McIntire McIntyre Final Eight System

[adam]

Just wondering what your guys opinions of this final system are. I personally actually like it a lot, but it is flawed and is much more confusing to the top eight system that the AFL currently use.

The AFL used it for the best part of a decade but changed it due to issues. Wondering if the NRL will keep using it, or revert to a new system.

[GameTipper]

The NRL are too lazy to change it... so I think it'll stay. They won't change it to the AFL style either, cos they don't follow what the AFL does (which is why they are a tad behind in most ways IMO).

It's confusing, but strangely fair... Once you get the gist of it, it kinda makes sense as it tends to reward the lower teams for winning and punish the top teams for failing. The sheer fact that this weeks first game could see the loser eliminated if two of the bottom 3 teams win is both strange and unfortunate... imagine waiting two full day to find out if your playing next week again or not?!

Lots of IF this happens, and THAT doesn't, then this is who you'll be playing next week, or, you'll be enjoying the off season...

Ahhhh well, lucky we have the brains trust to tell us at the end of the weekend who will be playing who the next week!

[adam]

I think the main gripe with it is that a team can finish 3rd or 4th and for it possible for them to be eliminated in the first week of the finals. Finishing 3rd in a 16 team competition is no mean feit, but to be eliminated first week would be a travesty.

I think the main reason the AFL changed it is because Carlton slipped through the racks in 1999. They finished 6th on the ladder, got hammered agaisnt Brisbane by 12 goals in their first final but remained in. They had a home final against West Coast (the Eagles actually won interstate the first week of the finals mind you) then they went on to knock off Essendon by 1 point in that famous Prelim Final.

Im not sure if anything similar has happened in the NRL, but if a similar thing happened in the NRL to what Carlton did then id imagine teams would be crying foul.

[jeffers]

Could someone explain to me exactly how this works?

[GameTipper]

Week 1

* 1st Qualifying Final: 1st vs 8th
* 2nd Qualifying Final: 2nd vs 7th
* 3rd Qualifying Final: 3rd vs 6th
* 4th Qualifying Final: 4th vs 5th

The teams are then ranked depending on whether they won or lost, then on their position on the ladder before the finals. The two lowest ranked losers are eliminated from the finals, whilst the two highest ranked winners progress straight to Week 3.

A key part of an effective MacIntyre system is scheduling. In the first week games must be played in the following order: 4 vs 5, 3 vs 6, 2 vs 7, 1 vs 8. Teams in the first two games are playing for the chance at a bye in the second week of the finals. If the final two games ultimately go as predicted, then the chance at a bye week or the risk of elimination disappears, so those games need to be played last so there is never a situation where two teams know that their result would certainly not matter.

Week 2

* 1st Semi Final: 4th highest ranked winner vs 2nd highest ranked loser
* 2nd Semi Final: 3rd highest ranked winner vs 1st highest ranked loser

The two losing teams are eliminated, the two winning teams progress to Week 3.

Week 3

* 1st Preliminary Final: 2nd highest ranked winner (from Week 1) vs winner of 2nd Semi Final
* 2nd Preliminary Final: 1st highest ranked winner (from Week 1) vs winner of 1st Semi Final

The two losing teams are eliminated, the two winning teams progress to Week Four.

Week 4

* Grand Final: winner of 1st Preliminary Final vs winner of 2nd Preliminary Final


or view more here on Wiki

[fingAU]

Could someone explain to me exactly how this works?

I have written an article that explains and compares the AFL and NRL finals systems.
http://gerry.finlay.wattle.id.au/201...s-systems.html
I hope this helps.