Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

[Dry Rot]

See http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-3...in-final-round

Should this be allowed? And what if say Carlton at the other end of the table did it against Brisbane to tank.

Thoughts?

[Remi Moses]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

Got no issue with it personally, as the only people Lyon is accountable to is his membership base.
Not accountable to betting agencies, and doing what's in the clubs best interests

[jeemak]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

If he was potentially engineering a result that impacted his team's prospects it would be an issue, but he isn't and he should be able to do what he wants with his side as a result of that.

Top end sport has a way of working things out. Not many can get away with taking the piss, and if he was, he'd get found out pretty quickly.

[Sedat]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

Not many can get away with taking the piss, and if he was, he'd get found out pretty quickly.

He did exactly the same thing 2 years ago and was taking the piss that day - they lost to St Kilda and conceded a world record number of disposals, such was the bruise-free nature of that match. And yet Freo had a magnificent win in the QF down at Geelong the week after. Clear method to the madness.

[1eyedog]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

They've earned the right to do it. I would be encouraging it if it was us. We even joked about taking the VFL side up to Brisvegas if our ladder position was fixed.

[Bornadog]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

If he was potentially engineering a result that impacted his team's prospects it would be an issue, but he isn't and he should be able to do what he wants with his side as a result of that.

Top end sport has a way of working things out. Not many can get away with taking the piss, and if he was, he'd get found out pretty quickly.

Hit the nail on the head. Whether Freo win or lose it doesn't effect any other results nor gain/lose any advantage over other teams.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

I'd rather than honesty and allow betting houses to shut the market than allow media and fringe types to put in big bets. I'd have issues if betting markets were allowed to continue or a draft or other benefit arise out of losing. It's not the prettiest picture, but our club has acquired the services of Brigadier General Soreness this year and we've not had an issue. I'd hope Bevo would do the same thing and that Dave and Peter would give Gil a call to tell him what we are doing. All clear for me.

[jeemak]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

He did exactly the same thing 2 years ago and was taking the piss that day - they lost to St Kilda and conceded a world record number of disposals, such was the bruise-free nature of that match. And yet Freo had a magnificent win in the QF down at Geelong the week after. Clear method to the madness.

That's my point. He clearly believes it to be an important part of his team management strategy.

[Flamethrower]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

He did exactly the same thing 2 years ago and was taking the piss that day - they lost to St Kilda and conceded a world record number of disposals, such was the bruise-free nature of that match. And yet Freo had a magnificent win in the QF down at Geelong the week after. Clear method to the madness.

On their way to their 1st premiership...oh wait.

I have played sport for over 30 years, and have teams rest players en masse at all levels from the AFL to Z grade to "freshen up" players for a finals campaign. And all those teams have one thing in common - finals failure. I have never seen it work.

It is ok to rest a handful (max 20% of team) with niggling injuries without a negative impact on team continuity, but any more than that and the Karma bus always seems to be waiting to run you over.

Bevo has done it perfectly - we have been resting players when they have needed it since our trip to Launceston in round 3, and have kept our team fresh by using virtually every player on the list. That way the core of the team has remained stable, and we don't need the radical resting of players being considered by the Shockers and Norf.

Yet another reason why the inspired choice of Luke Beveridge as head coach may be the most significant event in the history of the Footscray/Western Bulldogs Football Club.

[Scraggers]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

I like Carlton's response :-

image.jpg

[Happy Days]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

On their way to their 1st premiership...oh wait.

I have played sport for over 30 years, and have teams rest players en masse at all levels from the AFL to Z grade to "freshen up" players for a finals campaign. And all those teams have one thing in common - finals failure. I have never seen it work.

It is ok to rest a handful (max 20% of team) with niggling injuries without a negative impact on team continuity, but any more than that and the Karma bus always seems to be waiting to run you over.

Bevo has done it perfectly - we have been resting players when they have needed it since our trip to Launceston in round 3, and have kept our team fresh by using virtually every player on the list. That way the core of the team has remained stable, and we don't need the radical resting of players being considered by the Shockers and Norf.

Yet another reason why the inspired choice of Luke Beveridge as head coach may be the most significant event in the history of the Footscray/Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Nah this is self fulfilling prophecy. Maybe Fremantle resting their players threw them off so much that that only had it in them to beat 2 top 4 teams in a row instead of 3 before succumbing to GLORY BOY LACTIC ACID from too many days off, or maybe Hawthorn, that side that made the Grand Final the previous year (and should have won it), and then won the next one were just better.

[Greystache]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

I don't have any issue with it. They've earnt the right and should be free to do as they see fit.

It's actually refreshing to see something obvious in the AFL called what it is. Normally they'd have a carefully stage managed charade of trying to pretend something isn't what it is that only succeeds in insulting supporters intelligence.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

I don't have any issue with it. They've earnt the right and should be free to do as they see fit.

It's actually refreshing to see something obvious in the AFL called what it is. Normally they'd have a carefully stage managed charade of trying to pretend something isn't what it is that only succeeds in insulting supporters intelligence.

Totally agree.

Surely clubs are free to play whoever they like off their list.

If he is told he has to play sore players so the AFL doesn't look bad, that's just plain wrong.

I can see merit in the integrity rule if a club is apparently putting out a weak team because it would benefit from a loss (better draft pick, more favourable finals match up), otherwise clubs should be left to manage their own affairs. Especially when they are being completely open about it.

As for the argument that it makes it harder for betting agencies to frame markets - spare me.

[The Doctor]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

Barrett says Freo should forfeit.

Can he be merged with outer space somehow?

[Bornadog]

Re: Lyon wants to rest half his team this weekend - AFL troubled

At least 6 for starters.

ROSS Lyon has confirmed that six senior players will definitely miss Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide and that youngster Connor Blakely will make his AFL debut.

The AFL gave Fremantle the green light on Monday to rest up to 11 players for Saturday's round 23 clash after the Dockers secured top spot last weekend with one round to play.


Lyon confirmed that skipper Matthew Pavlich, Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Stephen Hill and Lee Spurr would definitely not play this week. The Dockers will discuss any further changes over the coming days.


Lyon confirmed that Michael Walters would not be risked against Port Adelaide after missing last week with calf tightness.


Cam Sutcliffe is set to miss with his dislocated shoulder although Lyon said he would be available for the first final.


Hayden Ballantyne trained on Tuesday morning at Fremantle Oval and Lyon said the forward was on track to return for the week one of the finals.


He said Nat Fyfe was also recovering well from the inflammation in his fibula.