In the IRB system I think the provisional teams don't even make it onto the list until they have played their 10 matches, so I can go along with our provisionals appearing with their provisional score but without a ranking. I reckon that is a good compromise, Nations get their name up there "in lights" showing the world they're battling to get on the board. It also lets other nations know that there is another team at around their own score about to come onto the ranking scheme.
Let's go with this aspect at least.
Getting back to including 9's, leave ya footy here we still wanna play. Promise to give it back when we're finished with it.
As 9's is mostly the shortened version of the game and final scores are less than full time games. it brings in how do we account for our 40plus margin of victory bonus when very few games, if any, actual result in a 40 plus victory. I still reckon a seperate 9's ranking is a better option. Once we have an computer program up and running (not pressuring anyone) the 9's version would be relatively easy to get going ( I stopped because of the amount of data (many more games played)(just one EU Cup went over a page and a half) and the player rules don't have to be as strict. And a lower Margin of Victory bonus can be used. Then the 18's version can be a true measure of a nations standing and ability at playing "Aussie Rules" at the (hate this term too) "purest" form. Keeps the maths at its simplest too.
Cam

Yep, I've started the process of automating the procedure so that it's easier to make updates and less likely to have errors.

I really wouldn't suggest using this scheme for an individual 9s rankings scheme because as discussed, at a nation versus nation level, 9s has been a European phenomenon, so such a scheme would only be for Europe and if it followed no-expat rules then it would only have a handful of games in it and would require quite a few more years of data before there would be even 7 or 8 teams qualifying for a ranking.


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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN