Finals Disadvantage

[WCE_phil]

I just wanted to bring up something that has been gnawing at me for months. Is finishing top 4 and winning the qualifying final now a disadvantage? Or at the very least of no benefit at all? With there being a break of 1 week between finals and then the qualifying final winners have another week break.

While i think it could have a bit of an effect on winning the grand final if they get there i think it could be a huge disadvantage in the prelim. By the time the prelim starts they will have played 1 game in the last 27-28 days and may not have even been able to play fringe players in local leagues. You don't want to mess with consistancy and form.

If you want to have a week off between the home and away and finals series then thats fine but it means for fairness we really need the finals to be a knockout series. 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5.

 

[Xenthor]

Just leave **** the way it is.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

You want the McIntyre system which is beyond awful!

The current system is fine, gives you a 2nd chance by coming top 4, that is the advantage.

 

[Kram]

The first placed team when winning the QF then usually getting a more difficult opponent in the PF is a bit of a flaw.

 

[Kram]

You want the McIntyre system which is beyond awful!

No they want a straight knock out which isn't as bad, I'm happy with the current one though.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

No they want a straight knock out which isn't as bad, I'm happy with the current one though.

That is even worse! How would you feel about coming 1st winning basically every game, play a poor game 1st week of the finals and get eliminated. Need to reward the top 4.

 

[Doggy Dan]

Home ground advantage and extra week off to get over niggles. Where is the disadvantage?

 

[JaxsonB]

History says that the week off tends to help teams more than it hinders.

At least, I'm pretty sure the stats point to that. It's been about 5 months since I last looked at them.

 

[Taylor]

It is a disadvantage until one of the clubs that has to play the extra game loses a player in that game.

It's just another chance to get injured.

 

[Gold Member]

I think the OP's point was not well made.
Too much time off from top level football leading into a prelim.
The Case study is probably Fremantle in recent years with their bulk restings in the last round, although they got off to a flyer in the 2015 Prelim...

PLAY Last round of H&A


REST Week rest for all finalists.


PLAY QF


REST Week off for QF winner


PLAY Prelim Final

 

[WCE_phil]

1 week off can be seen as an advantage. However if every team has a week off then having 2 weeks off out of 3 can become a major issue in regards touch, match fitness and form. If like a cricketer. If a batsman is in great form and has scored a century in the first session of a test do you want him to go back out there in the second session or do no batting at all for a week.

 

[quotemokc]

That is even worse! How would you feel about coming 1st winning basically every game, play a poor game 1st week of the finals and get eliminated. Need to reward the top 4.

Don't play a poor game then?

Saying you had a bad game is a cop out, if you can't bring your best when it matters most then you don't deserve to make it further.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Don't play a poor game then?

Saying you had a bad game is a cop out, if you can't bring your best when it matters most then you don't deserve to make it further.

The current system is a million times better. The top 4 deserve protection first week. They have earnt it through the season.

The only change I like would be like in the English Super League (RL) where the highest seeds choose their opponents in the 2nd/3rd rounds.

 

[Lensen]

The current system is a million times better. The top 4 deserve protection first week. They have earnt it through the season.

The only change I like would be like in the English Super League (RL) where the highest seeds choose their opponents in the 2nd/3rd rounds.

Imagine being a gun side all year, finishing top and smashing the opposition in thr qualifying final but then having a bad day in the preliminary and being knocked out

Your logic is terrible

 

[kranky al]

That is even worse! How would you feel about coming 1st winning basically every game, play a poor game 1st week of the finals and get eliminated. Need to reward the top 4.

Id be stoked with that

We would have got rid of bloody hawthorn and might just have won ourselves a granny

 

[Bomberboyokay]

The only change I like would be like in the English Super League (RL) where the highest seeds choose their opponents in the 2nd/3rd rounds.

That sounds a bit WWE and extra motivation for the team that is chosen.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Imagine being a gun side all year, finishing top and smashing the opposition in thr qualifying final but then having a bad day in the preliminary and being knocked out

Your logic is terrible

You can accept it in preliminary final. It is beyond stupid to be able to be knocked out first week in a finals system after coming first. You deserve protection as a reward for a whole season's work. Thankfully no system will ever be in place where the top 2 sides are in danger of going out first round.

 

[quotemokc]

The current system is a million times better. The top 4 deserve protection first week. They have earnt it through the season.

The only change I like would be like in the English Super League (RL) where the highest seeds choose their opponents in the 2nd/3rd rounds.

The top 4 would ideally play the bottom 4 and the home game advantage would be enough.

A top team shouldn't need protection.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

If you want to have a week off between the home and away and finals series then thats fine but it means for fairness we really need the finals to be a knockout series. 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5.

Zero chance the AFL reduces the finals series from 9 games to 7 games.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

That sounds a bit WWE and extra motivation for the team that is chosen.

Actually isn't a bad idea (works in the ESL), that said I'd like to trial it at VFL level first and really see whether it works.

Personally I'd leave it as it is. I'm over changing rules for the sake of changing. Can't we go 1 season without not changing the game!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

The top 4 would ideally play the bottom 4 and the home game advantage would be enough.

A top team shouldn't need protection.

What home advantages...half the teams will be neutral. That isn't enough. Just keep the system as it it. It is working. Why on goodness earth are we saying to change a system that works!

 

[quotemokc]

What home advantages...half the teams will be neutral. That isn't enough. Just keep the system as it it. It is working. Why on goodness earth are we saying to change a system that works!

Works poorly*

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Actually isn't a bad idea (works in the ESL), that said I'd like to trial it at VFL level first and really see whether it works.

According to Wikipedia, they got rid of it in 2014.

 

[Severe]

The current system is a million times better. The top 4 deserve protection first week. They have earnt it through the season.

The only change I like would be like in the English Super League (RL) where the highest seeds choose their opponents in the 2nd/3rd rounds.

Interesting. So for example last year Hawthorn could of picked to play Adelaide or North in the semi final?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Works poorly*

It works fine. The best side always ends up winning, period. Gives the real top seeds some protection first round.

Can we just not change the game for 1 season! My goodness, we have enough rule changes as it is.