With Carlton defeating St Kilda on Sunday night, the Western Bulldogs are effectively locked into the Wildcard Round with two games to go.
With their position all but set, they may use the final two rounds to rest up and prepare for the finals.
AFL football boss Greg Swann sent out a memo last week to clubs regarding the resting of players in the final rounds to come, reminding them of their obligation to perform on one's merits.
Speaking on the Six Points AFL podcast, Mark Stevens believes the Bulldogs should be preparing for their upcoming wildcard clash and rest some of their stars, despite the memo sent out by the AFL.
"He doesn't look right. I'd consider giving the (Marcus Bontempelli) Bont a fortnight off," Stevens said.
“Why not, to just freshen right up?”
“Well, you would give him at least one game off; Naughton's sore, general soreness. I think it was a little bit more than that.”
Stevens believes the Dogs should be preparing the best they can for the wildcard game, which looks likely to be against the Crows in Adelaide.
“A lot of tired players, how deep would you go? Do you do five one week and five the next, or do you say to a couple of your stars, you've got a fortnight off, have a spell, freshen right up?" he said.
"We are going to have a real assault on the wildcard game perhaps in Adelaide, and Adelaide doesn't have the luxury of doing this their still fighting for their top six positions.
“So just wait and see, particularly on the Bulldogs, how many they rest, and Bevo won't care about what Greg Swan says.”
The Bulldogs will face off against Carlton this Sunday, as the Blues try to secure a wildcard position.
