Should the AFL introduce a 8th vs 9th play-off before finals series?

[petrolium]

Just borrowing an idea from the NBA where they have a play-in before the play-off series commence. I think it would add some extra excitement/intrigue.

Given that we have 18 teams and only a top 8, would it be a good idea for the AFL to introduce a play-off game (one off game) between 8th and 9th placed teams at the end of the H/A season?
It could be played in the bye between the last H/A round and first round of the finals. The winner would play the 5th placed side in an elimination final (like usual).

What are your thoughts?

 

[Juddernaut08]

fmd

 

[nick1408]

Good try Gil

 

[Billy ray]

Nah. Top 7 locked in

And two next teams with best percentage play a one off elim final for 8th place

 

[PJays]

8 vs 9
7 vs 10

Advantages

- Keeps more fans interested for longer

- Removes the annoying, anticlimactic week off on eve of finals

- Genuine advantage for top 6 who still get the extra week off. Currently there's a massive advantage finishing top 4 instead of 5th, but comparatively minimal advantage finishing 5th instead of 8th. This system would create an advantage more aligned with ladder position earned over 22 games. (Of course, it does mean 7th has minimal advantage over 10th, but at that point you're talking 2 mid rung teams).

- If you win more games than you lose, as 9th and 10th often do, you deserve a crack at finals

Winners all round.

Can't see any downsides. The bye gives this a perfect window to happen. It's a no brainer. Or just go 8 vs 9, either would be a great addition

 

[BringouttheGimp]

No.. higgledy-piggledy.

 

[Purple Suit]

8 vs 9
7 vs 10

Advantages

- Keeps more fans interested for longer

- Removes the annoying, anticlimactic week off on eve of finals

- Genuine advantage for top 6 who still get the extra week off. Currently there's a massive advantage finishing top 4 instead of 5th, but comparatively minimal advantage finishing 5th instead of 8th. This system would create an advantage more aligned with ladder position earned over 22 games. (Of course, it does mean 7th has minimal advantage over 10th, but at that point you're talking 2 mid rung teams).

- If you win more games than you lose, as 9th and 10th often do, you deserve a crack at finals

Winners all round.

Can't see any downsides. The bye gives this a perfect window to happen. It's a no brainer. Or just go 8 vs 9, either would be a great addition

Top 4 winners then have 2 byes in 3 weeks heading into the prelim. Takes away some of their advantage.

 

[RonnieRaven]

I’m keen for 8v9 in bye week now there is 18 teams.
I’d be happy for 7v10 when we get to a 20 team comp.
It’s a tough league and if you finish in the top half it would be a nice reward.
Before the suns and giants everyone in the top half of the ladder got a finals birth.

 

[HairyO]

I want an NBA system where we have different divisions and in each division the top 4 teams get through to the finals and everyone else play off for Wild Card entries and we also do Best of 3 games and then move to Best of 7.

 

[Jibroni]

No

 

[kickazz]

Can't believe nobody has raised this before on BigFooty.

 

[Underarm]

Just borrowing an idea from the NBA where they have a play-in before the play-off series commence. I think it would add some extra excitement/intrigue.

Given that we have 18 teams and only a top 8, would it be a good idea for the AFL to introduce a play-off game (one off game) between 8th and 9th placed teams at the end of the H/A season?
It could be played in the bye between the last H/A round and first round of the finals. The winner would play the 5th placed side in an elimination final (like usual).

What are your thoughts?

So a final 9?

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Yes but for 8th v 18th, I was thinking end of season, pre finals draft for 18th place where they can borrow as many players as they want from any non top 8 teams.
West Coast can pick up Dusty, Bont, etc. etc.

Or, scrap the finals and give them all a participation award.

 

[PhatBoy]

Mediocrity is rewarded enough already

 

[Walshawk]

No. AFLW will kick off need the clean air.

 

[kreglze]

8 v 9 is fine and would add something to that bye week. I wouldn't be going 7 v 10 however, at least not until we are a 20 team comp.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

No.
If a team is good enough to have a break on the teams outside the 8, they shouldn't need to prove their worth

I'd rather the old top 8 system come back though, which rewards the top 2 with a garrunteed double chance, not the top 4

 

[marcmurphy3]

Nah. In reality teams 7-8 are just making up the numbers most years anyway. Dont think a playoff between 8-9 to see who gets an extra week would garner much interest.

 

[petrolium]

So a final 9?

Not exactly. At end of home and away season, whoever finishes 8th and 9th play each other in a single game in the week before the actual final series starts to determine who takes the final finals position

 

[WAbulldog]

That’s a no from me

 

[M Malice]

I'd like to see a playoff between the 8th placed side and the AFLW premiers for the last spot in the AFLH finals series.

 

[Taylor]

I'd like to see a playoff between the 8th placed side and the AFLW premiers for the last spot in the AFLH finals series.

That would be a slaughter.

If we are doing conferences then we should have wild card places for the last finals spots in case the top three of one conference is far worse than the other.

 

[M Malice]

That would be a slaughter.

If we are doing conferences then we should have wild card places for the last finals spots in case the top three of one conference is far worse than the other.

 

[btdg]

If we have to do a play in game then it should be the team outside the 8 with the best record in the second half of the season and/or best team vs finals competitors. Make it a genuine wild card for a team who are good but injury affected or who took a while to get going.

If ut is just the 9th and 10th best team there is no point otherwise

 

[Rabish Binney]

Why do we see the need to keep Americanising our game?

A club finishes 9th and is therefore not good enough to make finals.. so why give them any extra chance? Next thing you'll want a best of 5 game grand final series.

Where does it stop? A final 10?? Conferences; divisions??? Time outs during games?

Definitely a no from me.