Looked at the history with this in the AFL and it basically means a top 4 finish is mandatory. Impossible from 5 to 8 in the AFL although their comp is not as even as ours despite the draft.With the top 4 sides getting the double chance and maintaining home ground advantage(which is a good thing) situations like the warriors in 2011 and cowboys in 05 getting belted by 40 in week 1and making GF simply wont occur.And the ridiculous situation of team 8 winning and getting a home final against a top side the next week like the warriors v roosters a few years back is also redundant.Makes it far more imperative to stay in touch with the lead group so a run of injuries/suspensions for teams will be all the more serious.The days of sneaking into the 8 on a bit of a roll like parra in 09 are dead and gone.