cox, Judd, Cousins etc) have already rested so its time to roll into September and claim what we should of had last season. :thumbsu: