Fremantle... good call or an utter disgrace?

[Jaded No More 68,692]

No, I'm not talking about their jumper, but about their decision to rest up to 16 of their best 22 before the finals.

They are currently getting murdered on the field to the tune of 106 points, having kicked 1.7 in the entire match.

So, are they smart for conceding a game they didn't think they could win and ensuring their players are rested up and ready to go in the finals, or is the humiliation of losing by 100 points, and throwing away the match, a complete disgrace and against the unwritten laws of the game?

If we were in the same boat, would you support the club if they made this move?

I say hell no. It was difficult enough to swallow the tanking when there was a big fat reward on the other side, but if we were about to play finals I would be disgusted and angry if we decided to throw away a match for the sake of resting a few players. What if next week, with all their best players back in, they suffer season-ending injuries to a few of their key players? They would have achieved nothing and humiliated themselves in the process.

When you're winning, and you're in the top 8, you should NEVER flirt with form and success, especially when you're Fremantle and your history is one of utter failure.

[praha 11,220]

I thought the players were actually genuinely sore? But it is strange that 7 of their best are hurt all at the same time, and to the extent that they all can't play. If that is the case, it's an absolute joke. I'd be livid if I were a Fremantle supporter. I'd also be livid because they rested our 7 best players B)

[DeezMan 4]

Don't care about Fremantle. They can do whatever the hell they want - it has backfired and it's their problem.

Melbourne is all I care about and am glad we have never been beaten by more than 10 goals this season so far (with two rounds to go).

[big tuna 0]

Is anyone actually surprised by their recent results? Every man and his dog knew that after a great start to the year they would fall off the pace and crawl into the finals. Without Super Pav in their line up they lack real leadership or self belief. Todays game is just another example of a club that continues to make the wrong call everytime.

Sadly MFC provided the Dockers with their only taste of success in finals... with that in mind I hope they add another unlucky club to that list this year so they can share the shame with us.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

Just playing Devil's Advocate for a minute......

St Kilda did it last year and made the Grand Final.

Also, Fremantle travel intertsate basically every second week which i have no doubt takes a larger toll on their players than say players from Victorian clubs. The effect of this cannot be underestimated.

It is something they thought would be good in the LONG term for their campaign this year. Let's see how it all pans out before we jump down their throats.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

FWIW, the Dockers have been a revelation this season. Who had them pinned for 5th at the end of the H and A prior to the year starting?

The test resting sore players is necessarily this week (although todays result was terrible) its how they back it up in the finals.

And they need Sandilands back in the ruck. And Fwiw, Pavlich has not been playing well the past six weeks. They also miss Barlow who was tracking as a B'low possibility until injured.

[deeflog 679]

never flirt with your form....a very bad call in my eyes, but i guess we will all know the correct answer this time next week

[Jaded No More 68,692]

Fine line between resting 3-4 sore players, and basically playing your VFL team (although some tool on SEN said we rested Scully and Trengove when we played Geelong this year... because apparently that's exactly the same thing ).

I actually just feel sorry for the inexperienced kids who had the displeasure of playing today.

At the end of the day, it was their decision to make and they have done nothing illegal, but why any club would endure humiliation like that I don't know. There is still an element of pride in footy, and one of form. The pressure on them to win next week and in week one of the finals is now enormous, and they would want to handle it will.

[titan_uranus 24,923]

They're nothing without Sandilands, Ballantyne, Tarrant and Barlow. The first three are possibly available for finals which will help them immensely, but they were always going to lose to Hawthorn in Tasmania.

The argument that it's stupid to flirt with form doesn't apply because Fremantle's form was indifferent at best. They're stuttering along at the moment. If I was a Fremantle member I'd be mighty pleased at this course of action, if it indeed does let players like Pavlich, Mundy and Hill freshen up and have an increased impact next week vs Carlton and then week 1 of the finals.

[Sir Why You Little 36,758]

This is a very rare statement from me because i despise them so much, But i hope Carlton absolutely smash the shockers up next week.

Sure rest up 2-3 players but not 60% of the side. Fremantle will have lost all confidence for next week. That was more than a loss today. Fremantle do not have any runs on the board to be able to flaunt such arrogance IMO

Such a shame the MFC cannot have a crack at them in week 1.

Very large call from Harvey today-Basically puts his job on the line.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

This is a very rare statement from me because i despise them so much, But i hope Carlton absolutely smash the shockers up next week.

Nah, i hope Carlton get smashed and then go straight out in week one of the finals. Followed by The Filth in straight sets. Nothing could bring me to cheer for either of them!

[bush demon 2,014]

A courageous move. The AFL finals system is a cynical, money-making scam which exposes the high-finishing teams to injury and form loss regardless of how they played in the home/away season. the system makes a mockery of the home and away series and gives limited value to the top team/s of the year. the finals system in fact conspires against teams which excel during the year. north melbourne and the saints in the late 90's were over-run by a dud in adelaide who only had to sit in the slip-stream and strike at the right time. eagles in '91 were ripped off... not that i had any sympathy for them at the time. geelong against hawthorn a couple of years ago went stale after being top dogs all year.

[Sir Why You Little 36,758]

Nah, i hope Carlton get smashed and then go straight out in week one of the finals. Followed by The Filth in straight sets. Nothing could bring me to cheer for either of them!

I am with you, but i think what fremantle did today just stinks and they deserve to get smashed.

[Old Gregg 1]

Bad call, outrageous call, an absolute rabble of a club and team call

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

They're nothing without Sandilands, Ballantyne, Tarrant and Barlow. The first three are possibly available for finals which will help them immensely, but they were always going to lose to Hawthorn in Tasmania.

The argument that it's stupid to flirt with form doesn't apply because Fremantle's form was indifferent at best. They're stuttering along at the moment.

Agree but jury is out on whether the decision was justified.

Sure rest up 2-3 players but not 60% of the side. Fremantle will have lost all confidence for next week. That was more than a loss today. Fremantle do not have any runs on the board to be able to flaunt such arrogance IMO

They rested seven players with soreness. It was not 60% of the side. They already had S'lands, Tarrant, Barlow and B'tyne out. They little confidence going into the game. Many of those rested were down on form and condifence. This was hardly arrogance at all if you had actually listned to Chris Bond (Gen Mgr- Footy dept) rather than drowning in your own hyperbole

Very large call from Harvey today-Basically puts his job on the line.

It was not just Harvey's call. Freo have performed way above expectations. Harvey is safe and his contract will/should be extend for 2 to 3 years.

It would have been worse had they played players jaded and injured through to the finals and lost further games including the first week in September.

I'd review this decision when the season is over and taking into the context of the fitness and position of their best 22 rather than making wild potshots.

[Sir Why You Little 36,758]

Agree but jury is out on whether the decision was justified.

They rested seven players with soreness. It was not 60% of the side. They already had S'lands, Tarrant, Barlow and B'tyne out. They little confidence going into the game. Many of those rested were down on form and condifence. This was hardly arrogance at all if you had actually listned to Chris Bond (Gen Mgr- Footy dept) rather than drowning in your own hyperbole

It was not just Harvey's call. Freo have performed way above expectations. Harvey is safe and his contract will/should be extend for 2 to 3 years.

It would have been worse had they played players jaded and injured through to the finals and lost further games including the first week in September.

I'd review this decision when the season is over and taking into the context of the fitness and position of their best 22 rather than making wild potshots.

Disagree as usual, Freo will be mince meat next week as they went down to Tassie with the white Flag. They are hardly a club over the last 15 years who has any right to such arrogance.

[Whispering_Jack 29,369]

They are now definitely exposed to the possibility of missing a home final as well as going into the finals on a losing streak.

The exposure has been caused by not only the loss of the premiership points on offer today but their percentage is now the worst of all teams in the eight. That's a massive concession to the other clubs.

There's also the question of what happens to the integrity of the competition. North Melbourne and to a lesser extent, Melbourne, were relying on a Hawthorn loss to keep their finals hopes alive. They were dashed by the fact that Freo's decision granted the Hawks a free ride into the finals. Now there's a chance that it's going to meet Hawthorn again in the finals.

I'm not a fan of flirting with form on the eve of the finals. It comes back to bite you on the bum.

[speed demon 804]

As has been mentioned, Freo had no form to flirt with. They were on their way to exiting the finals in the first week after what had been a very good season. Several players were clearly below their best. Their choices were to keep flogging a dead horse and see if it comes back to life or try something else. I would rest any player whose performance was likely to benefit from a week off. I'd be happy for the Dees to one day do the same if need be.

The decision will be a success if they win a final they otherwise would not have, regardless of how many points they may loss a H&A match by.

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Serves 'em right for screwing up my SC team. I hope this season is the highest point that their joke of a club ever reaches.

[e25 5]

What is really interesting is to consider how we'd feel if we'd have beaten the hawks last week and were locked in a battle with them for (a realistic chance at) a finals spot.

I think the majority of posters on here would be ready to burn Mark Harvey at the stake.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Disagree as usual, Freo will be mince meat next week as they went down to Tassie with the white Flag. They are hardly a club over the last 15 years who has any right to such arrogance.

They would likely have been mince meat even if they had played Pavlich injured and others. There move smacks of desperation given their situation rather than arrogance. You misread the tealeaves again.

[Sir Why You Little 36,758]

They would likely have been mince meat even if they had played Pavlich injured and others. There move smacks of desperation given their situation rather than arrogance. You misread the tealeaves again.

No if Harvey had a back bone he would not allow this to occur. If the MFC was in the same boat, i would never agree to these tactics.

The intensity levels go up from now on. It's not just who they dropped, but who they bought in. Those young kids could well be shot in confidence now, and that does not help anyone.

Next week will tell, but i would have money on Carlton Smashing Freo next week & i hope they do. Going into a finals campaign with a white flag IMO is as bad as a wooden spoon.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

No if Harvey had a back bone he would not allow this to occur. If the MFC was in the same boat, i would never agree to these tactics.

Prior to the match the wheels were off the Freo machine. Injuries and poor form. If MFC were in the same boat I doubt whether your opinion would count one way or another.

Pror to the match, Harvey was looking at 3 straight losses including the semi final.

The intensity levels go up from now on. It's not just who they dropped, but who they bought in. Those young kids could well be shot in confidence now, and that does not help anyone.

Wrong. The players they brought in are the players they will drop for the crucial Rnd 22 and first final. Two more will go if S'lands and B'tyne come back in. So the shot in confidence is a self serving point at best.

Next week will tell, but i would have money on Carlton Smashing Freo next week & i hope they do. Going into a finals campaign with a white flag IMO is as bad as a wooden spoon.

There was a good chance even if they did not rest these players they would still struggle such is there bad form. Going in with a white flag???? An hour ago they were arrogant!!!

[Grandson of a gun 276]

I tend to agree with Rhino and believe the proof will be in the pudding.

If they lose next week and the final then people will be full of the "i told you so's", however, what if they win?

As i said before, the Saints did it last year. It has been proven by them to work. Whether it works for Freo is going to be the BIG question.

[Sir Why You Little 36,758]

I tend to agree with Rhino and believe the proof will be in the pudding.

If they lose next week and the final then people will be full of the "i told you so's", however, what if they win?

As i said before, the Saints did it last year. It has been proven by them to work. Whether it works for Freo is going to be the BIG question.

Sure they could win next week, but i still don't think it is the right attitude for the shockers to use, considering their past record in the AFL. Fremantle has not been Geelong or St. kilda over the last 3-4 years.

Carlton will be salivating to rip them apart next week. Tanking for draft picks is one thing-Tanking before the finals i can never agree with.