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"AFL Considering September Shake-Up For 2026"
- Thread starter LordLucifer
- Start date
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- May 12, 2015
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Whateley, Hutchy and all the other US sports-loving sycophants keep ramming this crap down everyone's throats and we finally have a lame duck afl ceo who'll be stupid enough to listen to them. All this stuff just rewards mediocrity, I'd honestly rather revert to a top 6 than a wilcard bs round (and yes I'm well aware Hawthorn finished 8th)
It's not a wildcard round. It's a final-10.
We had 50% of the teams making it in a 16 team league and everyone was happy about that. Since then, we have added 2 (soon to be 3) teams and the number of finalists hasn't increased.
If 8 out of 16 was perfect, then 10 out of 19 is the same (you obviously round "up" because of the odd number)
To me, it's more about the type of final-10 that is used. My one ticks every box. The AFL's one is more convoluted and messy and requires 7th-10th to win 5 finals which is ridiculous.
Knockout is the way to go and always has been. We've had two knockout Preliminary Finals since 1994 for crying out loud. Ever since then, double chances have not been required.
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Why have a H&A season at all? Wild card is an insane idea, but i suppose it sure beats conferences? September is not the AFL's problem, this year has seen a lacklustre H&A season with way too many blow outs, but the first week of finals was exceptional. They are so busy with "special rounds" etc they are missing the point of the entire season of football!
It’s not wildcard it’s just a final 10. What’s wrong with 10 finalists in a 19 team competion, which is the same as 8 in a 16 team competition which we had for many years.
No, a bad idea. Imagine being a club that finished top 4 losing to a side that finished 9th or 10th.
My proposal is for a participation ribbon for the clubs that finish 9th to 18th. Far more aligned to stereotypes of the current player generation.
My proposal is for a participation ribbon for the clubs that finish 9th to 18th. Far more aligned to stereotypes of the current player generation.
Time for the AFL to make the draw fair by each team playing each other only once and also making sure the home fixture is alternated every year. If they still want the same number of games as there currently is, then have some kind of extended finals series format, while bottom eight/ten/whatever play some dead rubbers to decide final ladder position. Won't happen though, as AFL is not interested in a fair competition.
A lot of people are looking at the USA and in particular the NFL.
Well, the NFL has 32 teams with 8 conferences having 4 teams
So their finals system has no reference to the AFL but we can take something out of the NFL system.
In the NFL, if your team is a conference winner then they had a successful season.
That would be equivalent of a team making the AFL top four but every team in the AFL
is considered a loser except for the premier and that is why the finals' system are so hotly debated.
The AFL need some stepping stones.
In a 20 team competition you could have a VFL GF, an AFL GF and then a superbowl VFL Vs AFL.
Well, the NFL has 32 teams with 8 conferences having 4 teams
So their finals system has no reference to the AFL but we can take something out of the NFL system.
In the NFL, if your team is a conference winner then they had a successful season.
That would be equivalent of a team making the AFL top four but every team in the AFL
is considered a loser except for the premier and that is why the finals' system are so hotly debated.
The AFL need some stepping stones.
In a 20 team competition you could have a VFL GF, an AFL GF and then a superbowl VFL Vs AFL.
A Final-10 in a 19-team competition is not rewarding mediocrity anymore than 8 making thre finals in a 16 team league did. And NO ONE had a problem with 8 out of 16.
The AFL is not just a sporting competition. It is also a business and an entertainment product whether we like it or not. Let's just call a spade a spade. In fact the entertainment product is just as important as the sporting aspect. We need to reduce dead rubbers (to a reasonable point) create more meaningful games and give more teams a chance. Thats why we watch.
How is it not reasonable to increase the amount of finalists by 2, when the league has increased by 2 (soon to be 3) from 16 teams to 19, without increasing the number of finalists?
What's the issue with that?
Anyone hesitant to not want to change the current finals series format is clearly not interested in a fair competition. By extending the finals series, the most egregious inequity in the AFL (the unequal draw) could be removed, while still having the same number of games.
The AFL is just as much an entertainment product as it is a sporting competition. You can't have 5 teams making it and 13 missing out. That would be disastrous for the TV rights.
We are headed towards a final-10. The question is which final-10 do we use? I think mine ticks all the boxes.
I hate everything that you said
We've had a knockout Grand Final for 100 years and two knockout prelims for the last 30. A knockout system is clearly the way to go.
Not really.
Docklands teams and interstate teams still have to play big 'home' finals at their opponent's home ground.
Clubs finishing top 4 should be rewarded for their performance throughout the season. Almost any team can beat another team on the day.
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But isn't the reward that you get to play the shittest team in the finals at home?
I still think the top team in this scenario should get a double chance and also go straight into the prelim if they win.
It actually gives the top 2 teams more advantage really. They still get a week off between the final round and their first final - but their opponent doesn't.
What happens if the 9th and 10th teams win, is the question. That would be weird if they went straight into a prelim.
CanuckSuns
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8 teams already get in. I hated when MLB and NFL added more playoffs spots, too. Playoffs are supposed to be an accomplishment. Now, mediocrity gets in.
Having eight already compensates somewhat for an unequal fixture. With an even fixture, eight would be far too many. Its only the bullshit fixture, and the failed final six, that makes eight barely acceptable.
Even from a commercial perspective, there is a real risk of diluting finals if getting into finals means nothing.
The Feeder Club
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Yeah, if we have to have a final 10 I like this idea the most
Divide the table into 5 strata 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 etc
From each statum, randomly allocate teams to Pool A or B.
Each pool plays in the traditional final 5 fomat.
Final winner of Pool A plays Final winner of Pool B in the grand final
This rewards finishing 1st or 2nd, which is an improvement on the current system where they really get minimal advantage
Also means all teams finishing 7th-10th are in an elimination final week 1.
What are you talking about? That's not how it is at ALL. Read the system. Jesus Christ I'm sick of these people that can't read. I'm gonna lose it soon.
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