The 2014 finals thread

[MadAsHell 4,212]

That's is carp. FMD one of the reasons the finals needs a restructure is because the home side with a week off and 6 goals up early in the third term couldn't win once a side with the best midfield in the comp and 3 once in a generation midfielders started to get on top and ran over the top of them

Yes great logic in your argument.

Lets just leave the finals alone there are far bigger issues in the game.

Well since the current system came in there have been 30 Qualifying Finals played, with the winners of those matches progressing to the Grand Final on 27 occasions. So you've given the reason for last nights match. Can you explain the other 26 out of 29?

[rjay 24,929]

Well since the current system came in there have been 30 Qualifying Finals played, with the winners of those matches progressing to the Grand Final on 27 occasions. So you've given the reason for last nights match. Can you explain the other 26 out of 29?

You might have to think the teams that finished higher on the ladder were better, now that's a novel idea.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Missing the point rjay. Which is that under the current system, the Grand Finalists are decided after the first week effectively. Almost makes semi and pelim finals pointless as in the last 15 years, if you win a Qualifying Final, there's a 90% chance you're into the Grand Final.

Compare that to the system from 94-99, where it was at a more even 66.6% where 8 of the 12 teams that got the week off after the first week ended up in the Grand Final, with 4 teams not getting there. Now I'm not saying we should go back to that system. But I do think we need a new one, just to keep the whole series alive longer.

[John Crow Batty 8,864]

Why should a finals season be based on equality of chances? That make the home and away season irrelevant. The best teams should always be on the front row of the grid.

Edited September 20, 2014 by america de cali

[DemonOX 8,791]

The main thing I realised during this match is just how far off we r at even getting close to a prelim let alone a GF.

I live in hope.

[Yossarian 1,820]

Laaaaame

[Earl Hood 6,086]

Fcuking Sewerage Farm are in another one.

C'mon South.

WYL are you referring to Western Treatment Plant formerly known as Werribee? Just asking.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Why should a finals season be based on equality of chances? That make the home and away season irrelevant. The best teams should always be on the front row of the grid.

That's the home ground advantage & best draw for the finals like in the NBA. You shouldn't be gifted a spot in the Grand Final just cause you then win your first final (unless it were only a top 4 of course), otherwise we may as well follow the EPL model and not worry about a finals series at all.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

otherwise we may as well follow the EPL model and not worry about a finals series at all.

I haven't worried about one of them since round one 2007.

[Earl Hood 6,086]

That's the home ground advantage & best draw for the finals like in the NBA. You shouldn't be gifted a spot in the Grand Final just cause you then win your first final (unless it were only a top 4 of course), otherwise we may as well follow the EPL model and not worry about a finals series at all.

In the end the Hawks got up because it was their home ground. It took Port a quarter to work out how to kick a goal.

If Port kicks straight in the first quarter they are 5 goals up and I am sure the Hawks would have fought back but that would have exhausted them, leaving them open for Port to run over the top. Oh well it didn't happen that way but I did notice the Hawks priority pick made the difference with 6 goals. Sometimes rewarding failure works out in time it seems but not these days of course, rewarding failure just promotes a failure mentality.

Edited September 20, 2014 by Earl Hood

[Chook 15,013]

Better teams tend to finish higher on the ladder, which means they'll probably win through regardless of the finals system we use. Let's at least make the games they win actually mean something. Giving teams too great an advantage makes the finals series that much less meaningful.

Do we want a meaningful finals series or not?

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

That's the home ground advantage & best draw for the finals like in the NBA. You shouldn't be gifted a spot in the Grand Final just cause you then win your first final (unless it were only a top 4 of course), otherwise we may as well follow the EPL model and not worry about a finals series at all.

Whatever your arguments with the system, the two best teams for the year are playing next week and that is how it should be. The finals system isn't perfect but is is better than any other.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Cream always rises to the top no matter what system you have in place.

Getting top 4 is a big prize because of the advantages that come with it and it and teams fight hard for it during the home and away so it keeps the competition honest.

The system is fine

[Demonsone 2,037]

A tale of 2 teams since the failed merger.... Hawks 4 grand finals & maybe a 3rd flag vs Dees 1 GF in 2000....

I'm sick to death going to my mates House who is a Hawks fan for GF BBQ that's 4 times since 08!

[Earl Hood 6,086]

Good to see that a priority pick you know a reward for failure a la Roughie got them over the line with six opportunistic goals. I mean God forbid if we got such unwarranted draft assistance. It would pollute the culture.

[Demonsone 2,037]

Good to see that a priority pick you know a reward for failure a la Roughie got them over the line with six opportunistic goals. I mean God forbid if we got such unwarranted draft assistance. It would pollute the culture.

We got plenty of picks for our failures since 07 & yet thru picking the wrong kids & crappy culture/development see us rebuilding again!

[Pennant St Dee 13,186]

Well since the current system came in there have been 30 Qualifying Finals played, with the winners of those matches progressing to the Grand Final on 27 occasions. So you've given the reason for last nights match. Can you explain the other 26 out of 29?

I really don't give a siht what ideas you come up with We generally get the two best sides over the year who end up in the GF and the side who peaks at the right time in September generally win The Lions were masters at it the Swans 05, Hawks 08 and Cats 11 did it and that's how the system works. You keep coming up with ridiculous formulas it wont change The Cats and Freo were cooked North got the Cats at the right time and met the best side for the year last night. Port were brave but paid for inaccuracy if you don't like what has occurred this finals series you're watching the wrong game

[Pennant St Dee 13,186]

That's the home ground advantage & best draw for the finals like in the NBA. You shouldn't be gifted a spot in the Grand Final just cause you then win your first final (unless it were only a top 4 of course), otherwise we may as well follow the EPL model and not worry about a finals series at all.

You've never played at a decent level have you

[dee-luded 2,959]

Port were not robbed at all. They made the same mistake as Fremantle last week, not capitalizing on their scoring shots. Any of those points changing to a goal is a win.

Not dissimilar to our shocking inaccuracy which cost us multiple games this year.

they lacked some composure early in the game, not making the most of opportunities in qtr1, & in the second Qtr dropped intensity early stages. didn't see it after that

[dee-luded 2,959]

Can't say I'm overly interested in the GF or who wins.

First time in a long time I've felt like that.

wanted the Hawks (my 2nd interest) to lose today??? just for a change. damit. go port, like that side. goers. lets hope for a changing of the guard to continue next year with both cats & hawks tumbling down, & for the Pies to become the new 9thwoods...

[dee-luded 2,959]

Missing the point rjay. Which is that under the current system, the Grand Finalists are decided after the first week effectively. Almost makes semi and pelim finals pointless as in the last 15 years, if you win a Qualifying Final, there's a 90% chance you're into the Grand Final.

Compare that to the system from 94-99, where it was at a more even 66.6% where 8 of the 12 teams that got the week off after the first week ended up in the Grand Final, with 4 teams not getting there. Now I'm not saying we should go back to that system. But I do think we need a new one, just to keep the whole series alive longer.

interesting point TD.... maybe that weekend in a shortened H&A season could be a bye for all teams in finals & for 2 StateOfOrigin games slotted into the weekend. one at the MCG & one at either Adelaide or Perth grounds. Friday night & Saturday nights covered.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Why should a finals season be based on equality of chances? That make the home and away season irrelevant. The best teams should always be on the front row of the grid.

actually in horse racing they start side by side. as they do in human races. olympics etc. yachting, rowing, shooting, wqhats the point about equality adc

[dee-luded 2,959]

Better teams tend to finish higher on the ladder, which means they'll probably win through regardless of the finals system we use. Let's at least make the games they win actually mean something. Giving teams too great an advantage makes the finals series that much less meaningful.

Do we want a meaningful finals series or not?

we can get this right, at the same time we even out the fixtures & marquee games.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Cream always rises to the top no matter what system you have in place.

Getting top 4 is a big prize because of the advantages that come with it and it and teams fight hard for it during the home and away so it keeps the competition honest.

The system is fine

the Melbourne Cup is based on Handicap, the top weights etc. this is fine.

[SaberFang 7,151]

Good to see that a priority pick you know a reward for failure a la Roughie got them over the line with six opportunistic goals. I mean God forbid if we got such unwarranted draft assistance. It would pollute the culture.

Definitely a good line to throw in the face of any Hawthorn supporters who don't think we should get a PP.

The most outrageous campaigners would be Carlton supporters though. Tankers in every definition of the word, apart from according to the AFL. They had, what, 2 PPs in a row? Even I can support the rule changes they introduced after that, but for Christ sake at least implement the revised rules instead of defying them.