AFL football boss Greg Swann has sent a memo to all clubs reminding them of their obligation to “perform to one’s merits” in the lead-up to finals, a move immediately slammed by two senior coaches and pundits.
AFL cracks down on resting players
The concept of resting players in the final round is back on the agenda a decade after the league introduced a pre-finals bye to combat the issue. In 2015, Fremantle and North Melbourne both rested more than a third of their team as their finishing positions were largely unaffected. Fremantle did it for the third time in six years, prompting the AFL to introduce a pre-finals bye in 2016, which put the debate to rest.
Now, with the wildcard round back, so is the opportunity to rest players. Fremantle are virtually assured of the minor premiership, while other teams in wildcard positions may be locked in regardless of their final-round result. Clubs might want to give older players a rest ahead of a knockout final the week after. Collingwood, in particular, could be locked into eighth or ninth position and a MCG knockout final.
Coaches and pundits hit back
The memo states: “Please be reminded of the obligation in the AFL rules to ‘perform to one’s merits’, meaning that clubs must perform honestly and to the best of their ability. While legitimate player management of player fatigue or injuries is permitted, the AFL will scrutinise team selection decisions in the lead-up to AFL finals in the context of this rule.”
Coaches Luke Beveridge and Steven King were asked about the memo on Fox Footy’s AFL 360. “I’d question how the AFL could question a club, because you’re questioning the medical department from a club as well,” Beveridge said. King was more blunt: “I’m the coach of the Melbourne Footy Club. I’ll make any decision that’s best for our football club and best for the management of our players.”
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt backed the coaches. “They’re absolutely right. Like, who do the AFL think they are telling clubs how to best prepare themselves to win a premiership?” he said on The Agenda Setters. “It’s absolutely ludicrous, and I don’t see any way that they can actually enforce it. So you can hide behind anything you like. He’s a bit sore, he’s got a calf, and how is this any different to Collingwood resting a player so you can celebrate when you want to celebrate? Stick your nose out, AFL, it’s got nothing to do with you.”
Kane Cornes agreed: “I think if you fight 23 weeks to get yourself in a position where you have the luxury to be able to rest your players for finals, then you’ve got every right, you’ve earned that decision that you can make. That letter that you broke tonight on the news, that’s not going to sway the clubs, they’ll just be less obvious.”
Concerns over fairness
Leading newsbreaker Caroline Wilson hoped Swann would fix an issue that stems from former CEO Gillon McLachlan’s overreaction at the time. “It can affect other teams because the North Melbourne decision back in 2015 affected Adelaide and where they were going to finish in the eight,” she said. “So it is an issue. The AFL overreacted at the time. Gillon invented the pre-finals bye. I think they should have worked out a more pragmatic solution and let’s just hope that Greg Swann can do that this year.”
