Pathetic

[Cicjose]

Why are players getting rested when each team has 2 byes this year....

Whatever happened to playing your best players week in week out.....

why do players need a rest.... they could be the sub....

This bye system was a way that this year every team could play their best 22 all season........

[bombers482]

The sub rule is harder on bodies with only having 3 on the interchange. That could be a reason?

[yorgis]

like why are they resting smith ? he had a bye 3 games ago.

[C-Dogg]

its true, every1 is soft i think!!!!!!

[8-6 Suited]

Because he is sore you twats.

[AFEV]

Because teams need to think about managing their players. Nobody gives a flying flower if you win 22 H&A games if you fail in the finals. How do you think Geelong beat Port by so much in the '07 GF? Yes they were better and you can't take away from that effort but the fact is Port didn't manage their players properly. The game is no longer like it was in the 80's/90's so adapt to the new game or watch old games.

[bunyip]

If it wasn't necessary they wouldn't do it. Player management has become more important under the new rules, not less.The teams still building, and don't have the depth of the top clubs, are being found out.

[Cruiseon]

Especially for guys like Zac Smith who is a kid.

He will be a superstar, will probably play in multiple flags and no-one is going to care in 4-5 years that he was rested for a round in 2011.

[Justin Bieber]

Even with the bye, rookies need a rest otherwise they burn out. First year playing on a Senior schedule would be a shock to the body, especially one not use to it. Smith will be a Star no doubt and he'll played AWESOME this entire season. So has Heppell but without resting Heppell, signs can easily be seen that he's feeling the fatigue. So rest a rookie for one week and reap the rewards for the next few :P.

The sub rule is harder on bodies with only having 3 on the interchange. That could be a reason?

The above and also have to bring this back. 3 on the bench is going to push fatigue even further as the game hasn't slowed down and probably has just gotten harder. Players are pushing themselves more as they can't stay on the bench too long which is hurting players, requiring resting. As long as there is a valid excuse, I don't mind resting. But if it's a bottom team going for a pick, I don't agree with tanking..... (no use though with GWS coming in).

[hawk_88]

The AFL has caught up in terms of player management with the rest of the sporting world.

There are very few, and no major team, sports that have the recovery requirements that AFL does, yet most other sports rest players for periods of time to ensure longevity over a season.

Gridiron
Soccer (European teams can be playing in up to 4 different competitions simultaneously and have 3 games within a week at times)
Basketball (NBA I know does)
Cricket

None of these sports require a minimum 4 days recovery after a match before full training is even possible yet they rest players.

AFL players these days need an amazing breadth of athletic ability which is really difficult to reach and even more so to maintain for 22 matches + finals. That is why a interrupted pre-season can be so detrimental to a player's season.