Where will our finals be held?

[Refried Noodle]

Ok I've figured that one more win from the last three rounds will get us 6th spot or higher, two wins will get us 4th or higher and three wins will get us 3rd.

Having said that where will our finals (if any) be held? SCG or Stadium Australia?
Do we have to fit into the NRL's schedule?
Surely if that happens the NRL won't be using Stadium Australia on both Friday and Saturday nights come finals time?

[GoSouth33]

I think the Swans will have one final at home and that Stadium Oz gets the nod if available. Last year the NRL stuffed us up so we had to go to the SCG in week 2. This year our "home" final will either be a week 2 semi final if we lose in the round 1 qualifier or, a week 3 preliminary final if we win in week 1. I'm assuming that under the new agreement the MCG doesn't have a call on these games anymore: it just "banks" additional games.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by GoSouth33
I'm assuming that under the new agreement the MCG doesn't have a call on these games anymore: it just "banks" additional games.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's how it works.

[swantastic]

1st week final win,3rd week Prelim at TS win then off to the G(fingers crossed)

[anniswan]

Originally posted by swantastic
1st week final win,3rd week Prelim at TS win then off to the G(fingers crossed)

OOOOhhhh please let this happen as I will be in Sydney on PF weekend, taking the kidlids up to see the rellos. Damn school hols in Victoria for being during finals times.

[swantastic]

Originally posted by anniswan
OOOOhhhh please let this happen as I will be in Sydney on PF weekend, taking the kidlids up to see the rellos. Damn school hols in Victoria for being during finals times.

People have no respect when it comes to footy do they?School hols during finals what were they thinking?

[ScottH]

Originally posted by swantastic
People have no respect when it comes to footy do they?School hols during finals what were they thinking?

It worked out well last year, I sent the kids to Sydney, so I had the week to myself. (oh, and her)

[wheels27]

Originally posted by GoSouth33
I'm assuming that under the new agreement the MCG doesn't have a call on these games anymore: it just "banks" additional games.

Wasn't that agreement set within a finite time frame? I am worried we will get to the day when the agreement is ending and the AFL will have 8 finals banked so all of September will be played at MCG, I assume they would not let this happen, but the payout to MCC would be substantial I would imagine.

Also, if we finish 6th or higher, we are guaranteed to get a home final (unless the agreement kicks in) and it MUST be at Homebush, the biggest games on the biggest stage I say. Plus we play well there (and Crows have never played there if the chips fall that way-they love SCG )

[Jambo Swan]

Sorry for being uninformed but I have only got into Aussie Rules since my visit in May when we (there I go again saying we as if I'm a life long Swan) beat the Bulldogs and have to make do with a weekly fix from Sky Sports here in Scotland but what are Finals and as I hope to return in January/February 2009 are there any games played during Winter? oops sorry Summer to you.

Felt a right tube emailing my brother in law in Annandale praising our win over league leaders Adelaide when I found out there are 2 teams there and it was the poorer of ther teams we beat, as I said I'm still learning

[wheels27]

Great that you can get into the game from so far!!

The swans are currently 3rd ranked in the league and will play the month-long knockout format finals series with the other top 8 teams during september, culminating in the grand final on Sep 30th, the higher ranked teams in each final earn a home ground advantage so ladder placement is critical. Unlike in football, top ranked team at the end of the season is not automatically awarded the premiership.

You should be able to find a pre-season or trial match in late summer (Swans usually have a game in Sydney vs Essendon in I think February).

[Jambo Swan]

Originally posted by wheels27
Great that you can get into the game from so far!!

The swans are currently 3rd ranked in the league and will play the month-long knockout format finals series with the other top 8 teams during september, culminating in the grand final on Sep 30th, the higher ranked teams in each final earn a home ground advantage so ladder placement is critical. Unlike in football, top ranked team at the end of the season is not automatically awarded the premiership.

You should be able to find a pre-season or trial match in late summer (Swans usually have a game in Sydney vs Essendon in I think February).

Thanks Wheels although don't quite understand why top ranked team are not necessarilly winners perhaps its different sport terminology, there are quite a few Aussie Rules fans here although they are all converts having visited Australia but its only on TV a week later here on a Friday night Saturday morning, but there are 3 Sydney Swans polo shirts regularly worn in our town centre including me today!

[wheels27]

Originally posted by Jambo Swan
Thanks Wheels although don't quite understand why top ranked team are not necessarilly winners perhaps its different sport terminology, there are quite a few Aussie Rules fans here although they are all converts having visited Australia but its only on TV a week later here on a Friday night Saturday morning, but there are 3 Sydney Swans polo shirts regularly worn in our town centre including me today!

That's awesome!!

Personally I think there is merit in rewarding the best performed team over the course of the season, but the true value of the AFL system comes over the next six weeks, finals time in AFL produces the best levels of intensity and pressure in any sport anywhere - like an FA Cup final every week as teams are literally playing for their season, buckle up for some footy like you have never seen (worth watching at whatever hour you can get it)

[desredandwhite]

Originally posted by Jambo Swan
Thanks Wheels although don't quite understand why top ranked team are not necessarilly winners perhaps its different sport terminology, there are quite a few Aussie Rules fans here although they are all converts having visited Australia but its only on TV a week later here on a Friday night Saturday morning, but there are 3 Sydney Swans polo shirts regularly worn in our town centre including me today!

Just the way it works

The team at the top of the ladder when the regular season finishes is crowned the "Minor Premiers". This is a pretty fair achievement, but it's not the "real prize". The top 8 teams then play off for the premiership in a 4-week finals series. So it's kind of like a 22-week league season to qualify for a cup tournament.

All 4 major football codes in Australia follow that system - so football, Aussie Rules, Rugby and Rugby League - all have finals series where the eventual winner that year is the team that wins the grand final.

The higher you finish DOES mean that you get more advantage in the finals in terms of home games, having a week off etc... But it all counts for nothing if you don't win the grand final.

[Jambo Swan]

Thanks for that explanation

[barry]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
Just the way it works
All 4 major football codes in Australia follow that system - so football, Aussie Rules, Rugby and Rugby League - all have finals series where the eventual winner that year is the team that wins the grand final.

On an AFL "footy" board like this one, I think it is more appropriate and less confusing to refer to Soccer as "soccer".
Here at least, football = Aussie rules.