The Best Finals Format

[Benchwarmer]

Should we change the Finals format?
Are too many sides getting the chance to play finals?

Personally, I reckon that the Final Five was and is the best system ... except the AFL would say that it brings in less moolah than the Eight does.

[BenchedEagle]

This is the best system in my mind. Top 2 deserve the double home ground advantage. 7-8th have their fair chance to get through. Does not need to be changed at all.

[Hondo]

Given that under the current format no team from 5-8 has ever made the GF ideally I would just run it with a final 4 playing off like the old SANFL final 4. 5-8 are arguably just making up the numbers. Maybe add in 5 & 6 but leave out 7 & 8 (see below).

But as Benchwarmer says its all about the Moolah and the TV deal is locked in with 9 finals so a final 8 is here to stay rightly or wrongly

In the NFL, out of 32 teams only 12 get to go to the play-offs. That 37.5% which would be 6 teams in a 16 team comp.

I also think that not enough credit is given to the minor premier - there should be some trophy or recognition for it I reckon. Its a great achievement over 22 rounds but we focus mostly on the finals when 1 off day can de-rail your whole season.

[heater31]

I also think that not enough credit is given to the minor premier - there should be some trophy or recognition for it I reckon. Its a great achievement over 22 rounds but we focus mostly on the finals when 1 off day can de-rail your whole season.

There is one

Its called the McClelland Trophy and used to be awarded to the best performed club throughout the grades in the VFL until 1991 when the u/19 was removed from the league when it went to the minor premier

[FlyingHigh]

Final five is the best format logically and for fairness, but agree that there needs to be more than 5 in the AFL finals.

Current 8 is good, except after the first week often seems to divide into a harder run and easier run (over the last few years) Guess the argument to this is all you need to do is keep winning.
Also, the teams that win the Qualifying finals don't get the opportunity to use their second-chance, ie face a knock-out before GF.

Thought the 6 was good 1v2 week off, 3 v 6, 4 v 5 elimination finals in first week, before some teams argued that there was too great a (dis)advantage gap between finsihing 2nd and 3rd. Suppose under the final five, 3rd got a second chance, but now it had been taken away.

[Hondo]

I also think that not enough credit is given to the minor premier - there should be some trophy or recognition for it I reckon. Its a great achievement over 22 rounds but we focus mostly on the finals when 1 off day can de-rail your whole season.

There is one

Its called the McClelland Trophy and used to be awarded to the best performed club throughout the grades in the VFL until 1991 when the u/19 was removed from the league when it went to the minor premier

Ah OK then ....

I guess I was thinking more that not enough of a ceremony is made of it or not enough public recognition given for what is a great achievement in itself

Even tho the Premiership is the ultimate honour

Say Geelong lose 10 players to a virus and lose the GF then their great minor round form gets forgotten and downgraded

[Westsider]

Say Geelong lose 10 players to a virus and lose the GF then their great minor round form gets forgotten and downgraded

That already has been organised Stay away from the chicken if you are in Geelong.

[BenchedEagle]

What about the idea based vaguely on English premier league. Have ur league title won by whoever is top after minor rds, then have the top 8 playoff for the premiership cup. Just have more emphasis on the league title as well as winnin the GF.

[Mr66]

1st Preference - Final 5
2nd Pref. - Current Final 8
3rd Pref. - Final 4

[McAlmanac]

This is the best system in my mind. Top 2 deserve the double home ground advantage. 7-8th have their fair chance to get through. Does not need to be changed at all.

7th and 8th had their fair chance over the preceding 22 weeks. Mediocrity rewarded.