What are the scenarios?

[Danni]

Ok, is this how it will work?

Lions Win & Port Win

Port - home prelim
Lions - Melbourne prelim

Lions Win & Sydney Win

Lions - home prelim
Sydney - Melbourne prelim (as they finished lower on the ladder than the Lions)

Lions lose and Port win

Lions - home semi next week
Sydney - Melbourne semi next week (unless AFL decide to bank a final)

Lions lose and Port lose

Port - home semi next week
Lions - Melbourne semi next week (unless AFL decide to bank a final)

Is that right?

[SpecialBruce]

Originally posted by Danni
Ok, is this how it will work?

Lions Win & Port Win

Port - home prelim
Lions - Melbourne prelim

Lions Win & Sydney Win

Lions - home prelim
Sydney - Melbourne prelim (as they finished lower on the ladder than the Lions)

Lions lose and Port win

Lions - home semi next week
Sydney - Melbourne semi next week (unless AFL decide to bank a final)

Lions lose and Port lose

Port - home semi next week
Lions - Melbourne semi next week (unless AFL decide to bank a final)

Is that right?

Yep it's right, but the AFL will bank a final. They will need to make it fair. More on that later.

However, Port might not get that home Prelim, even if they win. If this crowd is pathetic on Sunday, the AFL will most likely consider moving Port's prelim to the MCG. Fans may make an uproar about that, but what is the AFL supposed to do?

For fairness of the finals, the AFL has to bank an MCG final. They have no choice on the matter.

For example, Sydney won't get that home ground advantage if we lose and they lose. They'll have to travel to the MCG for the semi, either against Fremantle or Essendon. They will then have to travel for the prelim, then travel for the Grand Final. We won't need to travel.

We lose and port lose, we travel to the MCG in the semi and play either Adelaide or West Coast, SCG in the prelim, MCG in the Grand Final. That would be 5 weeks for us on the road.

Brisbane case of losing and Sydney winning.

Round 22 - TD
QF - MCG
SF - MCG
PF - SCG
GF - MCG

We won't make it to the prelim if we have to travel again next week.

Sydney case of losing and Brisbane losing.

Round 22 - MCG
QF - AS
SF - MCG
PF - MCG
GF - MCG

Sydney won't make it to the prelim if they have to travel again next week.

2 teams in the top 4 are in an unfair position if the AFL don't bank a final. The thing that will most likely happen is interstate teams V each other next week, so the AFL will then bank MCG semi's.

Therefore, we need to WIN this week. I am willing to bet that there will be no MCG final next weekend, so we're safe, even if we do lose.

[BrainOfMorbius]

Originally posted by SpecialBruce
However, Port might not get that home Prelim, even if they win. If this crowd is pathetic on Sunday, the AFL will most likely consider moving Port's prelim to the MCG. Fans may make an uproar about that, but what is the AFL supposed to do?
This is about as likely as Libba ever becoming an assistant coach at the Lions.
Originally posted by SpecialBruce
For fairness of the finals, the AFL has to bank an MCG final. They have no choice on the matter.
No, Danni's post is quite right. The AFL clarified their position on this just a few weeks ago and said that they would not play a game at the MCG in either (not both) of Weeks 1 and 2 of the finals if not required. If Port and the Lions lose this weekend both will host finals in Week 2.

[SpecialBruce]

Originally posted by BrainOfMorbius
Libba ever becoming an assistant coach at the Lions.


I don't see what the big deal is about people who are against Libba being an assistant coach at the Lions and possibly a future coach. I'd like to have his football knowledge around the club, especially when Lambert goes back to Richmond in the next few years, possibly at the end of this year.

He has good football knowledge, he was a good player, he's a great coach and someone we should get if the chance comes up to get him.

What's the big deal about Libba?

[Slax]

I don't like last night's win though.

Sydney lose - Bris win
Semi
Syd v Ess - Stad Aust
PF
Bris v winner - MCG