SA Footy

I reckon Freo have lost the plot this weekend. They have all but given up winning the four points against Hawthorn by leaving out several players and sending a virtual B team to Tasmania this weekend.

The prevailing mood seems to be that this is smart thinking by the Dockers. I disagree with this. Here's why.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

It takes a long time to build respect but it is pretty easy to lose. In a footy world with too many outlets you can lose seven weeks worth of hard won respect in one week like the Bullies last week. Looking at it from a broader perspective Fremantle has won respect this season by showing intelligent recruitment of players and a new found toughness which has manifested itself into away victories. Now all of a sudden it's 'we can't beat Hawthorn away, let's rest a few'.

What about Carlton?

By throwing their hands in the air this weekend, they are assuming that a full strength Dockers' outfit will go on to defeat the Blues at home in the last round. If Sandilands comes up it will be his first game in a month and if he doesn't I reckon the Dockers can't win it anyway. Carlton will be just as desperate to win this fixture so they don't have to travel to Perth twice in a row. I reckon that the Dockers are no monties to beat the Blues even with a rested Pav, Hayden, Sandi and Fyfe and whoever else I've left out of it. Not only are Freo not respecting themselves here but they are not respecting Carlton either.

The Tap

You can't turn form on and off like a Tap. Freo are proposing to do this in the last round. You've just got to get the winning habit at this time of year.

Culture

You need to develop a winning culture. First you rack up the 16 wins THEN rest players. It's no good resting players when you've got so much to lose. Freo need to develop a winning culture or they will risk remaining perpetual also rans.

Is the Window open?

Freo should have had a crack at the Hawks becuase I reckon it's one year too early for the Dockers anyway. Have a crack FFS. Next year is the real shot for the Docks so give it everything and see what you can learn.

Um 2-1= 1

Simple maths no? Freo have two chances to win a home final. They've just given one away.

Shocking decision in my book and for the first time since the Hawks beat Port in that final a few years back I'll be barracking for Hawthorn.

PISS WEAK.

regards,

REB

From memory Carlton play Freo in Round 22, yes? So why dont Carlton leave Judd,Betts,Murphy,Gibbs,Simpson at home for round 22, concede they will finish 8th and for week one of the finals send a list of 6 or 8 over that have just had a nice rest and week off?

The alternative.Bust their collective arses in round 22 lose to a team who have 6 or 7 fresh blokes and have to go back there a week later anyway?

Or....go hard in round 22 and win only to finish 7th and have to go to Sydney to play.

I think Freo are as fragile as anything and Carlton, IMO, should want to play Freo in week 1 of the finals even in Perth as opposed to Sydney in Sydney or Hawthorn any where.

To answer your question. Fremantle are flirting with the little form they have in round 21 of the season and it will come back to bite them on the arse when they start holidays in two weeks time after crashing and burning in a season that showed so much promise.

I could understand "resting" a few of the older type players or the ones with small injuries, but this is clearly them saying we wont win anyway.

Surely a bealting at the hands of Hawthorn now would do just as much damage to the form of the side?

Two weeks ago I though the Western Bulldogs were the real deal, then they get spanked by Geelong last week and they are suddenly vulnerable. Form going into the finals is important.

Hope it backfires on 'em and they go out in straight sets come finals time.

They realistically can't finish lower then 6th unless they get an absolute flogging in BOTH games, and Carlton/Sydney win both etc etc etc. So they have a home final all but stitched up.

So they have a home final sewn up. Probably against the Blues. If this is looking likely, I hope the Blues do send over an full strength side in Round 22, and we beat 'em !

Then it'll give us the confidence into the finals when we'll play 'em again, and beat 'em again !

Well that's what I'm hoping.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Freo have looked really tired in their recent games. The other option was to go into the finals series knowing they would have to play every game to make the GF. These next two weeks is their only chance to freshen up a few players.

It makes some sense if they assess they have more chance of beating Carlton than Hawthorn as things are with niggling injuries now.
Pushing guys with niggling injuries in a game they probably can't win [at present fitness levels] may make losing to Carlton more likely too.
So, this strategy may increase the chances of winning at least one of the two games, and the rest may allow key players to be more fit for the finals.

Resting injured players is one thing, but are they ALL injured?? Every team has those niggling injuries at this time of year.

regards,

REB

It does seem like they are waving the white flag. But then again St Kilda did something similar last year in Tassie and ended up winning..!!

As a Melbourne supporter seeing this happen frustrates me as now on sunday we have nothing but pride to play for vs Port!

Fremantle = Piss F******g weak!

If they still get over the line then i will retract this statement and reserve it for Hawthorn.

Also Hawthorn = Kissed on the D**k because no doubt the pies will do the same next week!

Rik E Boy wrote:Resting injured players is one thing, but are they ALL injured?? Every team has those niggling injuries at this time of year.

regards,

REB

This mornings paper lists the "Outs" as ( All sore )......

I agree with the decision purely based on coaches knowing their players. Who's to say that they all don't have niggling injuries and that even if it was a final, they would all undergo last minute fitness tests etc. I think, this is a time to freshen up bodies before approaching their goal of winning 4 finals. They basically have a home final already, so why bother going to freezing Tasmania, playing a tough physical game against a side busting to win, with the only positive outcome to be a possible win and some good form? Whereas on the other hand, imagine taking oer a half injured Pavlich, Sandilands and Mundy, and all 3 getting injured, ruling them out V Carlton and their first final.

SMART DECISION. Time will tell in a fortnight though, first siren of Freo's first final, they win that's a very smart decision, they lose, questions need to be asked about this situation.

Groover wrote:Also Hawthorn = Kissed on the D**k because no doubt the pies will do the same next week!

You can't complain Groover. Your lot had two opportunities to defeat Hawthorn this season.

regards,

REB

Didnt the Saints do something similar last year? Didnt hurt them (although they lost the GF)

MW wrote:Didnt the Saints do something similar last year? Didnt hurt them (although they lost the GF)

Yep. After they had won about 16 matches. Big difference. Also, the players being rested are from a side that is already missing Tarrant and Barlow.

regards,

REB

Rik E Boy wrote:

MW wrote:Didnt the Saints do something similar last year? Didnt hurt them (although they lost the GF)

Yep. After they had won about 16 matches. Big difference. Also, the players being rested are from a side that is already missing Tarrant and Barlow.

regards,

REB

The other difference is the Saints in 2009 were a genuine flag threat. Freo aren't.

Perhaps Freo are trying to keep the kangas out of the finals.

Cos if the hawks lost the last 2 and the Roos won the last 2 there was a chance they would get into the finals above teh hawks

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Perhaps Freo are trying to keep the kangas out of the finals.

Cos if the hawks lost the last 2 and the Roos won the last 2 there was a chance they would get into the finals above teh hawks

Why would Freo care about that?

If they are all carrying niggling INJURIES, then of course freo are doing the right thing in resting them because of these injuries. Probably have had this lined up for a couple of months. They had a hard game against sydney last week, will confront a fired up carlton next week and then play finals. Why freeze your nuts off in tassie when in the big picture no one will care about this game in 2 weeks time when the real business starts.

Sensible management IMHO