shall we rest our midfield

saint75 · Post: # 738958Post **saint75** » Thu 14 May 2009 5:52pm

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

awesome_days · Fri 15 May 2009 12:01am

I would think that the resting of players would be in proportion to turnaround times and number of games played in a season.

Looking at soccer - it is well known that the top clubs, competing in up to 6 competitions in a season (2 games most weeks) will rotate through a squad of around 22 quite evenly. The exception is generally the goalie who rarely misses a game given the ower physical toll.

When playing in up to six comps, a club can prioritise their selections, with the better players playing bigger games and the lesser players getting more time against lower ranked opposition.

In the A-leauge there is not much resting of players given a shorter season - selections are based on form and matchups. An A-league squad would be similar to an AFL one where you have about 1.5 players fighting over each position. From memory, Adelaide United were the only team to "rest" players given that they were playing in 2 competitiions with great travel (something-stan) and short turnarounds.

After all that - I would only consider resting players if we had to back up 3 x 6 day turnarounds late in the season and we were close to garunteed a top 2 spot.

This would be on the basis of ensuring the players are fresh for finals and reduce the impact of niggling injuries.

CaptainRiewoldt · Fri 15 May 2009 12:15am

I believe in resting King. Why bring him back when McEvoy can do the job???

Let him rest, its a long season.

If players get injuries let them heal longer than normal no rushing back in.

SainterK · Post: # 739146Post **SainterK** » Fri 15 May 2009 12:29am

CaptainReiwoldt wrote:I believe in resting King. Why bring him back when McEvoy can do the job???

Let him rest, its a long season.

If players get injuries let them heal longer than normal no rushing back in.

I agree, he is also one of our older players. Don't rush him, both Essendon and Brisbane are without their principal ruckman....

HarveysDeciple · Fri 15 May 2009 12:56am

Why does this rest debate continue on?

Does winning make you more tired then losing does it?

ace · Post: # 739176Post **ace** » Fri 15 May 2009 1:51am

perfectionist wrote:We did rest them! Last Monday night!

Exactly, when is someone going to give the Saints a decent workout.
Surely these easy wins can't be good for the teams fitness.

Maybe we could arrange a game with Sandringham for mid week.

stinger · Post: # 739258Post **stinger** » Fri 15 May 2009 11:38am

ask eddy...

Joffa 5 · Post: # 739300Post **Joffa 5** » Fri 15 May 2009 12:43pm

If the reports are true, the training schedule is lighter than previous years to cope with the ferocity applied on game day. Sounds good enough to me. If fit, play them.

Thinline · Post: # 739312Post **Thinline** » Fri 15 May 2009 1:19pm

evertonfc wrote:
If, for example, we were 18-2 going into round 21, with a top-two spot sewn up, I've got no problem with resting a few key players.

It's not flirting with your form. It's risk management and promoting a healthy list, something that we - of all clubs - should realise is essential going into September.

Bulldogs last year took the pedal off when they were assured top 4.

Didn't work.

SainterK · Post: # 739370Post **SainterK** » Fri 15 May 2009 3:55pm

Thinline wrote:
evertonfc wrote:
If, for example, we were 18-2 going into round 21, with a top-two spot sewn up, I've got no problem with resting a few key players.

It's not flirting with your form. It's risk management and promoting a healthy list, something that we - of all clubs - should realise is essential going into September.
Bulldogs last year took the pedal off when they were assured top 4.

Didn't work.

Did they?

I thought/heard it was because Rodney does like a mid season / preseason or some such thing and were exhausted by the time the finals came around?

awesome_days · Fri 15 May 2009 9:11pm

Enrico_Misso wrote:R7 Monday night
R8 Sunday twilight Gap =6 days
R9 Sun arvo Gap = 6.5 days
R10 Sat night Gap = 6.5 days
R11 Sat arvo Gap = 6.5 days
R12 Fri night Gap = 6.5 days
then a 16 day break to the big Tigers game.

Without getting too hung up on the 6.5 days definition.
The point is the next 5 weeks are all less than 7 days
as the AFL progressively work us back 3 full days to a Fri night slot.

Above from the thread 5 short weeks.

If we werent finishing with a mid season break - this would be an ideal situation for a rest IF any of our main 6-8 mids were carrying something.

evertonfc · Post: # 739897Post **evertonfc** » Sun 17 May 2009 1:50pm

Thinline wrote:
evertonfc wrote:
If, for example, we were 18-2 going into round 21, with a top-two spot sewn up, I've got no problem with resting a few key players.

It's not flirting with your form. It's risk management and promoting a healthy list, something that we - of all clubs - should realise is essential going into September.
Bulldogs last year took the pedal off when they were assured top 4.

Didn't work.

Getting with touching distance of Geelong - who went into the game with a week off - in a Preliminary Final is viewed as a failure?

Deary me.

Resting players is not an issue. It's how you rotate and replace them that's the issue.

borderbarry · Sun 17 May 2009 3:22pm

Top get our best team on the park some of these players are going to be rested whether you like it or not. Spots have to be found for Max and Raph./