Which finals system is better?

[FootyJunkie]

Final 6 would have worked if the top 2 got a bye into the 2nd semi while the other 4 sides sort out who gets to go the prelim to play the loser of the 2nd semi

 

[Billy ray]

Final 6 would have worked if the top 2 got a bye into the 2nd semi while the other 4 sides sort out who gets to go the prelim to play the loser of the 2nd semi

Would you make the second semi a two game series home and away so the top two dont have to have too much time off?

 

[HTT]

Keep this under wraps but I don’t mind the current system

 

[Viceregal]

The top 8 system is worthless as half the clubs in the afl finish in a final spot.
What do you think?

I think that 18 / 2 is nine not eight so the logic of your premise is flawed.

Three possible fixes spring to mind:

1) Campaign for there to be a final nine finals series (maybe with a clause specifying the number in the finals should be the number of teams in the comp divided by two (rounded up/down your choice) so as to save you having to campaign every time the AFL adds or removes a team. Once they have done so make your case against having half the teams in the finals.

2)Add in the word 'almost' before 'half' (although it is not as rhetorically balanced so lacks the same punch as your original)

3) Change the whole premise from the subjective of 'because there are half the teams it sucks' to a slightly more ojective 'this is my proposed alternate finals system, this is why it is better than the current one, this is how we would deal with the negatives of my proposal (there are always some), and this is why I think there is a legitimate chance that the fans, clubs, broadcasters, sponsors and AFL House would go for it' That way when you ask for a discussion it is on the merits of your proposal not on the level of agreement with your feelings.

Enjoy the game against *checks OPs team* the Hawks tomorrow

 

[Damon_3388]

I have always supported this idea of the top 6 system. The top 8 system is worthless as half the clubs in the afl finish in a final spot.

What do you think?

Single elimination, no double chances, but 1st and 2nd get a bye in week one (3v4, 5v6)

Do it, AFL!

 

[Floppy]

Most stupid idea ever.

Half the teams will pack up and go home by round 12..

Top 8 is there for a reason, to keep hopefully, 12-13 teams interested most of the season.

 

[blitzer]

Its never going to happen. AFL one day might go to final 10 but they definitely won't ever reduce the number of games in finals (less games = less money).

I think top 8 for 18 teams is a pretty good system anyway. 8 is a nice number for any sort of tournament format for a head to head event. Frankly there are plenty of other fixturing problems to address long before we do anything about the finals system.

 

[Matthew2708]

A league in melbourne just switched to a top 6 system. Not really a fan of it. I rather have the top 8 system.

• Week 1: All top-6 teams to play first week of finals (1 v 6, 2 v 5 & 3 v 4)
  Eliminated teams: Will be the 2 Lowest Ranked losing sides
• Week 2:
  Highest ranked winner to play highest ranked losing side from Week 1 of Finals in Prelim Final 1
  2nd highest ranked Winner to play 3rd highest ranked winning side from Week 1 of Finals in Prelim Final 2
  Eliminated teams: Will be the 2 x Losing teams from Prelim Final 1 & Prelim Final 2
• Week 3
  Winner of Prelim Final 1 & Winner of Prelim Final 2 to play in Grand Final

 

[_Mike_]

McIntyre 5, best outcome for the deserved teams, just not for the AFL’s revenue

 

[bixente]

Scrap the finals altogether and have a season where all teams play each other home and away. Whoever finishes the season on top is the champion.

 

[FootyJunkie]

Would you make the second semi a two game series home and away so the top two dont have to have too much time off?

A 2 game series in Aussie Rules would need to be done in such a way to prolong interest before and during Game 2 given the knowledge of what has already happened in Game 1.

Aggregate score as the 1-1 tie breaker would not be ideal if Game 1 turns out to be a flogging, which would generate low interest in Game 2 if it's believed that the side on the losing end has little chance to overcome the vast deficit of Game 1.

Extra Time as the 1-1 tie breaker after Game 2 regulation would not be ideal either.... If the Game 1 loser gets on to a fast lead early in Game 2, Game 1 winner could decide to just simply rest their best players mid-game and wait for Extra Time for their regrouped assault.

A way around this could be to divide the two games into four staggered halves.

Half 1: Quarters 1 and 3 of Game 1
Half 2: Quarters 2 and 4 of Game 1
Half 3: Quarters 1 and 3 of Game 2
Half 4: Quarters 2 and 4 of Game 2

Each of these staggered halves constitute sides kicking to one end at one ground.

Therefore, the 1-1 tie breaker would be if a side won 3 of these staggered halves described. If the Game 1 loser jumps to a big early lead in Game 2 in the first quarter, Game 1 winner can begin working on winning the other staggered half in Game 2 to either stay alive or still win the series, depending on the staggered halves won from Game 1 - which could either be 2-0 or 1-1.

If staggered halves come out to be 2-2 in a 1-1 tie breaker (or Game 1 was a draw, making Game 2 to be the decider by default and it ends in a tie as well), you can then play extra time at the end of Game 2 regulation.

2nd hosts Game 1, 1st hosts Game 2

 

[footyfan1978]

Final 6 would have worked

We already have a final 6.

The last 3 weeks of the season are it.

 

[FootyJunkie]

We already have a final 6.

The last 3 weeks of the season are it.

but part of a Final 8

 

[nahnah]

top 8 is perfect, do not change

 

[mcgarnacle]

Keep this under wraps but I don’t mind the current system

8th will have a losing record this year I reckon

 

[demondavey]

Top 6 with 18 teams? No way, you’ll get to round 14 and 8 teams will be tanking.

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

McIntyre 5, best outcome for the deserved teams, just not for the AFL’s revenue

under a top 6 system the bulldogs wouldn't have made the finals in their premiership year.

3 teams currently outside the top 8 have beaten the top team pretty comprehensively this year.

IMO the evenness of the competition only really permits discussions on increasing the number of finals participants not decreasing.

 

[demondavey]

Final 8 with wildcard introducing 9 & 10. Or another wildcard set up. Or just introduce a final 9:

1 gets a week off
2v3 = winner plays 1 in week 2, loser plays winner of 4v5
4v5 = loser plays winner of 6v7
6v7 = loser plays winner of 8v9
8v9 = loser eliminated

Week 2 (hypothetical)
1v2 = winner into PF
3v4 = winner into PF
5v6 = loser out
7v8 = loser out

Week 3 (highest ranked loser from 1v2 plays highest ranked loser from 7v8, etc)

2v7
4v5

Winner of 4v5 plays 1 in PF. Winner of 2v7 plays 3 in PF.

I don’t know, just a bloody thought!

 

[Chuckie357]

Someone get Stephen hocking off of bigfooty please. All his stupid ideas are starting to ruin the game

 

[_Mike_]

under a top 6 system the bulldogs wouldn't have made the finals in their premiership year.

3 teams currently outside the top 8 have beaten the top team pretty comprehensively this year.

IMO the evenness of the competition only really permits discussions on increasing the number of finals participants not decreasing.

Stating the obvious, which is why I believe a final 5 is the most balanced and fairest system.

 

[MemoryLane]

Finals wont be reduced, they will be expanded if anything. Fans are interested by finals so having 2/3 of the competition miss out is silly.


Unless this proposal is in conjunction with reducing the Vic teams to 6. Then sure, 6 team finals system works.

 

[Billy ray]

Top 5 was best system. When league eventually gets 19th team (or 20th) they will do two top 5’s for a top ten finals series

 

[telsor]

Will a final 6 make the AFL more or less money than a final 8 system?

The answer to that renders the discussion pointless.

 

[Dazzler9]

The top 5 was great because it meant you had to beat every side who finished above you on the ladder. However that was in the days where the draw was fair and you deserved to finish where you finished.

Nowadays the top 8 works pretty well. I would still like to see a double chance maintained for the QF winners however.

 

[footyfan1978]

You cannot have double chances at preliminary final stage though.
The old final five gave you a double chance to reach the grand final but this was over after semi-final stage of final series.
With the final 8 it can only be a double chance to reach the preliminary final in a four week finals series.