Final Ladder Position

[Thunder Shaker]

Since 1897, 46.67% of teams have gone on to win the premiership when they have "won" the minor premiership for their first time. I'm glad GWS weren't minor premiers!

Since 1897, the Swans have finished on top of the ladder 9 times (including this year).

In those other 8 years, the Swans have played off in the decider all 8 times (though the first three occasions were under a finals system where the Minor Premier had an automatic right to play in a decider). We have won 2 premierships (1909 and 1918) and been runners up 6 times.

It has been 98 years since we finished on top and won the flag in the same year. I think it's time we broke that streak.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Like a few other folks, at the beginning of the year I thought we were a 5-8 side. All I have to say is that we have done an amazing job achieving the minor premiership. Horse, Kirk, the leadersheap team and many others have done an A-grade job keeping the Swans competitive and dominant throughout the year. Smashing the Tigers (our bogey team) at home was the cherry on the cake. Got me singing a football chant throughout the weekend haha.

*We are top of the league say we are top of the league!
We are top of the league say we are top of the league!
SAY WHAT!
We are top of the league say we are top of the league!*

Presumably this chant is delivered in a deep gravelly shriek accompanied by low-tuned distorted tremolo bass?

[blackdeathmetal]

Like a few other folks, at the beginning of the year I thought we were a 5-8 side. All I have to say is that we have done an amazing job achieving the minor premiership. Horse, Kirk, the leadersheap team and many others have done an A-grade job keeping the Swans competitive and dominant throughout the year. Smashing the Tigers (our bogey team) at home was the cherry on the cake. Got me singing a football chant throughout the weekend haha.

*We are top of the league say we are top of the league!
We are top of the league say we are top of the league!
SAY WHAT!
We are top of the league say we are top of the league!*

[Jewels]

Does anyone find it ironic that the only top 4 team that gets a home final is Hawthorn!! When will the league stop giving them a armchair ride???

Bloody disgrace

[Triple B]

If we win Week 1, that will lock us in for a Friday night prelim at the SCG. Better leave work early, the traffic will be an all-time, worst ever nightmare...

[RogueSwan]

Since 1897, 46.67% of teams have gone on to win the premiership when they have "won" the minor premiership for their first time. I'm glad GWS weren't minor premiers!

Nahhh, they would have collapsed under the pressure but then again Eddie would have probably told the AFL the Giants deserve to play their final at Spotless :-(

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[KTigers]

Have often thought there should be a lot more kudos given to the minor premiership. There are some pretty serious comps around the world where the minor premiership is the ultimate award (the EPL for inst). Sure the AFL H & A season is compromised by an uneven draw, but winning the minor premiership still takes an almighty effort.

[AnnieH]

Does anyone find it ironic that the only top 4 team that gets a home final is Hawthorn!! When will the league stop giving them a armchair ride???

#freekickhawtorn

You sound surprised.

[crackedactor]

Sounds like a challenge.

If we knew we were going to finish top four and have to play at ANZ week one would you have preferred the Swans finish 1st or 4th? Imagine the pressure on the Giants if they were minor premiers.

Does anyone find it ironic that the only top 4 team that gets a home final is Hawthorn!! When will the league stop giving them a armchair ride???

[goswannies]

Sounds like a challenge.

If we knew we were going to finish top four and have to play at ANZ week one would you have preferred the Swans finish 1st or 4th? Imagine the pressure on the Giants if they were minor premiers.

Since 1897, 46.67% of teams have gone on to win the premiership when they have "won" the minor premiership for their first time. I'm glad GWS weren't minor premiers!

[RogueSwan]

...
- no Minor Premier with a percentage above 143% has failed to make a Grand Final

- in fact, only one Minor Premier in that time with an end of season percentage above 136.6% has failed to at least make the Grand Final ... and that was back in 1901

Sounds like a challenge.

If we knew we were going to finish top four and have to play at ANZ week one would you have preferred the Swans finish 1st or 4th? Imagine the pressure on the Giants if they were minor premiers.

[AnnieH]

How awesome to finish at the top.
Well done swannies.
You are way, way better than my faith would let me believe.

[CureTheSane]

You could get arrested for that!

Not if you're careful

[goswannies]

Disclaimer - past performance is not an indicator of future outcomes

While a team's win:loss ratio demonstrates how effective it is at winning throughout the season, the team's final percentage is an indicator of how well it is beating the opposition.

The following has no bearing on anything whatsoever, but ...

Since the formation of the AFL/VFL 1897:

- only 14 of 119 Minor Premiers have failed to at least make the Grand Final

- no Minor Premier with a percentage above 143% has failed to make a Grand Final

- in fact, only one Minor Premier in that time with an end of season percentage above 136.6% has failed to at least make the Grand Final ... and that was back in 1901

[neilfws]

Every team is about to get a week off, and they'll be nice and fresh for the first week of the finals. I doubt a shorter break the following week is going to make a whole lot of difference, especially with no travel involved

The stats back you up. Break length is not as significant as many people suppose. Most studies show that there is a small effect on results when 6 days is compared with 7, but barely any difference between 7 and 8 days or more than 8 days.