The finals format has something very wrong with it.
Something very wrong with where games are played.
And no, it’s not about the grand final being perpetually held at the MCG. It’s not about which ground Geelong are fixtured to play their finals matches. Well, it kind of is, but not in the way I suspect that you’re thinking.
Ever since the McIntyre Final Eight System was replaced with the AFL final eight system in 2000 they have erred.
The semi-finals are hosted by the wrong teams. The teams that lose the qualifying finals get rewarded for losing by winning the right to host their semi-final. This gives them an obvious advantage, a home-state advantage.
It’s simple really. Finals should be hosted by winning teams.
For the second week of finals, the winners of the elimination final should be the hosts, not the losers of the qualifying finals.
The fact this does not happen rewards the top four teams twice.
They already get a double-chance and the opportunity to drop a game, then as a bonus, they get the opportunity to host a final, one which will probably see them through to a preliminary final when they don’t deserve it.
The reason stated for this schedule mishap is that these teams finished higher on the ladder, which is fair enough. For the first week of the finals.
The higher teams get to host the finals. But only in week one. The qualifying and elimination finals should be hosted by the highest-placed teams.
However, once a final is played, ladder position should become irrelevant. The winners should be rewarded.
Interestingly, this policy of higher placed teams hosting only applies for the first two weeks. The preliminary finals never adhere to this formula. The winners always host the preliminary finals.
Usually, it goes unnoticed because the finals work the way they’re supposed to and the higher teams win, but this year provides the perfect example of how this fixturing is a fundamental error.
Geelong finishes on top in first place so get to host their qualifying final (yes, I know at the MCG – that’s another article that has been written to death – let’s move on).
They lose, so as a reward they get to host West Coast – purely because they are a higher-placed team. Makes sense.
Same goes for Brisbane, they finish second and host Richmond at the Gabba, then lose and get to host GWS despite the Giants winning.
But say Geelong win this week, they then play Richmond at the MCG.
Richmond get to host because they won their qualifying final. Geelong are the higher placed team.
Hang on, that doesn’t look right.
Maybe it works with Brisbane.
Hmm. No, they win their semi-final, they get to travel to Melbourne and play Collingwood at the MCG despite finishing higher – and winning their semi-final.
So this means that the teams that finished third and fourth get to host – because they won – but Geelong and Brisbane still host their semi-finals because they lost.
Obviously no one would suggest that Brisbane or Geelong get to host the preliminary finals (should they make it) against the teams that won the qualifying finals, so the obvious issue is that they should not be rewarded for losing their qualifying finals with the hosting gig for the semis.
Week two of the finals should be hosted by the winning teams, not the losing teams.
Geelong Tiger
Roar Rookie
Ease up, I thought it was an interesting article. Don't know if I agree, but it does raise an issue I hadn't thought about and offers a well-reasoned argument.
TomC
Roar Guru
That game wasn't at Homebush. It was at the SCG.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The team that finished the regular season higher should always have the advantage. This article is objectively wrong in it's premise.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
McIntyre - now there’s a blast from the past. Wonder what he’s doing these days?.......I’m guessing nothing footy-related.
Daz
Roar Pro
Guess I misread the room, and everyone is happy with the way things are. Good to see though that I wasn't personally attacked in comments because my opinion was different than the convention. Thanks guys! Remind me again why we have the phrase keyboard warrior.
RT
Roar Rookie
Maybe if wrote a couple I would move from Roar Rookie to Pro.
Billy Mumphrey
Roar Rookie
That is fundamentally incorrect. The ladder and rankings continue through finals and define the draft order.
Billy Mumphrey
Roar Rookie
The ladder system still continues during finals. The winners of the qualifying finals take 1st and 2nd while the losers take 3rd and 4th. They then host the winners of the elimination finals who currently sit in 5th and 6th on the ladder. Losers this week will be ranked 5th and 6th on the ladder and losers next week 3rd and 4th. This is why the winners from week 1 will host the preliminary finals.
Scuba
Guest
Many stupid articles are written on this website. This one ranks right up there with the very worst of them.
Big AL
Roar Rookie
The Qualifying Final is just that. The top 4 teams play each other for the right to qualify for the Preliminary Finals and hosting rights. When you lose the qualifying final you give up the Prelim hosting rights and in essence you give up your "seed". There still needs to be reward for the top 4 teams if they happen to lose in week one which is the benefit of getting a double chance and hosting the next final. The AFL already rewards mediocrity by having a top 8 noting, with the exception of the Bulldogs in 2016, rarely does 7th or 8th progress. That was especially the case this year with Essendon and Bulldogs just making up the numbers. So teams 5 - 8 dont really deserve any more hand-outs come finals.
TomC
Roar Guru
The writer's main issue seems to be that under the current system teams in the top four are rewarded twice for that finish. But his proposal simply rewards teams in the bottom half of the eight twice. They get to play lesser opposition, and they get a home semi final. It's not hard to identify perverse outcomes of this suggestion. Just last year the 7th placed Giants won 'away' to an ageing Sydney team at Homebush, while the 3rd placed Magpies had arguably the toughest roadtrip in footy, narrowly losing to West Coast. Darren would play the resulting semi final in Sydney, quite possibly reversing the result and frankly sending a lesser team through to the preliminary final.
You'll Never Hawk Alone
Roar Pro
What you're suggesting is that NO MATTER WHAT, two teams who started lower on the ladder, will be at an advantage total who finished higher. Yes there are finals rankings. Richmond and Collingwood are now the top two. The 1-8 doesn't stay the same, but it does adjust. And ultimately, what you're saying is that teams who lost to 3rd and 4th deserve to be at a disadvantage to teams who beat 7th and 8th. There are two levels or finals at the start. 1-4 only relate to 5-8 come week two. You can't suddenly be below them becuase you lost to a better team than they beat. Ludicrous suggestion
Ads
Guest
In a league of 18 teams having 8 in finals is rewarding mediocrity as it is. Top 4 deserve to host. Bottom 4, especially the bottom 2, should just be happy to be there.
RT
Roar Rookie
Yes there is, that is why West Coast are away. All I am advocating is that one win by a team in the bottom half of the top 8 doesn't give then the right to host a top 4 team the following week. West Coast may have beaten the worst top 8 team and Geelong lost to the best.
Daz
Roar Pro
They already had an advantage. Their advantage is that they can drop their first game and not be eliminated.
Daz
Roar Pro
There is no ranking, there is no ladder. It's the finals. If you're advocating a ranking within the finals, let's go back to the McIntyre Final Eight System.
Paul D
Roar Guru
No - because Richmond and Collingwood are hosting them. They won week 1, remember
Peter
Guest
So under your system; In the 2nd week of finals the 8th placed team could host the minor premiers. Really? Have you thought this through? Nonsense article.
RT
Roar Rookie
That happens nearly every year!
Chancho
Roar Rookie
I was having a look at the AFL app yesterday to refresh myself on the path of the finals and was confused to read that the first preliminary final will be played second, and the second preliminary final will be played first.