The unequal draw

[GOALden Hawk]

Did anyone see that solution to the draw suggested in the Hun on the weekend? It said the games where you only play the opposition once in a season should be worth 8 points while those you play twice should be worth 4.

It also suggested that the 8 point games be played in the final 8 rounds of the season to build up suspence for places in the 8.

This idea seems to have a massive flaw in it - been the 8 point games have to be played at someone's home ground, giving them a massive advantage.

For example, if Geelong played Adelaide twice in a season, you would consider it likely that the home team would win each game - yet under the other proposed system whoever had the home match would have a massive advantage as they would receive 8 points for a win that may have never occurred if the match was played interstate.

The other thing that annoyed me this week was Mick Malthouse having a big sook about Collingwood's poor draw. OK, fair enough, it may be harder than others, but that's always going to happen when every team doesn't play the others twice.

Also, at the start of the season who would have predicted Melbourne would slide so far or that Port would be travelling so well? And isn't Collingwood themselves partly to blame for their poor draw anyway? After all, they are the ones who request to play Essendon and Carlton twice every season - so they can hardly complain about the poor draw when they are part of the reason it is compromised.

Anyway, enough of my rantings - does anyone think the 8 point idea is a good one? The unequal draw is one of the biggest problems in football IMHO, but I don't see how it can be changed.

 

[Blues2001]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
Did anyone see that solution to the draw suggested in the Hun on the weekend? It said the games where you only play the opposition once in a season should be worth 8 points while those you play twice should be worth 4.

It also suggested that the 8 point games be played in the final 8 rounds of the season to build up suspence for places in the 8.

This idea seems to have a massive flaw in it - been the 8 point games have to be played at someone's home ground, giving them a massive advantage.

For example, if Geelong played Adelaide twice in a season, you would consider it likely that the home team would win each game - yet under the other proposed system whoever had the home match would have a massive advantage as they would receive 8 points for a win that may have never occurred if the match was played interstate.

The other thing that annoyed me this week was Mick Malthouse having a big sook about Collingwood's poor draw. OK, fair enough, it may be harder than others, but that's always going to happen when every team doesn't play the others twice.

Also, at the start of the season who would have predicted Melbourne would slide so far or that Port would be travelling so well? And isn't Collingwood themselves partly to blame for their poor draw anyway? After all, they are the ones who request to play Essendon and Carlton twice every season - so they can hardly complain about the poor draw when they are part of the reason it is compromised.

Anyway, enough of my rantings - does anyone think the 8 point idea is a good one? The unequal draw is one of the biggest problems in football IMHO, but I don't see how it can be changed.

Yep, I thought that too Goalden one. Imagine having eight points riding on a game agains the Lions at the Gabba! Four is bad enough.

But the draw's a real problem. Due to the inadequacies of the draw, I can't see Carlton lifting themselves above Hawthorn, such is the ease of your run home. And I don't care what profits we may make out of the games, I'd be happy to only play Essendon once in a season for a change!

 

[Pessimistic]

Perhaps 6 points per game would be a compromise between the two systems.

But I think a STRICT rotation of games over 3 years would be more equal - It wouldn't be that hard

And get ready for the accusations that hawthorn's draw is easy this year - brisbanes isn't particularly hard either.

Last year Hawks (8th) and Doggies (7th) got the rough end of the pineapple whilst Melbourne (3rd) and North (4th) were 2 wins in front but had a 2 game easier draw.

 

[RacerX]

I agree with Pessimistic on the idea of a STRICT rotation of games over 3 years. The manipulation of the draw to ensure a certain number of blockbusters and derbies is not doing the league any favours.

The other suggestion to award more than 4 points for a win is madness!

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Yeah, I agree that should be introduced with the STRICT rotation, no exceptions. We are never going to have 30 rounds a year, we will have 16 teams for at least the next 5, it is the only viable solution.

 

[Danny Chook Fan Club]

I posted this elsewhere yesterday re the draw:

It's quite simple really. There must be 16 teams in the comp for the next four years. Assuming the 22 rounds system stays, that means each club will play 88 home and away games over the next four seasons. Which breaks down to six games against 13 teams, and five against the other two. How simple would it be to structure the draw so that each team in Melbourne plays each other six times over the next four years, with three home and three away games.

Under the parameters that we have (16 teams, 10 in this state, 22 rounds), that seems to be the fairest and most sensible option.

 

[ytry4]

Malthouse wasn't having a sook.. all he said was that it would be harder to make the finals, but that it is better to make it by playing the top sides and making it, rather than playing the wekaer teams and doing it. That would mean you deserve it and have a better chance of progressing in Spetember knowing you have played the best and won!