With the prospect of managing player loads in preparation for AFL Finals and an interstate road-trip for the AFL side this weekend, Footscray coach Ashley Hansen could see some changes to his VFL side running out in this weekend’s Qualifying Final to the one that defeated Werribee on Sunday afternoon.
In comments following the Bulldogs’ AFL win over North Melbourne on Saturday, Beveridge flagged the possibility that he may have to ‘drain’ the VFL side to keep the AFL team as fresh as possible for the club’s first finals series since 2010.
“We’ll definitely consider it if one or two have gone to the wire and it’s too risky to play them next week. Our Footscray VFL side is in the finals as well – it’s obviously different circumstances this year – obviously the AFL side takes priority,” he said.
“Ash Hansen might hold me up against a wall this week but we will see what happens.”
While dedicated followers of the ‘Scray may be anxious about the make-up of the team taking on Box Hill on the weekend, the unflappable Hansen sees it as an opportunity for his VFL-listed players to gain invaluable finals experience.
“We could see changes, that’s the nature of our side, but what it does is create a fantastic opportunity for young men in our squad to play in a first final which is just a great experience. You learn so much from playing finals footy, there’s nothing like it,” Hansen said.
“Box Hill are a quality side, they’ve finished on top of the ladder for a reason, so it creates a fantastic opportunity for our boys.”
The AFL side has played 40 players across the season, only Essendon and the Gold Coast have played more, but the regular turn over hasn’t impacted Footscray’s quest for back to back premierships, the first year coach taking the VFL Bulldogs to its second straight top four finish.
Hansen said that a big part of the success of the VFL side in 2015 has been that the system is based round positions, not personnel.
“Whoever comes in will know what we expect out of them and we are confident that they can execute that role. Our program is a system and we’ve got personnel that can fill it, it’s not based around who’s there.”
“Two teams, one club is the strong message and it’s great that both teams are playing finals.”
