How it works
For each division, the top four teams from each group go into playoffs that are organised as octos, quarters, semis and a final.
Why?
This adds clarity to the system and gives more teams a chance at finals experience and, at least, one additional debate. It also keeps more teams ‘alive’ for longer into the season and gives a clear sense of where each team ended up by the end of their season.
Decision Tree to establish final 16 for Octos
1) The finals shall be contested between the top four teams from each group in each division.
2) The finals draw for each division shall have a round of 16 teams (‘octos’), with the winners progressing to a round of 8 teams (‘quarters’), with the winners progressing to a round of 4 teams (‘semis’), with the winners of the two semis playing off in the Grand Final to determine the Champion of their division.
3) The tally-keeper shall rank the teams in each division by
a. The number of wins a team has had in that year. (‘Win Points’)
Then by
b. ‘Head-to-head’ points determined by whether the team has
defeated any other team on the same number of wins in the season
under consideration.
i. Having defeated a team on the same number of wins shall
count for one head-to-head point.
ii. Having lost to a team on the same number of wins shall detract
one head-to-head point.
Then by
c. The number of wins a team has had in the season over teams that
have finished with more total wins than the team in the season, less
the number of losses a team has had in the season to teams that have
finished with fewer total wins than that team. (‘Upset points’)
Then by
d. The number of wins that the school’s team had in the division below
the division being considered in the preceding year or in the case of
Division 8, the number of wins that the school’s team had in Division 8
in the preceding year. (‘Previous Year Wins’)
Then by
e. ‘Previous-year head-to-head’ points determined by whether the
school’s team in the division below in the previous year’s competition
(or in the case of Division 8, the number of wins that the school’s
team had in Division 8 in the preceding year), defeated any of the
teams of schools’ that are still in consideration.
i. Defeating a team on the same number of wins shall count for
one previous-year head-to-head point.
i. Losing to a team on the same number of wins shall detract one
previous-year head-to-head point.
ii. The application of this sub-section shall not be affected by the
composition of the teams of any school.
Then by
f. A coin toss or random number generation.
4) Once ranked the teams should be assembled into a draw according to the
following table (A1=Highest ranked team from group A, etc)