Tuesday, 20 August 2013

ARFLI Top 4 decided, but final rankings still up for grabs

Following last Saturday's round of matches which were played in tough conditions and inclement weather, the final round of fixtures of the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland takes place this Saturday. Though we now know the four teams that will contest the play-off semi-finals at the end of this month, the final ranking of the top four (and therefore which teams will face each other in those play-offs) is still to be determined. First, here's last weekend's results and penultimate league table:

Belfast Redbacks        95-45 Dublin Demons
Galway Magpies         75-62 Leeside Lions
North Leinster Giants  36-44 South Dublin Swans

After Round 9                        P   W   D    L    PF     PA     PD     Pts
Belfast Redbacks ..................9    7    0    2    723    342    381    30
Leeside Lions .......................9    6    0    3    697    381    316    27
South Dublin Swans ..............9    5    0    4    589    489    100    24
Galway Magpies ...................9    5    0    4    580    614    -34     24
North Leinster Giants.............9    3    0    6    358    696   -338    18
Dublin Demons......................9    1    0    8    383    808   -425     12

4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, 1 for a loss, 0 for a forfeit.

Fixtures and scenarios for round 10- Saturday 24 August (all matches scheduled to start at 13:30)
Dublin Demons        v North Leinster Giants
Leeside Lions          v Belfast Redbacks
South Dublin Swans v Galway Magpies

The Dublin Demons and the North Leinster Giants are both eliminated and cannot finish any higher or lower than their current positions in the table, regardless of the result of their match on Saturday.

Belfast secured a top two finish, and a home semi-final, with their win last weekend. They will finish top of the ladder if they beat OR draw away to the Leeside Lions OR if they lose by 32 or fewer points. Should Belfast lose, both they and Leeside would finish on 31 table points. Losing by 32 or fewer points would mean Belfast would finish first on points difference; losing by 33 or more would result in Leeside overtaking them.

Leeside will secure a top two finish, and a home semi-final, if they beat OR draw with Belfast. Even a defeat would not result in failure to claim second place, unless either South Dublin or Galway heavily defeat their opponent and make up a massive deficit in points difference.

South Dublin will finish in third place, and will play away to the second-ranked team in the play-offs, if they beat OR draw with Galway. A defeat would allow Galway to overtake them. They could finish in second place and claim a home semi-final, but must defeat Galway AND hope that Belfast defeat Leeside, AND overcome a points difference deficit of 216 points.

Galway will finish in third place, and will play away to the second-ranked team in the play-offs, if they defeat South Dublin. A defeat or a draw would mean they would finish in fourth place, with a semi-final away to the highest-ranked team in the table. They could finish in second place and claim a home semi-final, but must defeat South Dublin AND hope that Belfast defeat Leeside, AND overcome a points difference deficit of 350 points.

The ARFLI confirmed on Tuesday evening that the semi-finals will take place on Saturday 7 September. Belfast will definitely be at home, the other three qualifiers will find out who and where they will play once the final scores come in.

Play-off semi-final match-ups- Saturday 7 September:
1st at home to 4th
2nd at home to 3rd

This 2013 Grand Final will take place on Saturday 14 September in Islandbridge.

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