Rest assured, stats back the week off
With sports editor Ben Drewe
AT THIS time of year, there is often a debate about whether having a week off in the finals is actually a benefit to footy teams.
Some believe the chance to rest your body is great and just reward for winning through to the grand final first.
Others believe it is better to build momentum and play tough, finals matches each week in the lead-up to the toughest game of all to win the grand final.
Looking back over previous premiership runs this decade, teams heading in with a week off have a much better record in the Toowoomba Rugby League and Risdon Cup rugby union.
Of the past seven seasons, the TRL premier has had the week off leading into the grand final six of those seven seasons.
In the Risdon Cup, five of the past seven premiers have had the weekend before the grand final off, with only two champions playing in the preliminary final.
The statistics are much closer when you look at AFL Darling Downs flag winners.
For the Australian rules competition, three teams have had a week off before the grand final and won the premiership while four have taken out the flag after winning the preliminary final.
For the rugby codes, the statistics could show that week off to freshen up is crucial.
Another way of looking at those numbers is that the
stronger team won the major semi-final to earn the week off and then emphasised their standing as the top team that year by winning the grand final.
It will be interesting to see if the teams in the TRL and Risdon Cup grand finals this weekend can buck the trend in the rugby codes.
Head to www.thechronicle .com.au/sport for live updates on the Risdon Cup and TRL grand finals.