Geelong sending players for surgery early and impacting GWS finals chances

[The Hobo]

Teams have always done this, sent players in for surgery early when they realise their season is over. So this is not a dig at Geelong specifically, they're just the example for this season.

Geelong have done it this week, and there's a direct impact on GWS. The Dogs are likely to win now, and can potentially win by a decent margin, thereby boosting their %.

GWS could miss finals on Geelongs decision.

All this talk of integrity of the competition and attention on West Coast, and even the Crows missing finals due to the goal umpiring decision is all fair, but why isn't this getting brought up?

Everyone used to kick and scream when teams rested players before finals, so much so that they brought in a bye. But again, this issue doesn't get talked about.

There is no way Geelong send all those blokes in for surgery if they were in finals.

One could even argue retiring players at home a round early (Cotchin & Riewoldt) would have similar issues - though this one is a little blurry.

I can't help but think that if Collingwood were in GWS position, there would be a lot more noise about it.

EDIT:

Example below of where there's noise around the Kangaroos not playing their strongest team, but no noise around other teams resting/sending players for surgery early.

'Why would they want to win?' Footy Classified panel's suspicious reaction to North gun's injury

Luke Davies-Uniacke is set to miss the Kangaroos final round against Gold Coast with a toe injury. The Footy Classified panel believes it is…

www.theroar.com.au

 

[Crow till I die]

Teams have always done this, sent players in for surgery early when they realise their season is over. So this is not a dig at Geelong specifically, they're just the example for this season.

Geelong have done it this week, and there's a direct impact on GWS. The Dogs are likely to win now, and can potentially win by a decent margin, thereby boosting their %.

GWS could miss finals on Geelongs decision.

All this talk of integrity of the competition and attention on West Coast, and even the Crows missing finals due to the goal umpiring decision is all fair, but why isn't this getting brought up?

Everyone used to kick and scream when teams rested players before finals, so much so that they brought in a bye. But again, this issue doesn't get talked about.

There is no way Geelong send all those blokes in for surgery if they were in finals.

One could even argue retiring players at home a round early (Cotchin & Riewoldt) would have similar issues - though this one is a little blurry.

I can't help but think that if Collingwood were in GWS position, there would be a lot more noise about it.

If the AFL had not altered the outcome of the crows match last week, Geelong would still be a chance at finals and no way they send these guys out for surgery etc

 

[Golden_6]

The % factor isn't really an issue. We win and GWS lose, the Dogs will be in the finals no matter what the margins are.

The Dogs just lost to the worst team of the last decade at home. No matter who the Cats have missing, I still highly doubt they'll win at a ground they haven't won at for 20 odd years. We're cooked.

 

[STPer18]

Move over North, West Coast and Hawthorn - Harley Reid is coming home.

 

[The 4th Horseman]

Strange way to look at it. It's on GWS to win on Sunday. They win and they make finals, simple as that.

 

[The Hobo]

The % factor isn't really an issue. We win and GWS lose, the Dogs will be in the finals no matter what the margins are.

The Dogs just lost to the worst team of the last decade at home. No matter who the Cats have missing, I still highly doubt they'll win at a ground they haven't won at for 20 odd years. We're cooked.

Sure, but Dogs win and GWS scrape a win, and % is a factor. EDIT: Yes I got this wrong

Cats are missing quite a few stars, it will make a massive difference. Dogs are 1.72 favorites off the back of the changes.

 

[The Hobo]

Strange way to look at it. It's on GWS to win on Sunday. They win and they make finals, simple as that.

Ah yup of course, let's all play weakened teams to get different outcomes and then shrug your shoulders and say "sorry mate, you should have won"

Teams could do this to manipulate their final position in the 8 for example, and then choose who/where they end up playing. Nothing to see right?

 

[Mr Meow]

Teams have always done this, sent players in for surgery early when they realise their season is over. So this is not a dig at Geelong specifically, they're just the example for this season.

Geelong have done it this week, and there's a direct impact on GWS. The Dogs are likely to win now, and can potentially win by a decent margin, thereby boosting their %.

GWS could miss finals on Geelongs decision.

All this talk of integrity of the competition and attention on West Coast, and even the Crows missing finals due to the goal umpiring decision is all fair, but why isn't this getting brought up?

Everyone used to kick and scream when teams rested players before finals, so much so that they brought in a bye. But again, this issue doesn't get talked about.

There is no way Geelong send all those blokes in for surgery if they were in finals.

One could even argue retiring players at home a round early (Cotchin & Riewoldt) would have similar issues - though this one is a little blurry.

I can't help but think that if Collingwood were in GWS position, there would be a lot more noise about it.

Cameron and Dangerfield blatantly shouldn't have been playing the past 5 weeks or so.

Hawkins was rushed back with the season on the line and twinged the same hammy.

Ratugolea and Close were new injuries.

We were only going to have a chance at getting Rohan and Blicavs back for finals.

Stanley and Guthrie are the only two who might be ready but not rushed back in due to the season being over.

 

[Golden_6]

Sure, but Dogs win and GWS scrape a win, and % is a factor.

Cats are missing quite a few stars, it will make a massive difference. Dogs are 1.72 favorites off the back of the changes.

GWS are a game ahead of us. It obviously isn't ideal for them but if they win they can control the outcome.

 

[sexyhunk]

lol your stupid theory would have made sense if it was not the last game of the year. Geelong are well outside of the 8 with the available players after 20 weeks of footy. big enough sample size to determine bulldogs are decent chance regardless.

 

[The Hobo]

GWS are a game ahead of us. It obviously isn't ideal for them but if they win they can control the outcome.

I agree, but there's still an integrity issue that occurs every year that nobody talks about.

The impact varies, but if you potted West Coast for not putting an extra behind the ball because of integrity, than this is no different.

It also likely gives Geelong a better chance to get an earlier draft pick.

Why is tanking only an issue for the struggling bottom place sides, but not an issue if a mid table side throws their last games?

 

[The 4th Horseman]

Ah yup of course, let's all play weakened teams to get different outcomes and then shrug your shoulders and say "sorry mate, you should have won"

Teams could do this to manipulate their final position in the 8 for example, and then choose who/where they end up playing. Nothing to see right?

GWS control the outcome..

 

[The Hobo]

Cameron and Dangerfield blatantly shouldn't have been playing the past 5 weeks or so.

We were only going to have a chance at getting Rohan and Blicavs back for finals.

Stanley and Guthrie are the only two who might be ready but not rushed back in due to the season being over.

Cameron and Danger would absolutely have played this week if season was on the line. Likely also Rohan, Blicavs Guthrie etc.

And despite being off, they're all still far better than the alternative, which is why they've kept playing.

 

[The Hobo]

lol your stupid theory would have made sense if it was not the last game of the year. Geelong are well outside of the 8 with the available players after 20 weeks of footy. big enough sample size to determine bulldogs are decent chance regardless.

But the changes have significantly increased those chances, which is the issue

 

[Crow till I die]

GWS control the outcome..

yep..but Sydney too should have been having to win to guarantee a finals spot this week too..so the whole end to this season for teams from 6-13 trying to make finals has an asterix on it forever because of saturday night

 

[kane249]

After last weekend I wouldn't bank on the Bulldogs to be winning by a large margin even with Geelong's injuries

 

[Orange crush]

We should have tried harder against the dons to up our % …. But they were also playing for finals so it’s difficult

 

[The Hobo]

GWS control the outcome..

Still missing the point.

If the Cats play a full strength side, as it is expected of them, the chance of the Dogs winning is significantly reduced, and then GWS qualify without doing anything.

If the Roos sent a whole bunch of players in for surgery this week, you can bet the media would jump on them and accuse them of tanking - we would get discussion after discussion about it.

 

[The Hobo]

GWS are a game ahead of us. It obviously isn't ideal for them but if they win they can control the outcome.

Think you need to look at it with a more macro lens.

There is an integrity issue when a team deliberately plays a weakened side. The impacts vary each time it happens. Yes, this time GWS control the outcome. Next time, they may not.

And regardless of controlling the outcome, it doesn't make it any not acceptable or fair.

 

[Mr Meow]

Cameron and Danger would absolutely have played this week if season was on the line. Likely also Rohan, Blicavs Guthrie etc.

And despite being off, they're all still far better than the alternative, which is why they've kept playing.

They might've but their movement since playing through their injuries has been more appropriate for an under 60s side. The Collingwood game they somehow found one last drop out of the orange and we saw the effects of that in the St Kilda game.

I'd venture to say they had almost no influence on the game last week. We hoped for two miracles in a row but that hail Mary strategy rarely pays off for long.

 

[Footy Smarts]

It's far from ideal but nothing can really be done about it. In terms of fairness in the season the chance of playing a weakened team in the last round is a drop in the bucket compared to the unevenness of the fixture.

And I'm at least confident that Geelong aren't deliberately trying to lose the game. They're not going to harm their chances next year by playing guys who aren't right but the 23 players who go out there on the weekend will absolutely be trying to win.

 

[The 4th Horseman]

Still missing the point.

If the Cats play a full strength side, as it is expected of them, the chance of the Dogs winning is significantly reduced, and then GWS qualify without doing anything.

If the Roos sent a whole bunch of players in for surgery this week, you can bet the media would jump on them and accuse them of tanking - we would get discussion after discussion about it.

Not missing the point, just don't agree with the sentiment. It's in Geelongs best interests to look after their squad. If they choose to send players in for surgery so they can have a full preseason that is their prerogative.

If GWS are good enough to win on Sunday night it won't matter what happens on Saturday night.

 

[Dazzler9]

Sometimes you cop a team that's riding high, sometimes you get a side decimated by injuries, sometimes it's round 24 and one team has nothing to play for. That's just how it goes.

 

[The Hobo]

It's far from ideal but nothing can really be done about it. In terms of fairness in the season the chance of playing a weakened team in the last round is a drop in the bucket compared to the unevenness of the fixture.

And I'm at least confident that Geelong aren't deliberately trying to lose the game. They're not going to harm their chances next year by playing guys who aren't right but the 23 players who go out there on the weekend will absolutely be trying to win.

People are justifying the resting of players by saying "they can't make finals" - but if Roos or WCE did it, ppl would be up in arms. At what point does it become acceptable? Is it the last round? Would we be ok if the Roos or WCE sent a bunch of ppl off for surgery this week? Oscar Allen has been playing with banged up shoulders.

And totally agree, the uneven fixture is a far bigger issue.

I totally get why they're doing it, and every season, teams do it. I just don't know if it's very fair on teams like GWS this season and someone else next season.

I'm not suggesting for one moment that Geelong won't play to win, but a weakened team makes that harder.

 

[The Hobo]

Sometimes you cop a team that's riding high, sometimes you get a side decimated by injuries, sometimes it's round 24 and one team has nothing to play for. That's just how it goes.

It's not legitimately decimated by injury though, they've put players in for surgery that would otherwise have played.