I noticed looking at the best players for Box Hill Hawks reserves that some Hawthorn senior listed players played on Saturday. I would have thought that with the Box Hill Seniors having a bye that these players would not be able to play unless they are coming back from injury or played in the Box Hill Reserves last week. I don't think it is fair on a club like Frankston or any other stand alone club for that matter. Frankston did well only to lose by 5 goals.
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It's a valid point you make Robbo, I'm against sides 'loading' their reserves sides when the seniors are on a bye - moreso because it means regular reserves players get bumped out of the side and I don't think that's the right way to treat them.
However, I would question Frankston's team as well and ask how many regular senior players they had in their reserves side. I could confidently say that a Box Hill side with 8 Hawthorn listed players would beat the regular Frankston reserves side by more than 5 goals.
The VFL has numerous issues to address with AFL players in sides, I would hope a range of things, like the point made above, but also players in finals are addressed as soon as possible.
Frankston had no players that played in the Seniors in its reserves side on Saturday. Frankston had the same side as they did against Port Melbourne in Round 2.
Robbo , I'd normally be the first to support your argument of not 'loading' reserves sides but I have to defend Box Hill on this one mate.
The Hawthorn listed players you referred to were :
Kris Barlow - first game back after missing 7weeks with a knee
Rayden Tallis - first game back after missing 4 weeks with a quad
Chance Bateman - second game back from 6 weeks with a hammy & OP
Steven Greene - second game back from 6 weeks with a knee ( and played in the ressies last week )
Zac Dawson - 17yo project player who played ressies last week.
Paul Shelton - rookie listed player in second game back from knee surgery.
Whilst I sympathise with Frankston's plight of playing against AFL listed guys in the ressies , all these guys were well and truly underdone and Hawhtorn and Box Hill would be really remiss if they hadn't taken the opportunity to give them a run in the only grade available.
With then possible exception of Greene and Shelton ( who both gathered many possessions) none of these guys were what you'd call dominant in the game. I thought the Frankston blokes responded pretty well to the challenge of playing on such opponents myself , and some of our young guys really benefitted from having senior team mates around them.
It's not going to happen too often and I'm not too sure it was all that bad for the game. I find myself in a dilemna as I've said before. I really support the stand alone clubs in principle ( part of me wishes we were still in that category ) but I also have to accept the reality of today's VFL and the AFL alignments.
By the way Robbo , Shippy DID play too !
Yeah, I was going to say surely Andrew Shipp isn't a regular in the Frankston 2's.
Part of the problem is having the ressies playing when the seniors aren't - not a great situation.
Not to harp on the point, but Shipp had no pre-season due to an illness, played in the reserves the week befoire against Port, and would probably have been played in the 2's even if the seniors didnt have a bye.
Cheers