The smart way around this, to get the most out of players, and to also help extend player careers, is a horses for courses rotation policy.
Let blokes come in a play a game or two like it's finals, then given them an extra week or two to recover before another push.
The AFL should do something officially to encourage this, by changing the GF medals to reward everyone who has played a senior game and contributed to a winning season.
The Handbaggers were very clever about this a few years back with their own B&F, they changed things so that the count discarded the bottom 3 or 4 games, it allowed players to have a rest and not be penalised.
Let blokes come in a play a game or two like it's finals, then given them an extra week or two to recover before another push.
The AFL should do something officially to encourage this, by changing the GF medals to reward everyone who has played a senior game and contributed to a winning season.
The Handbaggers were very clever about this a few years back with their own B&F, they changed things so that the count discarded the bottom 3 or 4 games, it allowed players to have a rest and not be penalised.
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"