Two bobs worth on all comments:
Suggested Scoring changes:
i) Backs – 2pts mark, 1pt tackle
ii) Fwds – 4pts per goal, 1pt per point – although I like the suggestion of points for goals only.
There is some suggestion that there are very few quality forwards that kick big bags and increasing their points would create a massive differential between the best and the worst. Again, using Merc’s stats, I can tell you that a player has kicked 5 goals or more 56 times so far this season. These 56 times were by 31 different players. The stuttering fool managed it 6 times, while Eddie, Jezza, Buddy and, amazingly Tim Membrey have each managed it 4 times. So, even the stand out quality forwards are not consistently producing massive forward scores week in week out. So, I am in favour of 4pts per goal, nothing for a miss.
Other suggestions:
iii) A premiership point for being coach of the week – it’s a no from me.
iv) Wildcard of 2pts per goal for any non-forward – too complicated, it’s a no from me.
v) A ladder of Merc’s tipping including the margin – Absolutely, bring it on.
vi) Breakdown of a DuFFLers scores by position as a percentage – Great idea, perhaps Merc could do this after Rounds 6, 12 and 18.
vii) I do like the idea of a knockout finals, instead of the current system and extending the home and away season by one round.
viii) No egirls selectable or worth less points – it’s a no from me, the more DuFFLers with good teams the better, and to have Slammo and D_Man not be competitive would dilute the comp too much.
The list and trading:
Many thoughtful ideas floating around on these issues.
ix) Firstly, I think that increasing team sizes to 16 is the Way To Go.
x) If this is done, it provides a great opportunity to rid ourselves of the STC’s. They suck, they’re difficult to administer and painful. If we had 16 man teams, we could decide to have no STC’s and during the bye rounds each DuFFLer names whatever team they are able to and only the top 5 scorers for their team will be counted in their score. With 16 man teams, we should all be able to field at least 5 players every bye round. Even if you could only name 3 mids and a ruck, it may be good enough to beat the other teams 2 backs, 2 forwards and a mid. I like this idea a lot, possibly my best idea.
xi) I don’t like the idea of trades becoming a willy nilly exercise. It’s a big no from me in terms of unlimited trading. Limited trading was designed to replace lower end draft pick duds with new talent never seen before, thus not usually drafted. I hated that my finals team this year looked nothing like the best eight that I drafted. I was particularly decimated by injury, but would hate for a team to trade eight players one week to take advantage of say, an Adelaide v Brisbane game and then trade them all back the next week, assuming they aren’t stolen. I like the current trading and lti rules as they stand including the 30 June deadline, but do think teams should be increased to 16.
xii) I do, however, like the idea of trades between coaches, perhaps only once overall though, not once per couple as per the suggestion. This could be additional to the 3 trades. And most certainly not done within, say, six weeks of the finals.
xiii) I like the idea of the reverse draft based on the previous year’s finish, with any newbies going first. It would have to be the adjusted placings after finals, so that if a team finished the H+A 5th, but then lost their first final, I they would end up in 7th or 8th place for reverse draft purposes and receive pick 8 or 9 instead of 11. Having said that, if it continues to be drawn from a hat, there is no need for any live streaming, I have complete and utter unwavering belief in Merc's honesty and integrity.
Commence your pondering.
