McIntyre Final Eight System

The McIntyre Final Eight System was devised by Ken McIntyre in addition to the McIntyre Four, Five and Six systems. It is a playoff system of the top 8 finishers in a competition to determine which two teams will play in the Grand Final. The teams play each other over three weeks, with two teams eliminated each week. Teams who finish in a higher position in the competition are given an easier route to the Grand Final.

In top level sport, the system was used by the Australian Football League from 1994 until 1999, and by the National Rugby League from 1999 to 2011.

Week 1

since 2012 1st v 4th 2nd v 3rd 6th v 7th 5th v 8th

The organisation of the rest of the finals series is dependent upon whether teams won or lost in week 1 and their final ranking on the ladder before the finals. The two lowest-ranked losers are eliminated from the finals, while the two highest-ranked winners progress straight to Week 3.

Week 2

The two losing teams are eliminated, the two winning teams progress to Week 3.

Week 3

The two losing teams are eliminated, the two winning teams progress to Week Four.

Week 4

Scheduling

A key element of an effective McIntyre system is scheduling in week 1. In the first week games must be played in the following order: 4 v 5, 3 v 6, 2 v 7, 1 v 8. Teams in the first two games are playing for the chance of a bye in the second week of the finals. If the final two games ultimately go as predicted, then the chance of a bye or the risk of elimination disappears. Therefore, those games need to be played last so that there is never a situation where two teams know that their result would not matter.

1st: Advances with a win to preliminary final (week 3). Must play the semifinal with a loss, cannot be eliminated in week 1, and has a 18,75% of winning the tournament.

2nd: Same as 1st, but has a more difficult opponent in week 1 (7th instead 8th).

3rd: Advances to preliminary final with a win AND at least one upset in one of the two last qualifying finals (1st or 2nd loses his qualifying final). Must play the semifinal with a win and no upset in last two qualifying finals or a loss if there´s at least one hopeful result in two last qualifying finals. Is eliminated if he loses AND 1st and 2nd too. (Has a 15.625% of winning the tournament).

4th: Advances to preliminary final with a win AND there are at least two upsets in remaining qualifying finals. It must play the semifinal if there are, at least, two hopeful results in other qualifying finals, regardless his result. Is eliminated with a loss AND, at least, two upsets (He has a 12,5% of winning the tournament).

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