Early VFL Final Systems - Page-McIntyre System (after 1931)

Page-McIntyre System (after 1931)

After having utilised three variations of the Argus system for thirty years, three clear drawbacks had emerged:

• Firstly, the uncertainty regarding whether there would be three or four finals had often resulted in the attendances at the semi-finals exceeding the attendance at the Grand Final.
• Secondly, the minor premier was now seen to have too much benefit through its right to challenge – to the point where losing the second semi-final could be seen as a preferable route to a premiership, as the loss allowed for a week's rest, while a win would require playing the following week.
• Thirdly, there was a clear financial benefit to the clubs involved for a Challenge Final to be played, as it resulted in an extra match with extra gate takings, and it was a common perception among many fans that the clubs would contrive results to achieve this, which had led to concern among some fans that the Semi-Finals were not genuine contests.

To correct for these, the VFL introduced a new system, the Page-McIntyre system, in 1931, which it used in some form for the next 69 years.

Most notably, the Page-McIntyre System removed the Minor Premiers' right to challenge; instead, both the Minor Premier and the second-placed team received the advantage of a "double chance", permitting either team to lose one match (excluding the Grand Final) without being eliminated.