AFL to "look at" mass restings of players after Fremantle makes 10 changes

IT'S not tanking, but Fremantle's decision to make 10 changes for its clash with St Kilda highlights a situation the AFL says it will have a "look at".

Andrew Demetriou

IT'S not tanking, but Fremantle's decision to make 10 changes for its clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium highlights a situation the AFL says it will have a "look at".

Coach Ross Lyon's decision to rest seven players - the other three are listed as having injuries - in a largely meaningless final round match is not against current AFL rules, but that may change, according to league boss Andrew Demetriou.

Among those being rested are gun midfielders Nathan Fyfe and David Mundy, while goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne is also out.

Exactly what could be done to ensure sides pick their best team is difficult to ascertain, but Demetriou said the situation was "something we have undertaken to look at".

He said he could fully understand the Dockers' position with an away game against Geelong almost certain in the first week of finals.

"I understand why they (are doing it)," he said on ABC radio.

"They are in the finals, they can't change their position to go higher.

"But it is something we haven't taken off the table."

It is not the first time games late in the season have seen the mass resting of players.

When at St Kilda, Lyon left five first-choice players behind for a Round 19 match against Hawthorn in Tasmania, while the Hawks themselves have also fielded second-string sides.

Demetriou said Geelong had a very real prospect of hosting the Dockers at Simonds Stadium should results this weekend fall as expected.

He said it could generate as much as $5 million for the local economy.

He described a statement from Fremantle on Thursday night declaring it "inconceivable" that a final would be played in Geelong as "hullabaloo".

"I think that is all a bit of positioning and tactics (from Fremantle)... if Fremantle had finished second, there wouldn't be anyone complaining about the game being played at Subiaco."

Demetriou ruled out all four games taking place at the MCG, where finals featuring Hawthorn, Collingwood and Richmond are set to be played.