The ridiculous finals system from 1994 to 1999 effectively gave 5th and 6th place a double chance as it was rare for 1st and 2nd to lose to the 7th and 8th ranked teams in week 1.96 Essendon shouldn't have even been in The prelim let alone the granny. West Coast should have got to host the semi in Perth.
Then the 6th place loser was awarded with a home SF! Ess in 96 and Carl in 99 should have been in Vegas in early Sep