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FWC on Sport Nation guideRest or not? Legendary AFL coaches debate Freo's best strategy
Sam Edmund • July 15th, 2026 5:53 pm
To rest or not to rest? That is the question.
Footy’s oldest debate lies at the feet of Fremantle this week and Justin Longmuir’s philosophy will shape what happens next.
The Dockers sit two games clear atop the AFL ladder as the clear premiership favourite.
A dozen players have run out for every game and another four have missed only once. A decimated Port Adelaide is up next, with the Power missing top trio Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee.
With six games to go, do “JL” and Freo use the advantage they’ve worked so hard for and freshen up a couple of players?
Or is the ol’ ‘don’t flirt with your form’ idiom ringing in the ears of a senior coach who has only coached one finals win in six seasons?
We canvassed the opinion of some of the most experienced and celebrated coaches in football and asked them the question – do you rest or play your best?
RODNEY EADE
“One hundred per cent, I’d be resting. I would have done it for the Canberra game against GWS.
“For every interstate trip I’d be resting a big man and you would be calculated with it. Alex Pearce would be my first option, but Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy my next two.
“You’d look to get a little block of running into them without the bash and crash of a game.
“Even if you lose a game late in the season, it’s not the be-all and end-all. No one is going to be remember Round 22. Their eyes should be on the last Saturday of the season.
“I’d also be playing players in different positions. If you get in trouble in a big final, you know you can play Andrew Brayshaw at half-back, for example.
“They’ve got a Plan A and a Plan B. We’ve seen their ball movement change and go to another gear. But what about a Plan C?
“There’s ‘Don’t flirt with your form’, but I think football has gone past that. Teams prepare so well for each other now and you have to be prepared adapt.
“Clubs will be studying Fremantle and looking at ways to pick them apart.
“You can’t be pulling levers on Grand Final day that you haven’t pulled throughout the year.
DENIS PAGAN
“Not a chance I’m resting players.
“You need continuity. Continuity in attitude and form is absolutely critical. Players are creatures of habit.
“Play every week. Just keep going.
“I’m always amazed by people who say they would rest players. Rest them during the week; that’s where you can manage them.
“Get them in the pool for three days, practice goalkicking at training, but don’t sit them out of games if you don’t have to.”
MICK MALTHOUSE
“You don’t rest players unless they need resting. I wouldn’t necessarily be interrupting the flow of things.
“But if a player has a chance to get over a niggle or a little injury that is preventing them from playing at 100 per cent, then logic would suggest you should explore that opportunity.
That’s the luxury of being in the position you’re in.”
ADAM SIMPSON
“Yes, I’m resting players.
“I would probably manage one per week for the next month.”
TERRY WALLACE
“I’m in the No Risk Policy corner.
“If I’ve got a player who is sore or carrying a niggle then they simply don’t play.
“Otherwise, I’m looking for synergy and not disrupting my team.
“So I’m not resting, but you are not – under any circumstances – playing if you are carrying soreness.”
“So I’m not resting, but you are not – under any circumstances – playing if you are carrying soreness.”
KEN HINKLEY
“I’m not resting like crazy, but I’m resting critical pieces like Luke Jackson, Josh Treacy and Josh Treacy. I wouldn’t be playing Jackson this week.
“I think I’d be exploring lots of things positionally too, but I would be mindful of upsetting things or the synergy of the team.
“I’ve never coached a team two games clear on top of the ladder with half a dozen games to go, but you’ve got to explore I think.
“You can’t be frightened to explore things and you’ve
“I think I’d be exploring lots of things positionally too, but I would be mindful of upsetting things or the synergy of the team.
“I’ve never coached a team two games clear on top of the ladder with half a dozen games to go, but you’ve got to explore I think.
“You can’t be frightened to explore things and you’ve
