Zaibatsu
New member
Who here is a fan of the McIntyre top 8 system?
Personally I prefer a top 6 format (I just don't believe that HALF the field should make the finals), however if it has to be a top 8 system I much prefer the AFL system.
The AFL system provides much more interesting clashes and fully rewards you for making the top 4 as you cannot possibly be eliminated in the first week of the finals (In the McIntyre system even 3rd can be gooooooneskis in week one).
For those unfamiliar with the AFL system it works like this:
![](http://i31.tinypic.com/5y6r0x.jpg)
So basically it splits the top 8 into two segments with teams 1-4 playing against eachother for a spot in the preliminary finals and teams 5-8 playing off against eachother in instant-knockout matches.
Then the losers from the 1-4 segment play off against the winners from the 5-8 segment in the 2nd week of finals for the other 2 preliminary finals spots…
This system allows for much more interesting, close, hard-fought matches all finals series and the reward for finishing in the top 4 of the eight is very advantagous.
Much better than the drubbings you often see in the NRL where you have 1st vs 8th and 2nd vs 7th etc... (has 8th ever even beaten 1st? ).
Thoughts?
Personally I prefer a top 6 format (I just don't believe that HALF the field should make the finals), however if it has to be a top 8 system I much prefer the AFL system.
The AFL system provides much more interesting clashes and fully rewards you for making the top 4 as you cannot possibly be eliminated in the first week of the finals (In the McIntyre system even 3rd can be gooooooneskis in week one).
For those unfamiliar with the AFL system it works like this:
![](http://i31.tinypic.com/5y6r0x.jpg)
So basically it splits the top 8 into two segments with teams 1-4 playing against eachother for a spot in the preliminary finals and teams 5-8 playing off against eachother in instant-knockout matches.
Then the losers from the 1-4 segment play off against the winners from the 5-8 segment in the 2nd week of finals for the other 2 preliminary finals spots…
This system allows for much more interesting, close, hard-fought matches all finals series and the reward for finishing in the top 4 of the eight is very advantagous.
Much better than the drubbings you often see in the NRL where you have 1st vs 8th and 2nd vs 7th etc... (has 8th ever even beaten 1st? ).
Thoughts?