Top 7 Finals Series

[chargers 09]

Quick question, I remember reading on this board at some stage an explanation of how a final 7 system could work. Its certainly the best one I've seen and I was speaking to a bloke at work about different finals systems today but couldn't remember how a final 7 would pan out.
I've tried a search but to no avail, if someone can help me out here than the mods can lock the thread or do what they want with it.

 

[Jam123]

I really like the current finals system to be honest. I think it should be left like that.

 

[Gibbke]

A top seven was used in the 1997 ARL season, over four weeks. Absolute shite (aside from the fact that the Gold Chargers at 7th were then gifted their only ever finals appearance...living there at the time, it was a feel good story for an otherwise f###ed year for RL)...

2v3, 4v5 and 6v7. 2/3 winner plays 1 the next week, loser of 6v7 eliminated, and the rest all rearranged into a second week of knockouts. Two PF's in week 3.

The ridiculous aspect was the 1 v 2/3 match in week 2, essentially pointless. The winner plays in a PF v the lowest ranked winner of the other finals, the winner plays the better winner of the other finals - due to the rearrangement in week two, the minor premiers Manly got the Roosters and 2/3 winner Newcastle got Norths - the Roosters who finished 5th beat Norths 4th in week 1, meaning Manly (who finished on top and then beat Newcastle in the pointless week 2 game which was presumably for better PF positioning) had to play arguably the better team to make the GF...

Let's put it this way - unless you're prepared to either extend the finals to more than four weeks, or alternatively want a lot of knockouts in week 1 (e.g. 2v7, 3v6 and 4v5 all knockout, then a final four scenario), then this set up is massively flawed (even the bracketted one is bollocks). After the final 5, IMO the best finals system structure ever invented for anything, the current set up is the best you'll get for a finals series made up of this many teams or thereabouts (7-8)...

 

[Cynic]

I can see the allure of rewarding the minor premier more than they currently receive. That said in the days of the fixture frequently heavily favouring some teams over the other I think it would be a huge mistake. That said would make it easy for the AFL to orchestrate who they want to be premiers easier so it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[joop]

Should be a top 4.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

Top 8 is perfect. I'm not sure why everyone whinges so much. If you don't like the first week of the finals then don't watch. Take a break and come back for the prelims.

 

[Topkent]

Some people say that the elimination finals are a waste of time , but when your team is in the middle of one they are un ****ing real
Try telling the carlton fans of last year that that second half against the tigers was a waste of time

 

[philreich]

Won't ever happen, as 4 finals in week 1 is a real money spinner for the AFL.

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

Some people say that the elimination finals are a waste of time , but when your team is in the middle of one they are un ******* real
Try telling the carlton fans of last year that that second half against the tigers was a waste of time

yes! but that was extra special because of the whole 9th understory with Richmond. carlton vs richmond 99k people. that wasn't your garden variety elimination final it should be said.

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

8 teams is perfect numerically. my only criticism is that it's far to difficult for teams 5-8 to make an impact. not since 2007 has a side below the top 4 even made the prelim.

 

[Docker Alyssa]

North could do it this year. Every chance they could make a splash from 5th.

Wait they only beat those ahead..nvm

 

[FootyJunkie]

Final 7

1 gets the bye
2v3
4v7
5v6

2v3 winner goes to pf
Loser and 1st host semis against the other week 1 winners

If 1st wins their semi,they go to the gf, and there is only one pf, if 1st loses they get a double chance and there are two pfs

 

[cammo78]

Final 7

1 gets the bye
2v3
4v7
5v6

2v3 winner goes to pf
Loser and 1st host semis against the other week 1 winners

If 1st wins their semi,they go to the gf, and there is only one pf, if 1st loses they get a double chance and there are two pfs

Surely you jest.

 

[Max zero]

With the extra teams coming in the final 8 seems more reasonable now.

It used to be around 50% (sometimes even less) win rate would get you in. Now it seems to be at least 50% to 60% win rate is required.

Thats not so bad.

 

[Power Raid]

What about a top 7 with an 8th team being made up from the best players from the teams that didn't make it?

That way good players stuck in a developing team can play finals footy.

by the way, not serious. Leave as is!

 

[didaksrightfoot]

Top 7 - no.

Personally I do like the current system, it is pretty unique, and does make it exciting for every team in the finals- only problem is, it is really hard for a team outside the top 4 to ever be a serious threat.

I would like to ask the question - how important is it to have a 2nd chance for the top teams?
The alternative is the obvious bracket system: 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5...

 

[Father Jack]

I hace no problem with a final eight, with no relegation once you are out of finals contention you're just going through the motions really, cutting down the number of finalists only exacerbates that imo.

 

[philreich]

Why not make it a top 9, to give Richmond a chance of competing each year?

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Sounds stupid.

Current system works and works well. Trickles down with the advantage getting less and less as it does.

Only thing id be up for is a top 10. 7-10 and 8-9 play off in 'wildcard' weekend, leaving 8 to be run as it is now.

 

[DardySingh360]

Personally I'd like to see a top 8 straight knockout 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5.

There would be more upsets and more opportunity for a 5-8 side to make a 'prelim' (read; semi) or a Grand Final.

The current system is good, probably too good though, weeks 2 and 3 are basically always won by the home team.

 

[juss]

Keep it as is.

 

[Gibbke]

The Tassie League used a top six in 2010, which started off 1v2, 3v4 (QF's) and a 5v6 EF, and the became a normal final five...basically an extension of the format that gave the final four and the final five...

Pretty silly, and never used again. The top team played the second team, had a break, played the second team again after they'd won their game against team 3, had another break, and then lined up against team 3 in the GF after that side had gotten over the top of team 2 in the return bout PF. It's hard enough winning four in a row from the EF to take the flag, so teams 5-6 (10 team league) faced near futility in their task, and the top four spent their time staving off elimination until things got serious...it just went too long...

The NRL also used a top 10 in 1998, which was simply two top fives over four weeks with a fifth week GF. Again, even though this one was a 20 team comp and the participants were all decent, there was too much of a good thing...

Basically, any final series needs to be done and dusted within four weeks. We're all used to that. Additionally, things get silly when double chances keep occurring after week 1, and even sillier when there's no certainty in where you're going when you win - the MacIntyre system which saw teams 3-6 clueless as to whether they'd even stay in the finals until all the games were completed in week 1, and a weird arbitrary mix of second week placements which had that "trying to stave off elimination" feel to it rather than any real sense of progression (especially if you'd finished high but still didn't get a home PF and bye), made it an era in finals systems we needed to move on from...

This top seven system reeks of all of this...

 

[Power Raid]

Should we have a preferential system in the finals?

It is the finals and the best teams should win based on the days performance not preferential treatment like a week off. After all there are in built preferences even after removing a rest week such as 7 vs 6 day breaks.

 

[Big_Birdy]

Best finals system is top 5, like the SANFL and basically all other SA leagues (may be the same for other states)

But would be ridiculous for an 18 team comp.

Next best option is the final 8 we have now.

 

[Cobbler]

17 week regular season and 10 weeks of finals featuring the top 18 teams!

I haven't worked out the finer details just yet, but basically win win for all supporters!!