CARLTON coach Brett Ratten has denied the Blues ever considered taking Greater Western Sydney lightly by resting fit players for their round six clash.
The coach addressed the media on Thursday and took a dim view of widespread speculation that he would take the opportunity to freshen up several key players by omitting them from the team to face the last-placed Giants at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Ratten conceded he would take a conservative approach at the selection table this week, but bristled at suggestions such an approach smacked of arrogance or disrespected Kevin Sheedy's fledgling team.
"I don't think you can call us arrogant in regards to what we're doing to look after our list and make sure that our best players are ready to play every week. I think that's a bit out of line," Ratten said from Visy Park.
"We're playing a game of football, we want to get the best preparation for our team and if it means we've got some sore players and [fit] players available we'll make some changes, but if not, we'll pick the best team to play.
"I think there's been a lot of speculation in regards to 'we're going to rest half the team' and things like that, but that is not true. We'll be playing our best team that's available and ready to go.
"We haven't talked about resting players at all. Whether someone's got a sniff of that or whatever, there's been none of that from us."
Ratten wouldn't be drawn on Chris Judd's availability other than to say that the skipper had played a lot of football and had been managing some physical issues he declined to discuss.
However, he declared emphatically that Kade Simpson, who is set to play his 150th consecutive match, would not have that streak broken by being rested.
"I saw in the paper that Simmo would miss, but I'm telling you now Kade Simpson will not miss playing footy this week," he said.
"He'll be playing, so that's why I laugh and scoff at comments that we're resting [or] we're arrogant."
The Giants are anchored at the bottom of the premiership ladder after suffering five heavy losses to start their inaugural AFL season, but Ratten has admired parts of their game, which he said will eventually click and see them win games.
The match will come at the end of an emotional week for Ratten and the club with the sad news of Sam Rowe's cancer diagnosis made public just days after the birth of the coach's third child.
Rowe is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing chemotherapy, and Ratten's wife and new daughter are doing well at home, but Ratten admitted the events of the week had offered a timely dose of perspective.
"I think with Sam's thing and Tilly being born it just shows you that footy's a big part of everyone's life, but [in] life itself there are ups and downs and you need to make the most of it when you can," he said.
"Footy's a great game, but life is more important."
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
