EDFL 2018: Ross Terranova, Adam Potter, Nathan Grima and Kyle Hardingham have their say on the Premier Division finals system

Should the Essendon District Football League move away from its traditional top-four finals system and introduce a top five? We asked the coaches

Strathmore and Greenvale are among the contenders for this year’s flag. Picture: Mark Dadswell

ESSENDON District Football League coaches are open to a top-five finals system in Premier Division amid one of the most even seasons in recent memory.

Six clubs — Maribyrnong Park, Keilor, Pascoe Vale, Aberfeldie, Greenvale and Strathmore — remain in premiership contention with five rounds remaining in the home-and-away campaign.

The top flight has always had a top four, but EDFL boss has Craig Armstead has confirmed a potential change to tradition is on the agenda.

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The Western Region and Northern leagues are among the suburban competitions that have a five-team finals series in their top grades.

Glenroy coach Ross Terranova supports a top five. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“I would certainly vote for a final five. I think it works well,” Glenroy coach Ross Terranova said.

“You’ve got six pretty good sides in there at the moment. But if you’ve got an up-and-coming side that may sneak a position in the five, it does something for the supporters and the competition and it keeps it alive.

“It’s highly unlikely teams are going to win it from fifth position, but it gives the clubs and their supporters something to go with for that year.

“The way A Grade has been for the last few years, it’s frustrating, because it’s always the same sides (succeeding).”

Eight clubs have contested Premier Division finals since 2012, including Division 1 outfit Airport West.

Aberfeldie (six times), Greenvale (five), Keilor, Strathmore (three), Maribyrnong Park, Pascoe Vale and Avondale Heights (two) have also made the top four over the past six seasons.

Aberfeldie premiership coach Adam Potter (left) believes a top five has merit. Picture: Hamish Blair

Dual premiership coach Adam Potter, who has led Abers to flags in 2015 and ’17, also threw his support behind an expanded finals series.

“There’s six sides at the moment in the race for the top four and it wouldn’t be surprising if any of them made the top four,” he said.

“I’m probably an advocate for it, but it’s got to be consulted with all the clubs to see where it’s at.”

Introducing a top five would extend the finals series to four weeks.

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It would also reward the minor premier with a rest in the opening week, but there is the potential for the best-performed team of the regular season to have two weeks off between the end of the home-and-away season and the grand final.

Supporters of a top-four system believe that can hamper continuity, while it is also unlikely a fifth-placed side would be good enough to win three cutthroat finals to advance to the decider.

Strathmore coach Nathan Grima has no issues with the current finals system. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“I don’t know that you need to change it,” Strathmore coach Nathan Grima said.

“I think you’ve got to win roughly 12 games each year to make the four. If you’re getting to 12-6, you probably deserve an opportunity. If you’re not getting to that sort of benchmark, then maybe you don’t deserve finals.

“The only thing that would be good with the top five is it would give the top team an extra week off as far as a really good reward for finishing top.”

Pascoe Vale’s Kyle Hardingham is open to both options. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Pascoe Vale coach Kyle Hardingham had mixed feeling about the prospect.

“The way it is going at the moment with the top four, it does make it tough,” he said.

“If you have that fifth (team), it makes it a really interesting finals series because anyone can win it. With the comp being so close this year, if you had a top five it makes the finals series a lot more interesting rather than just one play two and three plays four.

“But, on the other hand, it makes it a really tight comp. If you’re not in form, you don’t deserve to be there.”