The 2014 finals thread

[DemonOX 8,541]

Poor Rossco he's going to lose more hair!

[Chook 14,594]

Congrats to Port Adelaide. This is three years after they were the worst side in the comp.

We can do it too.

[P-man 13,224]

Genuinely one of the best games I've watched. Amazing.

[Max Power 37]

Bloody good match!

[Chook 14,594]

What odds a North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide Grand Final. All of Australia will be wanting that (minus those Hawthorn and Sydney jokers).

[Sir Why You Little 34,627]

Genuinely one of the best games I've watched. Amazing.

Roosy should use that as a teaching aid. Because the Shockers were awesome in the first half except for scoring.

The 2nd half was just NEVER SAY DIE

[Demon Jack 6,332]

Incredible game. Well done Port. A club able to turn it around in the short amount of time they've had gives me hope that we can do the same. Would love it if they could roll the Hawks next week.

[Green Demon 791]

What odds a North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide Grand Final. All of Australia will be wanting that (minus those Hawthorn and Sydney jokers).

I reckon most people are. I would love to see a non-favourite win. The Hawks and Swans have had their share. It would be good for the comp, if North or Port does win the flag.

[Moonshadow 16,296]

Are Pav and Sandy going around again?

[rjay 23,937]

What odds a North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide Grand Final. All of Australia will be wanting that (minus those Hawthorn and Sydney jokers).

Not going to happen, I think we will get 2 easy wins next week from Hawthorn and the Swans. It's been a good run from North & Port but it ends next week.

[Chook 14,594]

Not going to happen, I think we will get 2 easy wins next week from Hawthorn and the Swans. It's been a good run from North & Port but it ends next week.

This "week off" bullcrap is bullcrap. No team should get such a big advantage. It is impossible to beat a rested top-tier team after two crushingly difficult weeks of football. What is even the point of the finals series if it's just so hard to make the Grand Final from outside the top four?

[Sir Why You Little 34,627]

This "week off" bullcrap is bullcrap. No team should get such a big advantage. It is impossible to beat a rested top-tier team after two crushingly difficult weeks of football. What is even the point of the finals series if it's just so hard to make the Grand Final from outside the top four?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Should i continue....???

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

This "week off" bullcrap is bullcrap. No team should get such a big advantage. It is impossible to beat a rested top-tier team after two crushingly difficult weeks of football. What is even the point of the finals series if it's just so hard to make the Grand Final from outside the top four?

You need to reward the teams that finish top four during the home and away season.

This finals system is far better than the previous one which handed Adelaide two consecutive premierships in the 90's.

[Chook 14,594]

You need to reward the teams that finish top four during the home and away season.

This finals system is far better than the previous one which handed Adelaide two consecutive premierships in the 90's.

The reward should be playing the worst finalist.

1 vs 8

2 vs 7

3 vs 6

4 vs 5

Rinse and repeat.

[gsmith12 491]

Another game of two halves and what a ripping contest.

[rjay 23,937]

This "week off" bullcrap is bullcrap. No team should get such a big advantage. It is impossible to beat a rested top-tier team after two crushingly difficult weeks of football. What is even the point of the finals series if it's just so hard to make the Grand Final from outside the top four?

To be fair I think Port have only had one difficult week of footy. Last week was a training run.

I don't think the rest will be the difference, Hawthorn & Sydney have been clearly the top teams this year and deserve to play off. I hope we get some good footy next week but I don't think it will be close 'Chook'.

[Sir Why You Little 34,627]

The reward should be playing the worst finalist.

1 vs 8

2 vs 7

3 vs 6

4 vs 5

Rinse and repeat.

So the favourites get knocked out if they lose the first final??

Been done. Was Awful

[Chook 14,594]

To be fair I think Port have only had one difficult week of footy. Last week was a training run.

I don't think the rest will be the difference, Hawthorn & Sydney have been clearly the top teams this year and deserve to play off. I hope we get some good footy next week but I don't think it will be close 'Chook'.

But that's not common. Usually the games are much closer than that. North Melbourne have certainly had two very tough weeks of footy.

So the favourites get knocked out if they lose the first final??

Been done. Was Awful

If you beat the best, you deserve everything you get. If the 8th placed team beats the top of the ladder side, surely they deserve to win the flag.

Edited September 13, 2014 by Chook

[Sir Why You Little 34,627]

But that's not common. Usually the games are much closer than that. North Melbourne have certainly had two very tough weeks of footy.

If you beat the best, you deserve everything you get. If the 8th placed team beats the top of the ladder side, surely they deserve to win the flag.

the top 4 deserve the double chance.

They earnt it.

[rjay 23,937]

But that's not common. Usually the games are much closer than that. North Melbourne have certainly had two very tough weeks of footy.

If you beat the best, you deserve everything you get. If the 8th placed team beats the top of the ladder side, surely they deserve to win the flag.

I would like to think the season counts for something 'Chook' otherwise just making the 8 would be enough, it wouldn't matter where you finish.

I think the current system is pretty good, yes it gives the top 4 teams an advantage and in my mind they have won that right.

[Chook 14,594]

the top 4 deserve the double chance.

They earnt it.

And I still say it's too much of an advantage. Earning a statistically guaranteed spot in the Grand Final is too big a bonus, in that it effectively renders the finals series moot outside of those qualifying finals.

Consider that as long as we have a fixture that's as crazy and unequal as the one we currently have, we should endeavour to make the ladder positions mean as little as possible when it comes to advantages in the finals.

Why should a team that finishes in the top four because they played the bottom four twice each get an advantage over a team that finishes 5th despite a harder draw. Does that really make any sense?

Edited September 13, 2014 by Chook

[Sir Why You Little 34,627]

And I still say it's too much of an advantage. Earning a statistically guaranteed spot in the Grand Final is too big a bonus, in that it effectively renders the finals series moot outside of those qualifying finals.

Consider that as long as we have a fixture that's as crazy and unequal as the one we currently have, we should endeavour to make the ladder positions mean as little as possible when it comes to advantages in the finals.

Why should a team that finishes in the top four because they played the bottom four twice each get an advantage over a team that finishes 5th despite a harder draw. Does that really make any sense?

Teams in the top 4 deserve an advantage over the second tier 4.

Its called winning.

Teams in the 5-8 positions may fluke a win against a top side but there is nothing worse than a "blow out" Granny.

I have been there.

[Chook 14,594]

Teams in the top 4 deserve an advantage over the second tier 4.

Its called winning.

Teams in the 5-8 positions may fluke a win against a top side but there is nothing worse than a "blow out" Granny.

I have been there.

The advantage is having the game played at your home ground, and playing the worst side. Team 1 has the advantage of playing team 8, a worse side. Team 8 has the disadvantage of playing Team 1, as better side. That's advantage enough.

You mean like the one in 2007?

1 vs 2.

1 beat 2 by 150 points. Blowouts happen in footy.

Edited September 13, 2014 by Chook

[rjay 23,937]

Teams in the top 4 deserve an advantage over the second tier 4.

Its called winning.

Teams in the 5-8 positions may fluke a win against a top side but there is nothing worse than a "blow out" Granny.

I have been there.

2 of them...

[Sir Why You Little 34,627]

The advantage is having the game played at your home ground, and playing the worst side. Team 1 has the advantage of playing team 8, a worse side. Team 8 has the disadvantage of playing Team 1, as better side. That's advantage enough.

nah. It has been tried. It failed.

You must give the top 4 sides a double chance.

Like the old top 4.

Teams 1 & 2 got a double chance