Wanderers on brink of creating history

"but, that’s just semantics; irrelevant when you’re missing the big picture." Like arguing that the ALeague Finals is a completely separate competition from the ALeague season...perhaps?

When I talk about qualifying for UCL I mean the Group Stage. Only the top 3 EPL teams qualify for the Group stage. That's why it's referred to as "3+1"; not 4. Just like for the ACL AUS gets "2+1" spots. It's not referred to as "3 qualifying spots" - but, that's just semantics; irrelevant when you're missing the big picture.

"Just like the Top 3 teams in EPL get to qualify for UCL." Er... it's the Top 4 teams. But of course, "I’m not surprised if people, who don’t understand the intricacies of football, can’t grasp the concept of" the biggest football competition on the planet.

"AFL also have extra time in finals" From my memory, that extra-time has been used twice in the past 1/2 century? Agree the 2nd chance given to the top 2 teams was different to pure knock-out, but now the current format is pure knock-out competition. The Top 6 teams in the ALeague get to qualify for the competition. Just like the Top 3 teams in EPL get to qualify for UCL. When questioned about the ALeague Finals, after winning the Premiership last week, Mike Mulvey said: we've won the League competition, now we prepare for a whole new competition.

Fuss, 1) AFL also have extra time in finals 2) For the first five seasons the A-League gave a double chance to the top two teams. Can it still be a knock out comp in that situation? Or has it only been a knockout in the last two season? Interested to hear your thoughts on that.

The Finals Series is inextricably linked to the regular ALeague season. It is shaped and determined by the regular season. Clubs play in the regular season in order to qualify. It is, despite the obvious differences, the natural extension of the regular season - each and every year. Now, you can claim it is not. You can claim it is some other cup tournament altogether and say it is entirely removed from the regular season (because there are penalty shootouts)... but the FFA and the ALeague don't agree with you. That said, if it suits you classify it by some other name, then go for it.

Correct Dan

"No matter how many times you desperately spin this (and for what reason I don’t know) – it still doesn’t make it true." I'm not surprised if people, who don't understand the intricacies of football, can't grasp the concept that "knock-out competition" football is totally different to "league competition" football. In particular, Knock-out football has no drawn matches, may last 120 minutes and the winner can be decided by penalty shoot-outs. This means Knock-out football tests different tactical, physical & mental attributes to leage format football. Additionally, penalty shootouts requires players to exhibit specific technical skills that, for 80-90% of players, are never used during league format football.

"Unlike other sports, Aleague finals are a different competition – not an extension of the H&A season." No matter how many times you desperately spin this (and for what reason I don't know) - it still doesn't make it true. The FFA are comfortable (in fact, proud) to call it what it is: the "regular season" and the "ALeague Finals Series". It's all there on the FFA/Aleague website.

@Johan In 1994 the AFL had 8 teams qualifying for the finals from a 15 team competition; from 1995-2010 they had 8 teams qualifying from 16. I don't see any significant difference between 50% (AFL) or 60% HAL. Unlike other sports, Aleague finals are a different competition - not an extension of the H&A season. There are different match regulations, different playing times & different possible match outcomes. You can think of the HAL 'finals' at the "ALeague Cup" - a knock-out tournament for 6 best teams in the ALeague.

Good call Mr Boomer! If everyone voted with their feet and did not attend the play offs, they would be scrapped post haste! I fear that most ( does not include me) will pay for tickets and go along to watch and thereby justify the existence of the play offs or whatever they are called.....if only!

I thought the winners of the GF (if they aren't one of the top 2 teams in the league) got a spot in the AFC?

Personally I love the league vs play off debate...... The missed opportunity to finish the season with the FFA Cup final. The best team for me will always be the one that finishes on top of the pile after 27 rounds........just like every important comp in the world.......and yes that probably defines the MLS as not important.

Australian Rules- I am against any finals system for the a league as well unless the league adds at least 6 more teams. I support the finals systems for the AFL and NRL but not the a league as it has too few teams. Unless the a league had at least 16 teams I would be against it.

No doubt tonight will be a tough match. But I've been very happy with how we've played so far. Neither of the victories were convincing but they were on the back of disciplined performances. Ideally would like to see Hersi and Appiah start on the wings. Bridge lacks the pace to match the Japanese. Really missing Minieconn this would've been his chance to shine. 9pm can't come soon enough. The CCM match will help to kill the time. Expecting a win from them tonight.

It's like everything in life Iangou a time and respect thing. I used to work with a purist,traditionalist fervent cricket fan. Loved the Ashes ,the lot as far as Test cricket went. Then along came big Kerry Packer and his World Series Cricket,turned this blokes world upside down. Few years later still loved Test cricket but was also well into the One day stuff.

But that's not what boomer is saying at all. He makes no mention of the fact that 6th can win it (and if I'm right, no team below 2nd has ever won the GF anyway). He just against ANY finals system, not the current one. Seems like another comment from you which is off-point Johan.

I Have to agree with bloomers on this one. The finals system is a joke with only 10 teams as teams that finish fourth last have the chance to hoist the toilet. If you finish 6th which is in the bottom half of the table it is mockery if you can then go on to be called champions. If cheapens the comp.The team that finishes 6th should be cleaning the toilet not hoisting it aloft!!!

Towser, you would have been proud of me yesterday. I was talking to a friend and referred to Brisbane as the premiers. I resisted all urge to use the "m word". Baby steps but I am getting there.

Grand Final is used because it is the traditional Australian term for the deciding final. Boomer, surely you can see the loss of money, fans and tv ratings that would be occurring right now, a final series.