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In the grand final replay at the Adelaide Oval, the Tigers went down 118-82, continuing a losing trend against the Crows. The Tigers have now lost all four games against the Adelaide Crows at the Adelaide Oval.
They have done a little better against the Geelong Cats. Since 1991 the Richmond Tigers have beaten Geelong once (in 2006) at Simonds Stadium. The Cats have a 13-1 record against the Tigers at Simonds Stadium (from 1991).
Remember these statistics.
There is nothing minor about winning the regular home-and-away season in the AFL. But you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
In winning the 2017 AFL grand final, the Richmond Tigers played three home finals games at the MCG. This is despite Richmond finishing fourth in the regular home-and-away season. And what of 2017 minor premiers Adelaide and runner-up Geelong?
Both the Cats and Crows finished higher on the ladder than the Tigers, both ultimately gave up home ground advantage to face the Tigers at the G, and it is history now that both lost to the Tigers.
Would the result have changed without the home ground advantage? It comes down to odds. Do you still remember those statistics?
Here is a couple of question for the pundits out there, what were the odds of the Tigers beating both the Cats and the Crows at the MCG in the AFL 2017 finals? How much do those odds change if the Tigers instead play at fortress Simonds Stadium and the Tigers graveyard at Adelaide Oval? While people could debate the result, no-one can debate the odds would be far tougher for the Tigers.
And that is why the AFL premiership lacks integrity. The odds for the climatic finals are tilted not in favour of the Minor Premiers/Runner-up, but in favour of MCG tenant teams (Tigers, Hawks, Pies and Demons).
MCG tenant teams have won six of the past ten AFL grand finals (60 per cent). And you could argue there is a 60 per cent chance that one of these teams will add to that tally again in 2018. These teams only need to finish fourth, and that is equivalent to winning the minor premiership. So does the minor premiership count or not?
The truth is the AFL minor premiership in Australia is underrated, poorly named and in need of a serious makeover. Since 2001 only five teams: the Hawks (2013), Collingwood (2010), Geelong (2007), West Coast (2006), and Port Adelaide (2004) have won the AFL minor premiership and went on to claim the AFL Premiership.
But in remembering those clubs, we are forgetting the 12 teams who have won the marathon race which is the regular AFL home-and-away season, only to go home empty handed: Adelaide (2017), Sydney (2016), Fremantle (2015), Sydney (2014), Hawthorn (2012), Collingwood (2011), St Kilda (2009), Geelong (2008), Adelaide (2005), Port Adelaide (2003), Port Adelaide (2002), Essendon (2001).
If past is an indicator of the future, should your team go on to win the minor premiership, 70 per cent of the time they will not win the MCG grand final. Advantage is not in favour the minor premiers. Sure, the top two teams get a double chance, but what good is a double chance if it is played at an opposition’s home ground?
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
If a best of three grand final is not an option, what instead can be done?
There is an obscure competition in England known as the English Premier League (EPL) that honours the top regular season team with the premiership. AFL could do well to follow suit and scratch the Mickey Mouse title AFL ‘minor’ premiers and bestow the title of AFL Premiers on the team which is still standing after the phenomenally hard, regular season marathon.
Celebrate this success EPL style. Large trophy, home city parades, fanfare, big cash prize, and sponsorship.
Second, rebadge the AFL finals as the AFL Champions League. The team that wins the Championship on the MCG deck on grand final day becomes the AFL Champions.
Now given the MCG hosts the GF, all teams need a decent amount of exposure to the MCG. The MCG should be intimately familiar to all teams, not just a select few.
Since 2001, the Dockland tenant teams Bulldogs, Essendon, St Kilda, Carlton have been burdened to play out of the smaller Docklands Stadiums. As Docklands experts, not MCG experts, these teams have won a messily one of the past 17 premierships (5%).
The draw should see Melbourne clubs play an equal number of games at Docklands and the MCG during the regular season. This removes the disadvantage against Docklands tenant teams. It helps MCG tenant teams during the regular season become accustom to playing on smaller grounds in the battle of the AFL Premiership (aka currently named the minor premiership).
For the interstate teams (and the Cats), the draw needs to ensure a maximum number of games at the MCG and minimal number of games at Docklands. The number of MCG games should be equal between all interstate teams.
Most people including myself want to see the MCG as the venue for the GF. But when it comes to the lead up finals games, Melbourne teams must earn the right to play at the MCG. If they don’t earn the right, they do what teams do in every major sporting competition on the planet do, they hit the road and play an away game.
(AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Now if it is a question of MCG revenue, the MCG and AFL could have on standby a State of Origin clash that is the best of the rest where players from eliminated teams can play. Other standby games could be legends, youth, celebrities and best of the AFLW.
At least then integrity is restored to the AFL premiership race and the awesome task of winning the tough as nails, regular season marathon can be recognised.
What do you think, should the ‘minor’ premiers be bestowed as AFL premiers, and the GF winners be acclaimed as the AFL Champions?
What about fixtures, should MCG exposure be maximised for all teams or just the MCG tenant teams (Demons, Pies, Hawks, and Tigers)?
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