THE OBSERVER
EXPRESS'S HIS OPINION ON THE TWO BLUES

March 23, 2006
Back to the Future - Looking for Gold

I agree that no finals of significance brings the season to a premature conclusion for the blue teams and disinterest in abundance is the result.
If the changes have been made to alleviate the perceived problems of the One Gold system where four teams being demoted were considered too many, then that needs to be put under the microscope.

If we adopt Sherro’s practical solution of a round robin between the four top of the table 2nd division teams, with the two best being promoted to One Gold, it would be a relevant and a very exciting finals play off.
The objection immediately raised would probably be that it is unfair to 2nd division teams. Is it?

The simple fact supported by statistics of the past seasons is that more than half of the 2nd division teams promoted only last one season in One Gold.
Would the teams that are the 3rd & 4th best 2nd division teams be superior to those finishing 7th & 8th in One Gold.

To draw a parallel with One Red & One White, who would you expect to win if the current 7th & 8th
One Red teams played the 3rd & 4th  teams in One White ie Melville or Osborne Park v Morley or Kardinya.

So I would favour reverting to the system whereby the top finishing side in each 1st division colour is promoted, having earned that right, together with the next best finals performer. The variation would be two out of One Gold and two teams only promoted from 2nd division.

The Observer---------------