ðɪ ˌɛɾɪmˈɑːlədʒi ʌvðə tˈɜːm wʌz bˈeɪst ˌɔn tˌɜːmɪnˈɑːlədʒi ɪn ɔːstɹˈeɪliə fɹʌmðɪ ˈɛnd ʌvðə nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, wˌɛɹ ðə ɹˈɛɡjʊlɚ sˈiːzən wʌz ɹᵻfˈɜːd tʊ æz ðə "mˈaɪnɚ ɹˈaʊndz", ænd ðə plˈeɪɔfs ɔːɹ fˈaɪnəlz wɜː ɹᵻfˈɜːd tʊ æz ðə "mˈeɪdʒɚ ɹˈaʊndz" ðɪs tˌɜːmɪnˈɑːlədʒi ɪz stˈɪl jˈuːzd ɪn sˈaʊθ ɔːstɹˈeɪliə, bˌʌt hɐz fˈɔːlən ˌɪntʊ dɪsjˈuːs ɪn ˈʌðɚ pˈɑːɹts ʌvðə kˈʌntɹi.
The etymology of the term was based on terminology in Australia from the end of the 19th century, where the regular season was referred to as the "minor rounds", and the playoffs or finals were referred to as the "major rounds" (this terminology is still used in South Australia, but has fallen into disuse in other parts of the country).