Not "exactly" - the theoretical home advantage is real - it means not having to play away.
But it obviously does make a difference as only one team has ever done it, and most of the time they don't go close. The home ground advantage (or lack of travel) becomes a factor here too.To put it another way a top four team has to beat THREE top four teams.
A top 8 team has to beat the 6th placed side and THEN beat three top four sides. It really is only one game different...if you're good enough it will not make much difference.
I think that is part of the story, but not all.Usually, of course the 5-8 teams are no good and get found out (WB, Collingwood, Kangas last year) don't confuse that with the "pathway being too difficult."
Not really. If a team in the top 4 win this week, they get a week off and then a home final.Or to put it another way, if we beat Collingwood this week we are effectively in the top four (ie: we have to beat three top four sides in a row to win the flag).
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