Should we start resting players ???

[coryne]

We are currently lock in 4th spot, but will struggle to hold it if EVERYTHING goes right for us esp after the Eagles just beat Melbourne. We would need the Eagles to loose x2 more games than us which is unlikely as they have Essendon in WA, the Lions and Adelaide in WA while we would need to beat Hawthorn and St. Kilda. We also have a 16 point buffer over St. Kilda in 6th so will almost certainly finish in 5th at the worst.


Would it be worth giving ANY player who has niggle next week off against Hawthorn. We basically submit to finishing 5th (which is almost a certainty anyway) but we will be giving players a x2 week window to recoup and recover before a hard game against St. Kilda leading into the finals.


Geelong and Collingwood have been able to rotate players in and out of the side to keep them as fresh as possible, which is something we haven't done too much to this point. I just see our current position as a good chance to freshen up as many players as possible in what is essentially a dead rubber (Hawthorn will almost certainly finish 3rd, WCE 4th and Carlton 5th) while they still get a game before the finals to regain some form.

 

[ScarfacePacino]

We are currently lock in 4th spot, but will struggle to hold it if EVERYTHING goes right for us esp after the Eagles just beat Melbourne. We would need the Eagles to loose x2 more games than us which is unlikely as they have Essendon in WA, the Lions and Adelaide in WA while we would need to beat Hawthorn and St. Kilda. We also have a 16 point buffer over St. Kilda in 6th so will almost certainly finish in 5th at the worst.


Would it be worth giving ANY player who has niggle next week off against Hawthorn. We basically submit to finishing 5th (which is almost a certainty anyway) but we will be giving players a x2 week window to recoup and recover before a hard game against St. Kilda leading into the finals.


Geelong and Collingwood have been able to rotate players in and out of the side to keep them as fresh as possible, which is something we haven't done too much to this point. I just see our current position as a good chance to freshen up as many players as possible in what is essentially a dead rubber (Hawthorn will almost certainly finish 3rd, WCE 4th and Carlton 5th) while they still get a game before the finals to regain some form.

Not really only need us to win our last 2 and our enemies bombers to beat Eagles at Subiaco. Essendon are one of those teams that can beat the best on their day. I reckon they will beat the Eagles, they still got Brisbane at the Gabba also, but they most likely win that, although Brisbane would like to win their last match at home. I bet we lose 1 of ours. Hawks need to lose against us and then bulldogs they won't lose 2 maybe only 1.

 

[Blueboys7]

I see what you are saying and it may be something to think about, especially with a bye straight after which would give them two weeks off.

At the sane time to we just use the bye as our chance to rest players because missing 2 weeks just before finals may not be the best preparation.

We will most likely finish 5th at this stage.

 

[blue gunslinger]

we are yet to beat a team above us so it would be a great mental tick if we could beat Hawks and even a StK team that is playing like a good team again. If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. We have a bye. Play the rest of the games as if they were finals but no injuries no reports

 

[james Dean]

Who are these injured players you speak of? I can't think of any injured players playing for us right now, anyway I think it's too close to finals to make un-needed changes like this.

 

[blue gunslinger]

IF you were going to rest players missing an interstate game would make more sense except it is team building apparently (lawn bowls unifies the masses)

 

[jackn]

We would need the Eagles to loose x2 more games than us

They need to lose 1 more than us, not 2. We need to win these games going into September, so no way should we be resting players unnecessarily.

 

[marcmurphy#3]

Bye in rd 23. Seems pretty unnecessary to me to rest players for two weeks if all they have is a niggle. Remember that match practice and fitness are very important coming into finals

 

[VicO]

Not at this stage. We perhaps should have done it a few weeks ago, but to be honest a win vs Hawthorn & St Kilda will do so much more for the club than any rest would in terms of confidence and self-belief. More than happy to rotate some of the younger fringe players though.

 

[SeVi]

Who are these injured players you speak of? I can't think of any injured players playing for us right now, anyway I think it's too close to finals to make un-needed changes like this.

I agree. You don't mess around with form. We have a bye, and with Carrazzo only just returning plus Waite and Jamo + Russell to return we don't need to rest our players. As the Hawks game is friday and I think the Saints clash is Saturday night, that is a very good period for us to really rest up before we assault the finals. We might be temped to rest against the Saints if WCE and Hawthorn don't lose a game and forcing us to finish 5th, but even then we need to build momentum for the finals.

The bye ought to be sufficient.

 

[Malifice]

Great thread, I was thinking this myself.

Most sides recently have made a habit of resting players prior to the finals, and it has payed dividends. Recent examples include Collingwood, Hawks and Cats.

I reckon we go all out this week, and see how the other results fall our way.

This gives us the following week to know if we are still a chance for a top 4 spot or not. If we drop the game against the Hawks, and WCE win, we are a virtual cert for 5th.

Next week we get a bye to confirm ladder postions.

It also gives us potentially 2 weeks to rest players - the bye and the St Kilda game.

I wouldnt be opposed should we lose to Hawthorn and WCE get up this week, and after assessing our chances of a top 4 finish in 2 weeks during the bye.

 

[NAUGHT5]

Nah.

If we rest a player they'll be going into the finals with 1 game in in a month.

 

[Bluebear]

Not really only need us to win our last 2 and our enemies bombers to beat Eagles at Subiaco. Essendon are one of those teams that can beat the best on their day. I reckon they will beat the Eagles, they still got Brisbane at the Gabba also, but they most likely win that, although Brisbane would like to win their last match at home. I bet we lose 1 of ours. Hawks need to lose against us and then bulldogs they won't lose 2 maybe only 1.

I suspect the debate might end Friday night.

I'm not confident vs Hawks who have the wood on us. If we had a full side then maybe.

Either way, I don't think we need to start resting guys. The ones that might need it will get a rest the week after anyway. 2 weeks off and they might come back a bit "switched off".

Jammo and Waite will come in fresh as will Russ.

Where's Curnow? Had a lot of man love for this guy earlier in the year and he has dropped off the face of the planet. Is it just form now or is he carrying an injury?

Russ will come in for Davies or Tuohy, Jammo for the other one, and Waite for ? Thornton?

Someone will be unlucky.

We have given Davies and Tuohy a run, as well as Twoomey, McLean, and I suspect Lucas has his mojo back and could come in as well if needs be (though maybe not straight into a final - so he'd be one I'd like to see get a couple of weeks).

In short, I don't think we are going so well as to flirt with our form. Pies and Cats know what it takes to go deep into September and can afford to some extend to tinker. We want to hit that first final at full steam and not take our foot off the gas until we run out......see how far it gets us.

My tip - if our small forwards have a good finals series would could make a PF and even a GF, if they have a bad week we are gone.

 

[Beloved]

Hate this mindset.

We're not going to cruise into finals - we have a tough road ahead. As soon as we think we've got a finals win in the bag, we will get trounced.

If recent history has told you anything, it's that we should never get too comfortable. I'm glad the players don't have the same mindset as the OP.

A win over Hawthorn a few weeks out from finals would be perfect and really give our guys some confidence. Giving them the week off gives them the feeling that we are in a comfortable position. We are not.

 

[1981]

I suspect the debate might end Friday night.

I'm not confident vs Hawks who have the wood on us. If we had a full side then maybe.

Either way, I don't think we need to start resting guys. The ones that might need it will get a rest the week after anyway. 2 weeks off and they might come back a bit "switched off".

Jammo and Waite will come in fresh as will Russ.

Where's Curnow? Had a lot of man love for this guy earlier in the year and he has dropped off the face of the planet. Is it just form now or is he carrying an injury?

Russ will come in for Davies or Tuohy, Jammo for the other one, and Waite for ? Thornton?

Someone will be unlucky.

We have given Davies and Tuohy a run, as well as Twoomey, McLean, and I suspect Lucas has his mojo back and could come in as well if needs be (though maybe not straight into a final - so he'd be one I'd like to see get a couple of weeks).

In short, I don't think we are going so well as to flirt with our form. Pies and Cats know what it takes to go deep into September and can afford to some extend to tinker. We want to hit that first final at full steam and not take our foot off the gas until we run out......see how far it gets us.

My tip - if our small forwards have a good finals series would could make a PF and even a GF, if they have a bad week we are gone.

Interested in your comments on our small fwds.

You don't think Walker and Waite could cause some damage?

 

[reg_lower91]

I honestly think it's too late to start resting players now, especially considering we have a bye in 2 weeks.

Have really respected Geelong's approach to their list management this year. Have omitted several of their key players at different times this year, regardless of who they were playing (even though most of them were rested during SS games). They should be heading in to finals fresh because of it.

I think we maybe should have given our players in the 26years+ bracket an additional rest at some stage this year but, as I said before, it's perhaps a tad too late now with the bye fast approaching.

 

[Bluebear]

Interested in your comments on our small fwds.

You don't think Walker and Waite could cause some damage?

I guess I include Walker as a "small" forward.

Waite I tink will be a bonus, but has yet to show this year that he can rip a game up in the forward line as he did last year.

If he does that will go a long way, but I think most teams have one good tall defender that will likely keep Waite under raps.

My concern for us is that to win a flag, we rely so heavily on our smalls that they need to play well for 3-4 weeks in a row.

I'm not sure I've seen that from them as a group this year. Usually see one or two weeks then a little dip. Thats where Waite might be able to fill in, but he's missed a bit of footy so my expectations are low.

I really want to fit Setanta into the team for finals. Finals are typically lower scoring scrappy affairs......I think that will suit Setanta down to a tee and he may well help bring the smalls into it more.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

Prior to the West Coast and Dogs unexpected losses the club had in mind to rest a few players (Juddy, Shmurf, Robbo, Gibbs and Kreuz) through various weeks. Since those losses every game had/has been vital in securing a top 4 spot and we haven't had the luxury of giving them that break. Now the bye is next week, the boys will have 3/4 days off after Friday night, come back for a few hard days of training, another few days off then another few days slog on the track. It's unfortunate, but the boys have been pulling up reasonably well week after week.

 

[Big Sim]

Prior to the West Coast and Dogs unexpected losses the club had in mind to rest a few players (Juddy, Shmurf, Robbo, Gibbs and Kreuz) through various weeks. Since those losses every game had/has been vital in securing a top 4 spot and we haven't had the luxury of giving them that break. Now the bye is next week, the boys will have 3/4 days off after Friday night, come back for a few hard days of training, another few days off then another few days slog on the track. It's unfortunate, but the boys have been pulling up reasonably well week after week.

So is the bye a blessing do you think, or an interruption to momentum?

 

[chaser1]

No way rest players, have not beaten anyone above us. That says enough, players like Russell, Jammo and even i would throw in Lucas for that matter need game time and there are only 2 left!

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

So is the bye a blessing do you think, or an interruption to momentum?

Its both, but the players are crying out for a rest and if we could have a choice as to the timing of the break, the club would wish for the same time next year.