Keep the lid on North fans but if history is any indicator, your team has a 50% chance at winning the 2016 Premiership.
In 120 years of VFL/AFL, just 16 sides have started the season 9-0 or better. Eight of them have gone on to win the flag that year.
| Team | Year | Wins to start season | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essendon | 2000 | 20 | Premiers |
| St Kilda | 2009 | 19 | R/U |
| Collingwood | 1929 | 18 | Premiers |
| Melbourne | 1956 | 13 | Premiers |
| Geelong | 1953 | 13 | R/U |
| Geelong | 2009 | 13 | Premiers |
| Geelong | 2011 | 13 | Premiers |
| West Coast | 1991 | 12 | R/U |
| Carlton | 1908 | 11 | Premiers |
| St Kilda | 2004 | 10 | PF |
| Melbourne | 1955 | 10 | Premiers |
| South Melbourne | 1932 | 10 | SF |
| Collingwood | 1936 | 9 | Premiers |
| Fremantle | 2015 | 9 | PF |
| Hawthorn | 2008 | 9 | Premiers |
| North Melbourne | 2016 | 9 | ??? |
| Footscray | 1946 | 9 | SF |
The Roos have certainly had an easy start to the year, having only faced two Top 8 sides in the Crows and Bulldogs.
The true test of their 2016 Premiership credentials will come with games against Sydney (SCG), Richmond (BA), Hawthorn (ES), Geelong (ES) and Adelaide (AO) in the next five weeks.
How do you rate North’s flag chances? Discuss their chances in the forum.
Thanks to smiley_mick on the AFL subreddit for the research.
