So after last weeks round, it appeared that Fremantle would likely desire to rest players in Round 23 vs Port Adelaide. The topic of the "integrity rule" was raised and widely discussed. 70+% of news polls agreed that Fremantle should be able to rest players.
Articles were written and posted as AFL news with headings such as;
- "Lyon's plea to rest 'fatigued' Dockers"
- "Dockers sweat on AFL's 'integrity' rule"
- "'I'll wear criticism': Lyon ready for backlash"
Fremantle informed the AFL and the AFL endorsed Fremantle's request to rest up to 11 players, in accordance with the current law, amended rule, No. 29, 'To Perform on One's Merits', which reads: "(It) means at all times to perform honestly and to the best of one's ability in the pursuit only of legitimate competitive objectives.
"For the avoidance of doubt "legitimate competitive objective" includes the development of the team or players or management of player fatigue or injuries but does not include improving a club’s draft position, improving a club's position with respect to a potential player exchange or manipulating a club's position on the ladder for the purpose of improving its draw within the finals series."
Now we have North Melbourne also wishing to rest players.
AFL headlines for North Melbourne;
- "Will the Roos rest players?"
- "Roos may rest 10 players against Tigers"
- "Rest will have Roos primed for finals: Scott"
Now please correct me if I'm wrong, but if Norths now lose to Richmond (now most likely with resting of players), there is now a strong chance that the bottom 4 of the 8 will remain in their current positions. This then leaves the possibility that the Western Bulldogs will now be able to host an Elimination Final (5th vs 6th) against Adelaide at Docklands. Their desired finals home ground. This topic was recently discussed and the AFL responded that unless the Bulldogs were playing an interstate team, it was unlikely that the game would be played at Docklands (a ground where the Bulldogs have won their last 9 matches).
If Norths were denied the resting of players and beat Richmond, then it was likely that Adelaide would have been hosting an Elimination Final vs Richmond* and the Bulldogs would be playing Norths* at the MCG. In other words, Norths resting players clearly has some evidence of tanking and improving its draw within the finals series.
(*Edit: credit to Duges66, I wrongly, initially, had Adelaide vs Norths, and Bulldogs vs Richmond)
By permitting Norths to rest players, the AFL will now likely have an Elimination Final at the MCG and Docklands instead of the MCG and Adelaide Oval.
