Minor Premiers

[Wiz Eagles]

Well done to the Saints on a great season. Even though in the record books you will not go down as 2009 Premiers, I think any fair minded person would say that you were by far the best team of the season.

I think the AFL has to seriously look at it's finals system. The system on a whole is ok, the only flaw is that it gives little advantage to the minor premiers.

It's a joke that the best team of the regular season has to win 2 finals to even get to the Grand Final.

Under the old Top 4 and 5 system you were just one win away from the Grand Final. Since the Top 6 and 8 commenced in the 1990's, you need 2 wins just to reach it, and 3 wins to win it.

It's just unfair, especially when you dominate the season that you guys just did. Imagine how bad it would have been had you won all 22 home and away games, and then lost the 1 game all year, the Grand Fi nal.

 

[It Was A Good Day]

ahh well thats just the way it is, no point changing 100+ years of tradition.. Sadly we could not finish.

2010, I am back on the bandwagon.

 

[Charlotte]

I am still so proud of the boys - and driving around I can still see some of the die hard supporters with their signs - hey we have only made a handfull of grand finals we had a great season. Imagin if the Ashes came down to the last game of the round - you could be 4 up and still lose.

Also is it only in Australia that we see them as losing and not being 2nd in the competition. Look at when a team in Europe loses the world cup (Spain v Germany 2008) - Germany kicked themselves out of us - like we did. However the supporters (I was there at the time) were still so happy of their effort and the acheivment of being 2nd in the whole cup that they came out in force in Berlin to great the players.

 

[Michael Scarn]

ahh well thats just the way it is, no point changing 100+ years of tradition.. Sadly we could not finish.

2010, I am back on the bandwagon.

we haven't had this finals system for very long.....

 

[It Was A Good Day]

we haven't had this finals system for very long.....

We have had Grand Finals for a fair while...... It will never change.

 

[goodoldcats]

leave as is. some teams may have to play the better teams twice

 

[olmate]

Well done to the Saints on a great season. Even though in the record books you will not go down as 2009 Premiers, I think any fair minded person would say that you were by far the best team of the season.

I think the AFL has to seriously look at it's finals system. The system on a whole is ok, the only flaw is that it gives little advantage to the minor premiers.

It's a joke that the best team of the regular season has to win 2 finals to even get to the Grand Final.

Under the old Top 4 and 5 system you were just one win away from the Grand Final. Since the Top 6 and 8 commenced in the 1990's, you need 2 wins just to reach it, and 3 wins to win it.

It's just unfair, especially when you dominate the season that you guys just did. Imagine how bad it would have been had you won all 22 home and away games, and then lost the 1 game all year, the Grand Fi nal.

It seems pretty harsh that the team that finishes on top then win its first final has to play in a a prelim

 

[Cuz2Plugger]

Pointless blaming system or weather. Culture of complaint generally pointless.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

The 3 years we've been minor premiers. We lost the GF.

I think we know what to do.

Aim for 2nd boys!

 

[Ninty]

Obviously I know what's it like to dominate all year and fall over in the big one. Sucks big time, and I'm sure that's how my team got over the line by thinking about it this time... Unlucky Sainters. You'll bounce back next year for another crack at it, and wouldn't mind it at all if you win in a couple of years after Geelong gets next years.

 

[watermelonslice]

Also is it only in Australia that we see them as losing and not being 2nd in the competition. Look at when a team in Europe loses the world cup (Spain v Germany 2008) - Germany kicked themselves out of us - like we did. However the supporters (I was there at the time) were still so happy of their effort and the acheivment of being 2nd in the whole cup that they came out in force in Berlin to great the players.

Actually, it used to be like this. I was watching On the Couch, and apparently Ron Barassi was the one who started this current trend. Before that both clubs celebrated a great season, win or lose. But Barassi stood up and made his team feel awful about losing. I think it's a very powerful motivation tool. Keeping in mind, St Kilda lost due to errant misses on goal, which would most likely not occur again. This loss could really spur them on for next year.

 

[Vdubs]

Well done to the Saints on a great season. Even though in the record books you will not go down as 2009 Premiers, I think any fair minded person would say that you were by far the best team of the season.

I think the AFL has to seriously look at it's finals system. The system on a whole is ok, the only flaw is that it gives little advantage to the minor premiers.

It's a joke that the best team of the regular season has to win 2 finals to even get to the Grand Final.

Under the old Top 4 and 5 system you were just one win away from the Grand Final. Since the Top 6 and 8 commenced in the 1990's, you need 2 wins just to reach it, and 3 wins to win it.

It's just unfair, especially when you dominate the season that you guys just did. Imagine how bad it would have been had you won all 22 home and away games, and then lost the 1 game all year, the Grand Fi nal.

Cats lost only 1 game last year , the rest is history. What counts is September form and peaking appropriately which is what Hawks did 08, Cats 09.. Saints misfortune is having an awesome season but not realy being the bestwhen it counted. The last 5 minutes of the last / 4 of the season separates these 2 great teams.