I also like your option 2 TS. Seems fair that the elimination finalists have to earn a week off by having to win in the first week. The Qualtying winners in week 2 would end up having 2 weeks off over the first 4 weeks before qualifying to play the GF in week 5. I don't see this as a problem, as similar occurred in the old final 5 when whoever finished on top had the first week off.
Not sure how a 5 week finals series would go down with the AFL hirearchy, but I do prefer it than having a bye the week before.
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