Final 9
1st - Gets a Week 1 Bye, gets a double chance if they lose in Week 2.
2nd - Gets a Week 2 Bye if they win in Week 1. Get a double chance if they lose in Week 1.
3rd-9th - No double chances.
Week 1
1st - BYE
QF1 - 2nd v 9th
QF2 - 3rd v 8th
QF3 - 4th v 7th
QF4 - 5th v 6th
The rest of the Finals Series can be played out in four different ways depending on results.
*** Scenario #1 ***
Week 2
If 2nd wins QF1 in Week 1, they have a week off in Week 2 and advance to a Preliminary Final in Week 3.
QF5 - 1st v QF4 Winner
QF6 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If 1st wins QF5 in Week 2, they advance to the Grand Final in Week 4.
Only one Preliminary Final in Week 3.
PF - 2nd v QF6 Winner
Week 4
GF - 1st v PF Winner
Total Number of Finals = 8 finals, one less than we have now.
*** Scenario #2 ***
Week 2
If 2nd wins QF1 in Week 1, they have a week off in Week 2 and advance to a Preliminary Final in
Week 3.
QF5 - 1st v QF4 Winner
QF6 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If QF4 Winner upsets 1st in QF5 in Week 2, we have two Preliminary Finals in
Week 3.
PF1 - 1st v QF6 Winner
PF2 - 2nd v QF5 Winner
Week 4
GF - PF1 Winner v PF2 Winner
Total Number of Finals = 9 finals, the same number we have now.
*** Scenario #3 ***
Week 2
If 9th upsets 2nd in QF1 in Week 1, we have three finals in Week 2.
QF5 - 1st v 9th
QF6 - 2nd v QF4 Winner
QF7 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If 1st wins QF5, they advance to the Grand Final in Week 4.
We have one Preliminary Final.
PF - QF6 Winner v QF7 Winner
Week 4
GF - 1st v PF Winner
Total Number of Finals = 9 finals, the same number we have now.
*** Scenario #4 ***
Week 2
If 9th upsets 2nd in QF1 in Week 1, we have three finals in Week 2.
QF5 - 1st v 9th
QF6 - 2nd v QF4 Winner
QF7 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If 9th pulls off another stunning upset, this time over the Minor Premiers, we have two Preliminary Finals.
PF1 - 1st v QF6 Winner
PF2 - QF7 Winner v 9th
Week 4
GF - PF1 Winner v PF2 Winner
Total Number of Finals = 10 finals, one more than we have now!!!!
---
Scenario #1 is still most likely to happen, but if 9th pulls off two great upsets in Scenario #4 then a bonus 10th final takes place for the AFL.
AFL wouldn't go for this I know. Too complex for the average joe to follow I'd imagine and more likely to only have 8 finals (Scenario #1). Still think the AFL will stick with the current Final 8 when the comp expands to 18.
1st - Gets a Week 1 Bye, gets a double chance if they lose in Week 2.
2nd - Gets a Week 2 Bye if they win in Week 1. Get a double chance if they lose in Week 1.
3rd-9th - No double chances.
Week 1
1st - BYE
QF1 - 2nd v 9th
QF2 - 3rd v 8th
QF3 - 4th v 7th
QF4 - 5th v 6th
The rest of the Finals Series can be played out in four different ways depending on results.
*** Scenario #1 ***
Week 2
If 2nd wins QF1 in Week 1, they have a week off in Week 2 and advance to a Preliminary Final in Week 3.
QF5 - 1st v QF4 Winner
QF6 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If 1st wins QF5 in Week 2, they advance to the Grand Final in Week 4.
Only one Preliminary Final in Week 3.
PF - 2nd v QF6 Winner
Week 4
GF - 1st v PF Winner
Total Number of Finals = 8 finals, one less than we have now.
*** Scenario #2 ***
Week 2
If 2nd wins QF1 in Week 1, they have a week off in Week 2 and advance to a Preliminary Final in
Week 3.
QF5 - 1st v QF4 Winner
QF6 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If QF4 Winner upsets 1st in QF5 in Week 2, we have two Preliminary Finals in
Week 3.
PF1 - 1st v QF6 Winner
PF2 - 2nd v QF5 Winner
Week 4
GF - PF1 Winner v PF2 Winner
Total Number of Finals = 9 finals, the same number we have now.
*** Scenario #3 ***
Week 2
If 9th upsets 2nd in QF1 in Week 1, we have three finals in Week 2.
QF5 - 1st v 9th
QF6 - 2nd v QF4 Winner
QF7 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If 1st wins QF5, they advance to the Grand Final in Week 4.
We have one Preliminary Final.
PF - QF6 Winner v QF7 Winner
Week 4
GF - 1st v PF Winner
Total Number of Finals = 9 finals, the same number we have now.
*** Scenario #4 ***
Week 2
If 9th upsets 2nd in QF1 in Week 1, we have three finals in Week 2.
QF5 - 1st v 9th
QF6 - 2nd v QF4 Winner
QF7 - QF2 Winner v QF3 Winner
Week 3
If 9th pulls off another stunning upset, this time over the Minor Premiers, we have two Preliminary Finals.
PF1 - 1st v QF6 Winner
PF2 - QF7 Winner v 9th
Week 4
GF - PF1 Winner v PF2 Winner
Total Number of Finals = 10 finals, one more than we have now!!!!
---
Scenario #1 is still most likely to happen, but if 9th pulls off two great upsets in Scenario #4 then a bonus 10th final takes place for the AFL.
AFL wouldn't go for this I know. Too complex for the average joe to follow I'd imagine and more likely to only have 8 finals (Scenario #1). Still think the AFL will stick with the current Final 8 when the comp expands to 18.