The decision by the AFL to allow North Melbourne to rest up to 11 players in this weekend’s final round match against Richmond quite simply stinks.
While Fremantle were given approval earlier in the week to do the same in their final match against Port Adelaide, that game has no bearing on the composition of the ladder. The Dockers cannot lose top spot and the Power have no chance of playing finals.
In this situation the only losers are the Peel Thunder. Fremantle’s reserve grade side will be making their first finals appearance in the WAFL this weekend, and will struggle to field a competitive side due to the amount of players who will be called up to the seniors.
Although unfortunate for Peel and their supporters, Port Adelaide get the chance to knock off the possible premiers in the final round at home, which for them and their supporters will be a nice way to finish the season.
However the situation with North Melbourne is completely different. It is mind-boggling they have been given the all clear by the powers that be to virtually forfeit the game.
The Kangaroos currently sit in eighth position on the ladder. They can finish no lower, and unless Geelong upsets Adelaide, can finish no higher.
Richmond, on the other hand, could drop from their current fifth position to as low as seventh with a loss, and if the Crows win comfortably against Geelong at Simmons Stadium and the Saints upset the Dogs, they could finish as high as fourth – thereby earning themselves a home final against the Kangaroos.
There is absolutely no doubt that, if given a choice, North Melbourne Coach Brad Scott would choose a final against Richmond at the MCG, rather than having to travel to Adelaide to take on a Crows outfit who since Round 16 have averaged 117 points per game. The most of any team in that same period.
A loss for Richmond and a win to the Bulldogs would also see the Tigers lose fifth spot, although this time to the Bulldogs, and would mean the Kangaroos would face the Bulldogs in the first week of finals, possibly at Etihad Stadium. The same venue they were comfortably beaten at by the Dogs only a week ago.
The AFL’s approval of North Melbourne’s request to rest up to 11 players has all but ruled either of these scenarios out.
Indeed with this decision not only have they handed fifth place to the Tigers on a plate, they have also relegated the Crows and Bulldogs to fifth at best, and leads one to ask, why even bother playing the last round at all?
Most of the teams that have finished outside of the eight probably just want the season to be over anyway, while those teams who have qualified for finals worst fear would be losing a valuable player to injury in a meaningless game.
So why not just scrap Round 23 completely and give everyone a breather before the real stuff starts next week?
This decision quite simply stinks.
Macca
Guest
Losing something? They rule out any chance of having to travel to Adelaide (big win), don't ahve to play a side that beat them by 4 goals at the same venue just last week (win) and get to play a side that just loves to choke in Richmond (another win) all while resting half their side - where is the downside again?
13th Man
Guest
just an interesting thing to note about Freo's side this week. Not a single player from the leadership group is playing? the most experienced player is Dawson who captains? Dawson, Clancee, Barlow, Neale??
13th Man
Guest
If I was a North supporter I would rather be playing at Etihad then at the G. And whilst the Doggies beat them last week I still think North have a better chance against them than Richmond. So they are losing something.
Vocans
Guest
Thanks for the clarification. My head turns to spaghetti with this stuff.
Macca
Guest
"Mate, the chances of North having to go to Adelaide were low" They have now gone from low to impossible - win for North. "They don’t have anything to gain really. In fact they’ve given up the opportunity to play the Dogs at Etihad" What was the result of the North V Bulldogs game at Etihad last week?
jax
Guest
"Apparently the AFL didn’t have their quota of stupid decisions for the year." Gold
JW
Guest
This is all Freo's fault. All they had to do was beat North Melbourne a couple of weeks ago like a 1st placed side should beat an 8th placed side. Then North could still potentially fall out of the 8 and teams would still have plenty to play for this round. The AFL may also have then said Freo couldn't rest players against Port because it would impact the makeup of the 8. I'm obviously a little tongue in cheek here but still...Bloody Freo.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Technically, Freo is the only side in the top 8 that can't have their position affected by the weekends results.
Vocans
Guest
Dumb if they do - momentum is what they need to bite deep into the finals. They're building and don't need a break in play.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
When President Blackadder too over
13th Man
Guest
yeah exactly and i think that is why we need to just keep it as is and understand that some sides will rest players. We just have to let sides do what they feel is best going in and if it means a couple of dead r23 games then so be it.
jax
Guest
Brad Scott may ask a few of his B graders that are unlikely to get a game next week to soften up the Tigers for the first final.
Vocans
Guest
The rule requires that teams do not tank in terms of draft picks and ladder position. Ladder position is clearly at stake for everyone but the top three. They do not fit the scenario, but the rest apparently do. I don't claim Scott has anything more in mind than resting his players like Freo, but the fact is that undermanning could significantly affect the ladder, and that looks to me like another thing that can bring the game into disrepute, and, in my opinion, deservedly so. If the principle is followed in future, finals or otherwise, all a team has to do is claim niggles and fatigue and you're on the way to draft picks and/or a better ladder for yourself - by not representing your club to the best of its ability. How can the AFL rule consistently otherwise?
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I think the bigger issue is that so many teams in the 8 can afford to rest players, because they are not under threat of losing their spot in the 8 and are unlikley to move position at all. I can't recall a year where the final round has lacked so much suspense around ladder positions in the 8. This year, teams down to 12 (Collingwood) have been competitive, but 6 teams below them haven't been. To have 6 clubs averaging four and a half wins each is a concern to the league. The gap appears to be growing between good and bad clubs and with the exception of maybe the Saints, they have all arguably underperformed and underdelivered, without much optimism for their supporters.
Jamie Radford
Roar Pro
I did. Wrote the article in a rush just before having to go to work, and didn't have as much time as usual for edit. Damn self imposed deadlines!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
There's a couple of other minor mistakes too Jamie: "...and the Saints upset the Dogs", but the Dogs play Brisbane; "Indeed with this decision not only have they handed fifth place to the Tigers on a plate, they have also relegated the Crows and Bulldogs to fifth at best", I think you mean 6th at best;
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
When did they appoint Baldrick as head of strategy?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Oh yeah it has lots of potential drawbacks, but that's the luck of the draw. You would promote a lot more interest in the final round though. I'm only being vaguely semi-serious with it so you can relax. With the final round bye idea, is not so much an issue of fitting it in, because they'll resume the double bye next year. The problem is that a lot of team going into the finals would not want their form disrupted by it.
13th Man
Guest
yep
13th Man
Guest
Hawthorn actually need to win but i imagine their Box Hill side would still beat Carlton.