Do minor premiers get due recognition?
Regular season champions can be overlooked if they fail in play-offs
SHOULD the team which ends the regular season on top of the table or the side who wins the sudden death grand final be held in higher regard?
The debate has, predictably, reared its head as the last of the major winter sports comes to a close for another year.
Every year, it comes up in some form, and what follows is a fascinating discussion of what, ultimately, is evidence of how unorganised our favourite organised sports really are.
On the national stage, we just watched Cooper Cronk steer the Roosters to back-toback NRL premierships, becoming the first club in nearly 30 years to win two-straight grand finals.
Nobody is arguing against the quality of the team this season, and the incredible achievement to peak in October for two straight years.
But, if we looked at the winloss records, Melbourne Storm were clearly the best team of the year, winning three more games than the Roosters during the regular season.
They fell at the final hurdle, to the Roosters no less, and while they received the JJ Giltinan Shield (and some prizemoney) the achievement is largely forgotten: nobody remembers who came second, as the saying goes, and nobody cares who had the best record.
The AFL had a three-way tie up top, and only one of those teams – eventual preBoth miers Richmond (third) – appeared in the grand final.
The strong seasons by Geelong and Brisbane go unnoticed by all but their fans.
Sydney FC are recognised as A-League champions after penalties were needed in the grand final win against Perth, but it was the Glory who finished eight points clear of the Sky Blues to be the best team over the 27-game season.
teams qualify for the AFC Champions League, which is great if you win it but is a scheduling nightmare.
Locally, FNQ Football has a three trophies to win, similar to top-flight football competitions across the world.
Finishing atop the table (the premiership) allows you a crack at the coveted Crad Evans Shield, but there’s a grand final wedged in between.
In England, you’ve got several tiers including the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Europa League, and Champions League, each title held in high esteem. There’s no Premier League finals, justly rewarding the best team of the season.
Australian sport sometimes needs to do better in recognising and rewarding the “minor” premiers, but you can’t beat the theatre play-offs bring.
It forces athletes and teams to perform on another level, proving a mental toughness and rewarding clutch performances in addition to the spoils the season brings.
It makes and creates legends, and while there’s the odd sour result, there’s almost nothing better to watch.
And which triumph is the better achievement? Well, that’s another can of worms.