Finals system

[Timmy from Thomastown]

No need to shout to get your opinion across.

In fact I said I wouldnt mind the old system back....just pointing out some potential flaws with it, of which you chose to cherry pick just one.

The biggest issue with the old system was logistics of scheduling.

I dont have a drama with the double chance.....its been part of the game since forever and I am happy to keep it...it makes it uniquly Australian to have a finals series that the higher up the ladder you go, the more advantage that you have in September.

Why would anybody want a 22 round qualifying round simply to make it to an eight team knockout tournament in September? Its not tennis. May as well not bother shooting for the minor premiership....falling into eighth spot will give you an equal shot at the prize. I'd rather no finals at all than a knockout.

 

[Dan26]

No need to shout to get your opinion across.

In fact I said I wouldnt mind the old system back....just pointing out some potential flaws with it, of which you chose to cherry pick just one.

The biggest issue with the old system was scheduling.

The old system had the seedings right. 1st should play 8th.

The problem is, once you get the seedings right you don't need double chances anymore, do you? Once 1st get to play 8th and 2nd gets to play 7th, the double chance isn't required.

Those top teams get to play easier opponents, and that should be "balanced out" by facing elimination.

Once first changes their opponent from 4th to 8th, they can then face elimination as a "balancing out" for the advantage of playing the worst team.

 

[Hornberger]

No hated double chances.

So hated they have been used in every final system since 1932 and are used by virtually* all leagues in the country.

* Aside from Leagues with 6 or less teams, it could very well be every league.

 

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

The old system was farcical. Look at Carlton progressing to the second week in 1999 after finishing 6th and losing their first final by 73 points for a perfect example. I'll take the predictable borefest we have now over that system any day of the week.

 

[Spuddage]

Shock! Horror! The cup is always won by one of the best 4 teams that season.... imagine that...

 

[Dan26]

So hated they have been used in every final system since 1932 and are used by virtually* all leagues in the country.

* Aside from Leagues with 6 or less teams, it could very well be every league.

And they suck. Fans most enjoy the finals where the season is on the line. They are the most exciting. I'm sure you would agree with that.

You could ask 100 people and not one would label the Qualifying Final as their favourite annual finals event.

 

[Furn]

Some interesting stats there with the top ranked sides winning so often.

Perhaps it shows the the uneven fixture isn't as big a problem as people are making out. Otherwise wouldn't we see more finals upsets?

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

The old system had the seedings right. 1st should play 8th..

No argument with that.

And if 8 beats 1, 1 still gets a double chance.....but all of a sudden 4 is eliminated because they lost to 5. I cant see whats entirely fair about 4 being knocked out in the finals because of thew results of another game in the same weekend. In fact its a very good reason for 1 or 2 to tank....to knock out their biggest threats!

Plus you conveniently overlook the problems the AFL had with scheduling finals under this system.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Fans most enjoy the finals where the season is on the line..

Stop speaking for everybody else.

Crowds at QFs are on average bigger than crowds at EFs.....why is that?

Maybe its because astute crowds know a win and a week off gives their teams a much greater chance of winning a premiership? Maybe its because people want to see good teams play each other?

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Even though a lot you you may not like it, and certainly not the money-hungry AFL, I would, after a playing each team only once a year have a top 6. First week, 1 and 2 have a week off 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5. Week two 1 vs lowest ranked team left, 2 vs highest ranked team left, then the GF and that's it. Exactly how the NFL decides the conference champion.

 

[Underarm]

haha. the people in the NRL are talking of doing the opposite. I.e swapping to our system.

Due to the fact that the top 4 teams in NRL won in the first week. the team that finished 4th won the first week, and had to play the 2nd highest loser (6th) in the second week. 4th lost, making a mokery of the entire system they use.

 

[Hornberger]

And they suck. Fans most enjoy the finals where the season is on the line. They are the most exciting. I'm sure you would agree with that.

You really are clueless. You not liking them does not equal the majority of fans or even a large minority of fans not liking them. Once again if they are so unpopular why does almost every league in the country use them?

You could ask 100 people and not one would label the Qualifying Final as their favourite annual finals event.

You are a moron. This is one of the most ******ed arguments I have ever seen made. I am not even going to come up with rebuttal for it because its stupidity is so blatant obvious that I feel shouldn't have to.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Exactly.

The double chance in the first week just exists as a money making exercise to have 9 finals instead of what should be 7.

1st should be playing 8th in the first week. They have earnt that advantage. If you can't beat the 8th-placed team at your own home ground, bad luck. You're out.

Double chances have no place in finals. Look at this week. We have the utterly ridiculous and reprehensible situation where the doubke chance went to 3rd and 4th, yet if 3rd and 4th beat 1st and 2nd this week, then 1st and 2nd are out after one loss (with NO double chance), and 3rd will play 4th in the Grand Final after BOTH teams lost in the first week. That's pure idiocy.

and ideologies of what finals are about - PERFORMING ON THE DAY. Double chances are my most hated thing in all of football. They go totally against the principles

1st don't need to be playing 4th in the first week. Instead, give them the easier match agaisnt 8th but make it elimination. Sure it's knockout for 1st, but the "advantage" to compensate for not having the double chance is that they get an easier match to win through to the Prelimnary Final.

Injuries?? They might not just have an off day. 2 or 3 players may substane serious injury.

A final 8 knockout system, in my view, wouldnt reward the top teams enough. They EARNT that double chance.

Anyway i always think the final 5 is by far the best system.
The final 8 is just about spot on for 8 teams in finals.

 

[dr nick]

In 1999, using the McIntyre System, week 1 of the finals
West Coast [5] def. Western Bulldogs [4]
Brisbane [3] def. Carlton [6]

next week we had the farcical Carlton v West Coast at the MCG, which of course Carlton won en route to that prelim v Essendon.

 

[old55]

The finals system has become a totally predictable bore since it was introduced in 2000..

Couldn't disagree more - it's great as-is. The premier comes from the top 4 and they have to beat the other 3 teams in the top 4 to be premier if it goes according to plan. Nothing could be better than that.

 

[Doss]

Final 5 was the best system the VFL/AFL had by a long way. If they had've brought in the extra time rule for drawn finals earlier, it would have been even better.

 

[D-N-R]

First week
1v8, 2v7

Second week
3v6, 4v5.

Third week
1st Prelim: highest remaining seed vs lowest remaining seed
2nd Prelim : 2nd-highest remaining seed vs 2nd lowest remaining seed

4th week
Grand Final

8th spot haven't earned a crack at the premiers and then a week off. With this system, you're assuming that 1st and second will always win, which is just as boring and predictable as the current system you're railing against.

And some coach will soon work out how to coast into 8th spot with a fit a firing team, knock off 1st, and go on to win the granny. You need to do it the hard way, which is what the current system does.

 

[Dan26]

Injuries?? They might not just have an off day. 2 or 3 players may substane serious injury.

Oh give me a break!

You can use the injury excuse now in the Preliminary Finals under the current system. What if Geelong or Collingwood have a string of injuies and are eliminated after one loss in either the PF or the GF?

If you are the top team and you host 8th, you should face elimination. What if 1st have an off day, you say? DON'T have an off day. Good teams will be prepared and perform on the day and win. That's what finals are about.

 

[muesli]

I'd like to see a final six:

First Week:
3 V 6
4 V 5

Second Week:
1 V Lowest Ranked Winner of Week 1
2 V Highest Ranked Winner of Week 1

Third Week:
Grand Final

Of course it won't happen as there is less finals

 

[oak79]

Change for the sake of change - the current system works!!! leave it alone.

Adding 9 and 10 into finals? - no thanks! Top 8 already rewards mediocracy, but at least it almost makes sense with 18 teams.

 

[Hornberger]

I'd like to see a final six:

First Week:
3 V 6
4 V 5

Second Week:
1 V Lowest Ranked Winner of Week 1
2 V Highest Ranked Winner of Week 1

Third Week:
Grand Final

Of course it won't happen as there is less finals

And it will make the home and away season boring.

 

[D-N-R]

double post

 

[Dan26]

You really are clueless. You not liking them does not equal the majority of fans or even a large minority of fans not liking them. Once again if they are so unpopular why does almost every league in the country use them?

Fans may say they like the current system, but he current system consists of 7 knockout finals, so if they like the current system, they obviously like knockout finals. The fans prefer the knockout finals to the double chance finals. Obviously.

I mean, what kind of fool - even one who supports the current sysrem - has the Qualifying Final as their favouite annual final? No one. I'm sure you don't.

Everyone prefers knckout finals. The West Coast-Carlton final was brilliant, not just because of the standard of the match but because of what was at stake - EVERYTHING was at stake.

 

[longsuffreosupp]

And they suck. Fans most enjoy the finals where the season is on the line. They are the most exciting. I'm sure you would agree with that.

You could ask 100 people and not one would label the Qualifying Final as their favourite annual finals event.

Under your system, you could ask 100 people and not one would label any of the first games in the finals as their favourite annual finals event.

 

[dr nick]

nah, srs... heaps of RL fans say the 4v5 in week 1 is their favourite final.. coz u know.. it could be sudden death.