The AFL was so obsessed with teams resting players in the final round, it ripped the temptation away by creating a pre-finals bye in 2016.
Now, 10 years on, it has handed back the opportunity to visit the "rest room".
The introduction of two wildcard matches has wiped out the week off. Teams finishing seventh to 10th will need to go on a miracle run of five straight wins to take the flag.
So watch this space. If you are trapped in the wildcard zone entering the final round, with no scope to push into the top six and no chance of dropping out, why wouldn't you rest a raft of players?
Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs loom as prime candidates to be entrenched in this scenario. Melbourne may also be on this list, who by chance has the Bulldogs in the final round in what could be the ultimate resting dead rubber.
If Marcus Bontempelli is a bit sore, why wouldn't you freshen him up? Same for Max Gawn or any of the Collingwood veterans.
With Victorian clubs almost certainly filling the wildcard spots, there won't even be incentive to finish higher in the wildcard zone to lock in a home final. All of them will be at the MCG.
The AFL won't like the discussion, and it will talk about the integrity of selection.
But you can't blame the clubs if it comes to the crunch.
If the league is asking clubs to win five on the trot to win a flag, it can't complain if one or two earn the right to rest players ahead of the monumental task and do just that!
Back in 2015, controversy erupted when clubs went on a final round resting run.
Fremantle and North Melbourne both opted to rest more than a third of their side in the final round. It had an impact on others, particularly Adelaide.
The Dockers became renowned for it. In 2010 they rested eight players for a round 22 match against Hawthorn and were beaten by 116 points, while in 2013 they also rested 11 players in a final-round fixture.
A bit like tanking, the "resting'' debate has evaporated due to that week off.
The wildcard has been great for keeping fans interested, but suddenly the "rest room" is open for business again.
