For thirty years, the McClelland Trophy was awarded to the minor premiers, who historically maintained a significant advantage in the opening week of the finals. Prior to 2016, minor premiers enjoyed a nine-year streak of victories over fourth-placed teams in qualifying finals, with an average winning margin of 45 points.

Since the implementation of the pre-finals bye in 2016, this trend of dominance has been disrupted. The structure appears to have introduced more volatility into the opening round of the finals series. Notable examples of this shift include the 2016 qualifying final where GWS defeated the top-ranked Sydney Swans, and the 2019 match where Collingwood challenged ladder leaders Geelong. The 2022 season saw a similarly tight contest between the top two seeds, suggesting that the bye week may have leveled the playing field for lower-ranked opponents entering the postseason.

While the data indicates a change in outcomes, the exact influence of the bye week remains a subject of debate among analysts. Some argue the break disrupts the momentum of the league's top teams, while others suggest it allows lower-ranked teams to recover and prepare more effectively for high-stakes matches. Regardless of the cause, the era of predictable, high-margin victories for minor premiers in the qualifying finals has largely concluded.