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With the league finals just about to kick off under the McIntyre System, it’s worth asking whether this is the best system to decide the Grand Finalists. Indeed, every year there seems to be a rumbling about moving to the AFL’s system.
I seem to be torn on the relative merits of both methods, but it seems to boil down to a simple dichotomy: the McIntyre System seems fairer on the players, while the AFL system is better for the fans.
The greatest criticism of the McIntyre System seems to be that its first week of the finals is too predictable with 1 v 8 and 2 v 7, and upsets have understandably been few and far between.
The problem is then seen as being compounded as it means week two is a simple swap of the week one fixtures between 3 v 6 and 4 v 5.
This argument might be a little simplistic, but it does hold some water.
The question must then be asked: should we be really worried about the finals being overly daunting for teams finishing seventh and eighth?
It is fair to say that whatever combination you come up with, it is going to be a tough ask for whoever scrapes into the finals.
The other point about the McIntyre System is that it does give the teams who have finished first and second the greatest the chance to enjoy a week off in the second week.
This seems only fair, particularly seeing that many in the game are constantly arguing that we don’t do enough to reward the minor premiers for their dominance during the regular season.
However, when it comes down to the old bums on seats factor, I do think that the AFL system is probably superior.
A first week lineup of Melbourne v Easts, Manly v Cronulla, Canberra v Auckland and Brisbane v St George Illawarra does seem more attractive.
And these days, when crowd figures seem as important as full-time scores, that is probably something worth considering.
Of course, before anyone goes off half-cocked about it being yet another failure for David Gallop, let’s remember it is the clubs who constantly backed the McIntyre System and have voted to retain in.
That should tell you something.
In the end though, it probably doesn’t matter what system they use. Fans want to see two things: their team in the finals and their team win the comp.
Whoever can come up with that ‘system’ for every fan and club will die a very rich man.
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