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High-flying Demons won't rest AFL stars

3 minute read

Melbourne are blitzing their way through the AFL season again but coach Simon Goodwin says the Demons do not plan to rest players with an eye on the finals.

SIMON GOODWIN.
SIMON GOODWIN. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Raging AFL premiership favourites Melbourne will resist the urge to rest players as the Demons prepare to face the competition's bottom two clubs.

The Demons' winning-streak is out to 15 after they delivered a reality check to St Kilda at the MCG on Sunday.

Melbourne have not lost since July last year and are closing in on the club's record unbeaten streak of 19, set back in 1955-56.

Young Demons defender Jake Bowey has played in 15 straight wins, becoming the first player in VFL/AFL history to do so.

The premiers' next assignment is a trip to Perth to face hapless West Coast, who have lost their last four games by an average of 83 points.

After taking on the Eagles, the Demons will front up to last year's wooden spooners North Melbourne in round 10.

Melbourne have barely been troubled by injuries since the start of last year and coach Simon Goodwin will continue to back his medical staff in the push for back-to-back premierships.

Asked about the possibility of resting stars, Goodwin said: "We don't look at that, at this stage.

"We're certainly a group, and a medical and high-performance team, that manage our players incredibly well, so we'll continue to back those guys in on those decisions.

"We look at every opposition and we respect them for what they can bring and what they can do.

"We live in a very tough industry of AFL and we should never under-estimate the challenge."

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten believes Melbourne have set the Saints something to chase after they dropped to 5-3.

"The work-rate for the four quarters is a test for any team that plays Melbourne," Ratten said.

"You need to sustain it, they're going to test you defensively, win the ball back, and then test you the other way so you can't put all your eggs in one basket.

"They challenge you both ways all day so they're in good form."

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