The thing I don't like about the 7 v 10, 8 v 9 wildcard idea is that 7 and 8 don't get a week off. How good was last seasons finals series with the Giants finishing 7th and almost making the GF. If they didn't get a week off, could they have still done as well? I'm not sure.
I'd rather they just leave the final round matchups unknown, but lock in 7 v 10 and 8 v 9, even if they've already played each other twice or at the home ground of 7 and 8.
So the other fixtures would just be normal but those two would be early elimination finals that determine the top 8.
The winners of the wildcard round would get a week off like the other 6 finalists.
This could only be extended to a maximum top 12, though, where you have 5 v 12, 6 v 11, 7 v 10, and 8 v 9. Any further than that and the top 4 wouldn't have a double chance anymore unless they qualify for finals.
It would help a lot if the bye was the actual reward and we did away with the double chance.
Week 1:
3 v 10
4 v 9
5 v 8
6 v 7
Week 2:
1 v lowest ranked winner
2 v second-lowest ranked winner
etc
Week 3:
Same thing
Week 4:
GF
With 12 teams you could have:
Week 1:
5 v 12
6 v 11
7 v 10
8 v 9
Week 2:
1 v lowest ranked winner
2 v second lowest ranked winner
3 v second highest ranked winner
etc
16 teams:
9 v 16
8 v 15
7 v 14
etc
Week 2:
1 v lowest ranked winner
and so on
I'd rather they just leave the final round matchups unknown, but lock in 7 v 10 and 8 v 9, even if they've already played each other twice or at the home ground of 7 and 8.
So the other fixtures would just be normal but those two would be early elimination finals that determine the top 8.
The winners of the wildcard round would get a week off like the other 6 finalists.
This could only be extended to a maximum top 12, though, where you have 5 v 12, 6 v 11, 7 v 10, and 8 v 9. Any further than that and the top 4 wouldn't have a double chance anymore unless they qualify for finals.
It would help a lot if the bye was the actual reward and we did away with the double chance.
Week 1:
3 v 10
4 v 9
5 v 8
6 v 7
Week 2:
1 v lowest ranked winner
2 v second-lowest ranked winner
etc
Week 3:
Same thing
Week 4:
GF
With 12 teams you could have:
Week 1:
5 v 12
6 v 11
7 v 10
8 v 9
Week 2:
1 v lowest ranked winner
2 v second lowest ranked winner
3 v second highest ranked winner
etc
16 teams:
9 v 16
8 v 15
7 v 14
etc
Week 2:
1 v lowest ranked winner
and so on
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