6 hours ago, DV8 said:

Why I do not see this at all. And it takes away randomness of finals wins and losses. 

So the power clubs stay power clubs, & the rest make up numbers, as fodder to the machine devouring itself.

This change is good, & in 3 yrs time we won't even blink at end of H&A.

Both clubs who had the week off after the first final lost, and I truly believe the one game in four weeks hurt them.

Those that finish top four should play for the week off as it has been. I think in three years time we won't have the bye at the end of the year. Have a second bye in round 19. Not a split round, a flat out bye.

39 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

Both clubs who had the week off after the first final lost, and I truly believe the one game in four weeks hurt them.

Those that finish top four should play for the week off as it has been. I think in three years time we won't have the bye at the end of the year. Have a second bye in round 19. Not a split round, a flat out bye.

Sydney were the best team all year, and did a job on an overrated team that would've been done had they both played the week before.

The jury is out with regards to GWS being "ready" this year.  They happened to come up a team that has an unbelievable competitive nature.  Let's not forget, it was a cracking Prelim that could've gone either way too.

While the fact that both the teams (Geelong and GWS) that had the extra week off lost, I think it was nothing more than a coincidence that they both got knocked out, and can't be blamed on the bye (for reasons I have stated above).  I will bet that Hawthorn would've loved to have that extra week off - could've been the difference between them playing tomorrow and not.

GWS hardly looked out of condition. Their game against WB was one of the most intense games I've ever seen. 

The bye was great and has contributed to one of the best finals series in recent memory.

It's ridiculous that based on a sample size if 1 that people can say that the bye was a factor.

And to say that teams played 1 game in a month is BS. As Leon cameron said, they played 2 games in 28 days, so even in a February leap year, they played 2 games.

IF it has helped Footscray to a flag and 'disadvantaged' Hawthorn and Sydney then it is a good thing. 

 

Regardless of the merit or non merit of the bye, it will almost certainly stay so as to appease Channel 7. 

The Thursday night final gave them another prime-time fixture and that equates to lots of $$$'s.  Perhaps that's the reason why we got the bye in the first place. 

Anyway, after initially not liking the idea at all, I've warmed to the concept.  We probably need a 6-8 year sample size to properly analyse the games and results though.  But as stated, it will stay for other reasons. 

Giving the players 2 weeks rest after an exhausting season sounds like a logical step forward ... our sport has become such an endurance test that any sort of rest can be beneficial.  Momentum can be lost though so I'm not totally sold as yet. 

3 minutes ago, Macca said:

Regardless of the merit or non merit of the bye, it will almost certainly stay so as to appease Channel 7. 

The Thursday night final gave them another prime-time fixture and that equates to lots of $$$'s.  Perhaps that's the reason why we got the bye in the first place. 

 

Good point.... the AFL were also very lucky in the way the geographic cards fell in this series (no two games in any city on nay weekend.)

Out of interest.... why was the Bulldogs v GWS prelim played at 5pm or thereabouts and not 7:30pm?

Just now, Diamond_Jim said:

Good point.... the AFL were also very lucky in the way the geographic cards fell in this series (no two games in any city on nay weekend.)

Out of interest.... why was the Bulldogs v GWS prelim played at 5pm or thereabouts and not 7:30pm?

Well, 2 reasons as I see it DJ. 

Prime-time TV starts at about 5pm (channel 10 news as an example) so Channel 7 still get the big advertising revenue. 

The other reason being the players would have 'wound-down' at a reasonable hour so the next day (the Sunday) is not partly wasted in terms of recovery.  An almost full 7 day break was then ensured.

The issue I have with the bye is that the AFL always trying to find a way to equalise the competition & trying to make the finals series more even......

FFS thats why we have a final 8 & the teams who win more games & kick a higher score finish 1st-8th! Not  taking anything away from the Dogs & happy they won but I believe the bye to helped them...The AFL screwed over the Swans & Geelong with not allowing them to host home ground finals but allowed the GWS to play at home. Regardless of the result they need to start respecting higher placed teams to host home ground finals. If you want the best chance to finish top 4 win more games & kick more goals & stop compromising the competition to create an illusion of evenness & then flipping the other way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Good point.... the AFL were also very lucky in the way the geographic cards fell in this series (no two games in any city on nay weekend.)

Out of interest.... why was the Bulldogs v GWS prelim played at 5pm or thereabouts and not 7:30pm?

the afl said, so they could catch the last virgin flight out of sydney to get back to melbourne asap to prepare for gf

i was surprised there were no later flights, but that was their story (and it might have been 5:30 iirc) 

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

the afl said, so they could catch the last virgin flight out of sydney to get back to melbourne asap to prepare for gf

i was surprised there were no later flights, but that was their story (and it might have been 5:30 iirc) 

Ah.... the dreaded Sydney airport curfew 11pm until 6am

Flew in the from the States once via Sydney... when I woke up I noticed we were slowly circling off the coast with no attempt to land. Then I realised the plane was just waiting for the airport to open up.

Bulldogs proved my point ..Just Saying..