Rogues Gallery wrote:
IF and it's BIG IF the format were to change then I would go this way.
For the Super 8's
Ist team after the 23 rounds starts on 8 points, 2nd team on 7 points, 3rd team on 6 points etc down to 8th team on 1 point. I would allow the points difference to stand.
If the format had to stay the same, then the problem to address is how to keep the teams and supporters interested, to do that you need to give all teams the chance of getting into the top 4. But the additional problem is making sure teams take it seriously once safe and there doesn't become a culture of providing we are in the 8 we know we can win it.
I believe the following would hit an acceptable compromise
Give the league leaders shield after 23 rounds - provides an incentive to finish top
Give the top 4 the additional home game - provides an incentive to finish higher up the table
Each team starts the super 8s on half of the league points accumulated in the first 23 rounds (rounding up for half points) - brings all of the teams closer to each other, this year there would have been 7 points between 1st and 8th and 4 points between 4th and 8th - achievable targets
I don't think that anything would be completely acceptable to all in the 8's format but this seems to address the major problems.
