From: nicholso@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (Melvin H. Nicholson YBH)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.australian
Subject: Re: Unluckiest non-finalists (OR: We still love you, Saints)
Date: 18 Aug 92 16:52:10 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Res. Ctr. Mtn Vw CA 94035

dos105@rsphy2.anu.edu.au (Darren O'Shaughnessy) writes:
>    Well, it looks like the Saints are going to dip out of the finals.
>Damn, I was just getting used to the idea of the Moorabbin - sorry,
>Waverley - boys being regular finalists.
>
>                Pat Rourke (you may not have heard of me)
>

Don't give up yet Pat (Darren?).  Here are the saints three ways into
the final.

1: The Saints beat Melbourne, then Melbourne beats Hawtorne.  (ok, so
this isn't the best "cheer up" method, but they do get better)

2: The Saints beat Melbourne while Carlton thrashes the Collingwood
Magpies, then Adelaide pulls off a miracle upset of Collingwood the
last week of the season.(okay, I suppose any way which includes a
"miracle upset" isn't much to get excited over either)

3: The Saints beat Melbourne as Collingwood squeeks by Carlton with a
win, and while we hear the Magpies blather on for days about what divine
inspiration gave them the win, the Eagles beat Carlton.

It could happen.  In fact, I feel like drawing a silly flowchart:

		_______________
               /               \
               |     START     |
               \_______________/
                      |
                      |
                      v
                ______________                  _______________
               /              \ Melbourne wins /               \
               | Saints/Melb? |--------------->| Go home early |
               \______________/                \_______________/
                      |                               ^
           Saints win |                               |
                      |                               | Hawks win
                      v                               |
                ______________                 ________________
               /              \               /                \
               | Carl/ 'wood? |               | Hawthorn/Melb? |-+
               \______________/               \________________/ |
                 |         |                           ^         |
                 |         |'pies win                  |         |
    Carlton wins |         v                           |    Melb |
                 |   _______________                   |    wins |
                 |  /               \   Carlton wins   |         |
                 |  | Adel/Carlton? |------------------+         |
                 |  \_______________/                  |         |
                 |         |                           |         |
    +----------| | |-------+ Adel wins                 |         |
    |            |                                     |         |
    |            v                                     |         |
    |    ______________                                |         |
    |   /              \    Collingwood wins           |         |
    |   | Eagles/Wood? |-------------------------------+         v
    |   \______________/                                    ________
    |          | Eagles win                                /        \
    +----------+------------------------------------------>| finals |
                                                           \________/

Well that was pointles...

Mel