How About the "Go Easy" Convention?
For those of you here last year, you may recall my observations. I got a few right and a few wrong, but I still think it applies.
The "Go Easy" principle means a club will go out and get the 4 points against obviously inferior opposition. It means, go out and win the game, but don't run up the score so much that it gets out of hand. They will hold out players and keep rotating players off the ground**. However if percentage is an issue, the coach ignores everything and goes for the big kill.
**they tried to rest Judd last year and it worked in reverse when he lacked sharpness after 2 games out.
Bombers v Giants at Etihad. Dons with the best percentage in footy. Hird and Sheedy old friends, still with a mutual respect, most likely will sociaialise with each other over the weekend. A good solid 10-12 goal win is on the cards, but not a 20 goal thrashing.
Pies v Suns. Things may change, but Guy McKenna is very well liked at Collingwood. Whenever they play, there will be damage limitation and a lot of words about how the Suns are improving, as there was last year.
Cats v Dogs. Similar. Scott will not embarass his old mate McCarthy.
Yes or no?
That's the thing Q Man, that's exactly what the AFL would like you to believe. Like when the Giants played the Swans to within 6 goals in Rd 1, and everyone and his brother knew it was a false result. But the no nothing casual fans were probably thinking how the Suns are making progress.
Now you know yourself if the Cats played the Bulldogs 10 weeks in a row, they would beat them 10 times and by margins of 10 goals or more, unless the Cats themselves decided to have a quiet one. Even then they wouldn't because they would be coming off an easy game week to week.