Fremantle players leave the field dejected after the AFL Round 21 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Fremantle Dockers at Aurora Stadium on August 21, 2010 in Launceston. Photo by Michael Willson/Slattery Media Group
At Aurora Stadium on Saturday afternoon, footy fans were supposed to be treated to a contest between two sides competing for a home final. What they got made a mockery of the term “contest” – an entirely one-sided affair that at no point looked like resulting in anything other than a Hawthorn win.
Even as far back as Thursday afternoon, when the team sheet of Hawthorn’s opponent Fremantle surfaced, it seemed very much fait accompli.
The Dockers had a whopping seven outs – all of them regular members of the team, including Matthew Pavlich and David Mundy – with an eighth player pulling out before the game. It worked out that at least twelve of the best 22 were absent (and that’s supposed to be a conservative estimate).
There’s nothing wrong with giving first-year players like Anthony Morabito and Nat Fyfe a rest late in the season. Resting a player with a niggling injury at this time of year also makes some sense.
But this was so much more than just resting the odd player – it was a conceding of defeat, a white flag, a sign the club had something more important on its mind than four points.
Above all it was farcical. The Hawks won by 116 points. They were up by as many as 130 at one stage. Freo had one goal to three quarter-time.
The AFL shouldn’t sit back and stay silent on this.
The afternoon harked back to previous seasons where there’s been the suspicion of “tanking” among lower sides in contention for priority draft picks.
While there are some differences between what happened in Launceston and what we’ve seen in recent years, it remains that the four points were not at the top of Fremantle’s priorities last week.
That alone conjures up images of Melbourne players playing ridiculously out of position at the end of last season. Or of Carlton appointing Brett Ratten as coach despite him losing all six games during his time as caretaker (how Matthew Primus would love a similar run). Or of Terry Wallace deciding to sit back and, in his own words, “just let the boys play” during Richmond’s final-round 2007 loss to St Kilda.
It should be remembered that tanking is a strong word that is very much open to interpretation. However, there is a common theme among all of the above examples and, whatever you choose to call it, it’s ugly.
All the examples strike at the very integrity of the competition. North Melbourne cannot play finals because of Saturday’s result. Results involving lower teams can also effect the ladder.
Even then, broadcasters pay good money to show these games. Thousands of supporters fork out their hard-earned to see them. Some Freo supporters, particularly, would’ve paid across-the-country airfares.
The strangest thing about what happened Saturday afternoon is that had Freo won, they’d now be sitting equal on points with the rapidly disintegrating Western Bulldogs and thus in contention for fourth spot and a second chance. Instead, they face the very real possibility of it all not being worth it.
Carlton will still test them this weekend. Beyond that, it’s possible such a demoralising loss will have a negative effect.
Who knows?
Mark Harvey has used Saturday afternoon to make a statement about the extra travel burden for West Australian clubs and the prevalence of six-day breaks in their fixture. And that’s fine, anything to improve equality in the fixture is a vote-winner in my books.
But it’s time for the AFL to make a statement of their own. They need to let it be known that treating a game of AFL football the way Fremantle did over the weekend is unacceptable.
MattRusty
Roar Pro
If the AFL did somehow put a stop to this Michael, you'd have one less thing to write about...you'd be scratching around for something else irrelevant to write about I guess. Smart move Freo, hope they thrash Carlton on Friday night and prove that it was the right thing to do.
James
Guest
What type of statement is the AFL supposed to make, and how is it going to deter anyone from doing the same thing in the future? It is impossible to tell if a player is "injured" or not and in the end it comes down to each teams coaching staff as to their approach, and who they select, for every one of the 22 regular season games. Of course the AFL wouldnt be happy with any game that involves a 100+ margin, but they are powerless to do anything about it. Fremantle looked at the bigger picture. They are out of form, and have put all their eggs in one basket. Time will tell if they took the right approach. If they win next week, every Dockers supporter will be happy and last weeks humiliation wont register a thought.
fullpoints
Guest
and why was the StKilda effort last year not mentioned in the article? I know!! Because they won with a really understrength side down at Launceston. But that doesn't rate a mention.
Doughboy
Guest
The Bulls rested their first 15 in the last round of the Super 14 this year. Just to add.
Redb
Roar Guru
That's right - there is a little a sports administration can do about selection decisions, no-one should be calling for AFL involvement. Could seriously back fire on Freo anyway. If it doesn't and they win on Friday night and secure a home final the members will be more than happy with the Hawthorn loss.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Good pickup Ben. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/6880/wolves-fined-for-understrength-side-291076 Wolves have been fined STG25,000 ($A43,500) fine for fielding an understrength side against Manchester United at Old Trafford in December. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy changed his entire outfield line-up for the 3-0 Premier League loss to United from the side that had beaten Tottenham the previous weekend. The only player surviving the cull was American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. Wolves then recalled nine of the players that had been in action at White Hart Lane for the next league game at home to fellow strugglers Burnley - and won 2-0. The Premier League said in a statement: "The Premier League Board has issued Wolverhampton Wanderers FC with a suspended 25,000 fine pound after deciding that the team fielded in their league fixture against Manchester United on 15 December 2009 was not full strength and therefore in breach of Rule E20. "The board also deemed that the club had failed to fulfil its obligations to the league and other clubs in the utmost good faith and was therefore in breach of Rule B13. "The board considered submissions from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and had sympathy for the explanation submitted by the club in relation to similar cases from previous seasons. "However, the board ruled that this case could be differentiated from the other matches cited and that disciplinary action was warranted." McCarthy commented: "I accept the Premier League's decision. It was never my intention to break any of the Premier League's rules, only to pick a team that was in the best position to get a result. I'm pleased the matter is now closed." The Premier League statement added: "In coming to this decision the board also wants to put clubs on notice that any future rule breach of this nature would be subject to a disciplinary commission that would have available a full range of sanctions." In the end getting fined 25k pounds was better than risking the millions Wolves would have lost by being relegated. Something that AFL teams do not have to worry about.
Ben Somerford
Guest
I don't agree with you Michael. I don't think the AFL should have any say in how Fremantle selects its 22. Interestingly, a similar thing happened in the EPL last year with Wolves resting players for an away trip to Man U before winnable home games against weaker teams. From memory, the FA fined Wolves! I can't comprehend why. It's in the club's best interests, or at least they believe it to be. We shouldn't forget players and clubs are the AFL's assets and shouldn't have their interests and decisions determined by outside forces such as the 'broadcasters paying good money' or 'North missing out'.
mahony
Guest
There is no fix for this problem in the AFL. It is caused by an incentive driven by a complex intersection of the salary cap, a narrow labour market, a domestic-only game and the fixture perversions.
Jonathan
Guest
This wasn't tanking; the examples cited above involving Carlton, Melbourne and Richmond were simply teams not wanting to win a game. If Freo had managed to win on Saturday I can assure you that the Fremantle coaching panel would have been delighted, whereas Dean Bailey and Brett Ratten went out of their way to ensure that there teams lost. Freo were never going to win this game with the wounded team they could put out on the field. This is effectively tapering ro ensure a good performance this Friday and a home final. This was also a veiled protest at having their wishes completely ignored in regards to the Round 22 fixture, which they expressly asked not be played on a Friday.
Pat
Guest
Until their is a fair fixture, list management will go on. I'm sure Freo would love to play the last 7 games at Subi and freshen up for the finals but we aren't talking Collingwood here. Demetriou had no problem with it and nor should he. End the talk on this matter.
Redb
Roar Guru
To be honest, i'm not sure what the AFL could have done about Freo's selection decisions.