The annual finals system debate thread

[M2D2]

The day the top 5 comes back. Is the day Xenu comes back to earth to enslave us all and drop us in volcanoes.

 

[Snappy]

Are all your threads this crap ?

Hmmm from memory. Yes.

 

[typicalfan]

The good thing about this system is that each game a teams future isn't set unless they win.

The scenarios it creates make it interesting as well.

Friday night was a cracker of a game. The Dragons came at the Tigers.

Broncos v Dragons will be a ripper and the Minor Premier gets rewarded better under this system. Being the Minor Premier in such an even competition should be rewarded and the Storm just got a saloon passage to the Preliminary Final.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

When has 1 v 8 ever been a decent game under the McIntyre system bar 2009? Absolute waste of time

 

[undertaker]

Tigers and the Dragons meant nothing in the end.

It may have meant nothing if this was between 1999-2006. Had you used the example in 2006 where the Knights and Sea Eagles played one of the most physical, toughest finals games in recent times, only for this to take its toll to the point where both of them to got smashed the following week, I would've agreed with you especially since the Knights had to play the Broncos at a neutral venue and not at Ausgrid (which would've happened under the reconfigured format starting in 2007).

However, in the year 2011, you are wrong. The Tigers get the all important home ground advantage and get to maximise it by playing a team from a different country, whereas the Dragons will have to travel nearly 1000km north to play infront a packed house at Suncorp in a sudden-death elimination game. Had the Dragons won, it would've been the other way around. So, even before the results of 3vs6, 2vs7 and 1v8 were known, there was still a huge incentive for both teams to win. Even though teams 1 and 2 get the second chance in wk1, there's still a huge incentive for them to win as if they lose, they also lose the home ground advantage for the rest of the finals. You cannot say with a straight face that the Dragons would've much preferred to play at Suncorp rather than at the SFS against an out-of-town side, the Warriors.

 

[HowHigh]

2008 warriors beat storm the mps

 

[typicalfan]

when has 1 v 8 ever been a decent game under the mcintyre system bar 2009? Absolute waste of time

2008.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

2008.

That was a shit game and the result saved it.

1 v 8 is always one of if not the worst match of the finals. Last year it was arguably one of the worst of the season.

 

[cleary89]

no difference between 1st and 4th in the afl system.

you would all be whinging that melbourne finished 8 points ahead of wests, have to play each other and the winner gets the week off.

 

[Eels Dude]

How many threads do we need on this?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

When has 1 v 8 ever been a decent game under the McIntyre system bar 2009? Absolute waste of time

How about the year before that, when 8 won as well...

Last time I checked, Gallop is not the second-coming of the Lord. He does not stride through the streets of Sydney, gathering up his loyal disciples in their thousands and march them merrily through the streets to the grounds. He does not click his fingers at the games that are presented to him, making them into automatic DVD must-haves.

They moved the games to bigger stadiums because people whinged about not being able to attend them. Now people are whinging again. They whinge about poor games, when they have been treated on many occasions.

Wishing for a top five system is like wishing for an end to world poverty. It's a lovely thought, but financially unreasonable. People want a higher salary cap to pay our players, but they want a top five finals system that will ensure a smaller $ package when the new TV deal is done.

People just want to whinge, really.

Stop picking holes in it and enjoy. There's two knockout games next week, with plenty of feeling in both.

 

[carlosthedwarf]

no difference between 1st and 4th in the afl system.

you would all be whinging that melbourne finished 8 points ahead of wests, have to play each other and the winner gets the week off.

The sad truth. People will complain no matter what the system is. At least we'll be moving to 18 teams soon.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Already addressed 2008, shit game.

 

[brokendigit]

Already addressed 2008, shit game.

I can remember some shit GF's. You want to scrap them too?

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Already addressed 2008, shit game.

Put it to a vote, and I'll put the mortgate on you being outvoted. I certainly enjoyed it.

 

[Eels Dude]

How about the year before that, when 8 won as well...

Last time I checked, Gallop is not the second-coming of the Lord. He does not stride through the streets of Sydney, gathering up his loyal disciples in their thousands and march them merrily through the streets to the grounds. He does not click his fingers at the games that are presented to him, making them into automatic DVD must-haves.

They moved the games to bigger stadiums because people whinged about not being able to attend them. Now people are whinging again. They whinge about poor games, when they have been treated on many occasions.

Wishing for a top five system is like wishing for an end to world poverty. It's a lovely thought, but financially unreasonable. People want a higher salary cap to pay our players, but they want a top five finals system that will ensure a smaller $ package when the new TV deal is done.

People just want to whinge, really.

Stop picking holes in it and enjoy. There's two knockout games next week, with plenty of feeling in both.

Brilliant post.

 

[CC_Roosters]

Apart from Friday nights game i wasnt very impressed with the other 3 games, but maybe being at the ground made the difference there. Althought the previous few years have been excellent in week1 IMO so maybe its just a blip.

Both systems have their benefits and flaws, so if it is changed people will just complain for a different reason.

 

[typicalfan]

Apart from Friday nights game i wasnt very impressed with the other 3 games, but maybe being at the ground made the difference there. Althought the previous few years have been excellent in week1 IMO so maybe its just a blip.

Both systems have their benefits and flaws, so if it is changed people will just complain for a different reason.

Last year there were 2-3 really really good teams and the rest were pretenders. This year the top 5 sides stand out from the other 3. I think the games will get better as they go along.

Both semi finals look good while Storm v Tigers and Sea Eagles v Broncos/Dragons have the potential to both be of the highest quality. All of these teams especially the first 4 have genuine claims of winning the title.

Last year the Roosters v Panthers and Titans were fairly underwhelming games.

 

[Winmar]

The AFL system is generally pretty fair, and the grand finalists usually come from the top four teams.

The only time it becomes unfair is when you finish third or fourth and have to play interstate first up. St Kilda did that a few years ago and got smacked in Brisbane in the first week of the finals, which didn't get the finals campaign off to a great start. May have had the double chance, but it's hard to come back from a thumping up north.

 

[RedVee]

The 2 divisions x top 5s mentioned by Gus in todays SMH was interesting.