What do you think makes finals football different from regular season football?

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

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Watching the 2 finals played so far this year, it's very obvious that finals football is quite different from games played during the minor round.

Finals football is a lot more contested. Tackle numbers are higher. It tends to be lower scoring. It's even umpired differently to the minor round.

I've got a few ideas as to why that's the case, but I'm interested is hearing why others think finals football is so different to minor round games and why teams don't just play finals-style football all the time.
 

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Bulldog1954

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#4
Look at Richmonds defensive pressure and tackling, it went up a level that broke Geelong. You don't have the same amount of time to make a decision when you have the football in a final. Adelaide and the Tigs work rate went up a notch, the Giants and Cats did not.
 

stevo86

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#5
Its a tough one because you'd think nothing would change.

But my thoughts are if I think to when I play footy if I'm playing a final I play it like it's the last game I'll ever play. No care for if I get injured, exhaust the tank, there is no tomorrow if we lose.

In saying that in professional football that should be every week but just maybe it's a little bit of the same thing.
 

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

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Look at Richmonds defensive pressure and tackling, it went up a level that broke Geelong. You don't have the same amount of time to make a decision when you have the football in a final. Adelaide and the Tigs work rate went up a notch, the Giants and Cats did not.
So why not just play that way every week? It clearly works.

I suspect the main reason is because the effort required to play that sort of game style is unsustainable over a full reason. You can do it for 3-4 weeks, but not for a full year. Players can only keep that intensity up for so long.
 

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WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

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Having to suffer through channel 7 commentary and coverage for every game.
And then on grand final, having to watch channel 7 and ads for one game a year.

i think seven should allow foxtel to simulcast grand final as a pay per view for say $10. I would pay.
We've still got Basil and Hame commentated games to come this weekend!
 

Demonic Ascent

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#19
So why not just play that way every week? It clearly works.

I suspect the main reason is because the effort required to play that sort of game style is unsustainable over a full reason. You can do it for 3-4 weeks, but not for a full year. Players can only keep that intensity up for so long.
It's all about getting the players into that mindset where they're motivated/self-motivated every week. Very few teams are able to get a majority of players playing that way for a majority of weeks. Only ones I can think in recent memory Bombers 2000, Cats 2008/09, Saints 09 and Pies 2010. Maybe Swans/Eagles 05/06 too. Comps so even now as well and sides are playing "total football" that even a couple of players down makes it hard for the team.
 

JoondalupJ

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#23
Watching the 2 finals played so far this year, it's very obvious that finals football is quite different from games played during the minor round.

Finals football is a lot more contested. Tackle numbers are higher. It tends to be lower scoring. It's even umpired differently to the minor round.

I've got a few ideas as to why that's the case, but I'm interested is hearing why others think finals football is so different to minor round games and why teams don't just play finals-style football all the time.
I said it the other day, its the hammer, inside the mind of the winner, hard pressure , never give up, hit like a train and go ALL DAY all game, Richmond had it on Friday, heavy heavy pressure. Thursday the Crows looked fast and good , but not as hammer like as Richmond , I also think the Giants playing the Crows were disgraceful. Tigers know now what they are capable of , and for 4 quarters, next time.
Crows had a night where GWS looked like they have for a few weeks, useless!
 

JoondalupJ

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#25
I said it the other day, its the hammer, inside the mind of the winner, hard pressure , never give up, hit like a train and go ALL DAY all game, Richmond had it on Friday, heavy heavy pressure. Thursday the Crows looked fast and good , but not as hammer like as Richmond , I also think the Giants playing the Crows were disgraceful. Tigers know now what they are capable of , and for 4 quarters, next time.
Crows had a night where GWS looked like they have for a few weeks, useless!
Just to add to that, my example would be in 2014 versus Sydney, grand final, Hawthorn had the hammer , never gave a second CHANCE and no one from the Swans got near it without pain, and all players have to have that feeling, and that is the difference in finals , when all players mind set turns to something they'd die for,
THE PREMIERSHIP CUP/FLAG!
Its a life time thing. Ask any loser , I saw an old player and I can't remember which one on Mike Sheehans Open Mike this bloke had still not gotten over a GF loss from years ago. There is something different in the minds of the player when the crunch comes. At that level one fraction of a mil off, and your a loser.
 
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