Dogs 2016 vs Lions 2024 - who had the better run

[BigVic]

Lions 2024 was the better run with Brisbane not stepping foot on home ground since the first week and had to win 3 finals on the road from 5th.

Bulldogs 2016 was gifted.

 

[Pivot Piece]

I feel like the “aura” of making/winning from outside the 4 now isn’t what it was in 2016. This year was also extremely close I don’t think anyone could say with confidence Brisbane were the fifth best team in it.

Having said that winning 3 interstate finals on the run is extremely impressive

 

[Dazzler9]

I feel like the “aura” of making/winning from outside the 4 now isn’t what it was in 2016. This year was also extremely close I don’t think anyone could say with confidence Brisbane were the fifth best team in it.

Having said that winning 3 interstate finals on the run is extremely impressive

First time since 1998?

Edit: Covid years notwithstanding.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

On the Dogs, just because NOBODY saw it coming

 

[BigVic]

First time since 1998?

Edit: Covid years notwithstanding.

Crows did it under the McIntyre system in 1998

 

[RCAB]

I feel like the “aura” of making/winning from outside the 4 now isn’t what it was in 2016. This year was also extremely close I don’t think anyone could say with confidence Brisbane were the fifth best team in it.

Having said that winning 3 interstate finals on the run is extremely impressive

Dogs had the biggest umpiring armchair ride in history.

What Brisbane did this year was unprecedented. They also started the season 0-3.

 

[BigVic]

It's hard to win 3 interstate finals in a row

 

[Big Sauce 21]

We've had a massive run. Something like 14-2

 

[Handsuper47]

This is a silly thread, Dogs without a question. Lions made the grand final LAST year and lost it by five points, Dogs hadn't been in a grand final in god knows how long and they were the away team every match. Lions have also been building for years while the Dogs lost their elimination final in 2015, and from 2010 to 2014 they didn't even make finals. Dogs really did come from nowhere to win it.

 

[paulige]

This is a silly thread, Dogs without a question. Lions made the grand final LAST year and lost it by five points, Dogs hadn't been in a grand final in god knows how long and they were the away team every match. Lions have also been building for years while the Dogs lost their elimination final in 2015, and from 2010 to 2014 they didn't even make finals. Dogs really did come from nowhere to win it.

I believe the intent is to compare the season, not the build-up.

Lions had to do the triple-travel.

Dogs travelled twice, and had a cozy game at the G in between those two.

Lions in the context of being 2-5 and riddled with season-ending injuries, and then 44 and 25 down in consecutive away finals…

… we were dead and buried more than once.

 

[BigVic]

Lions in the context of being 2-5 and riddled with season-ending injuries, and then 44 and 25 down in consecutive away finals…

Blew a top 4 chance and the luxury of two home finals to finish 5th in the H&A season

 

[Lunchtime]

Brisbane Lions were 2-5 after the first seven rounds of the season. They then went on to be 16-3 & one draw for their next 20 games. Impressive. Very good.

 

[oak79]

First time since 1998?

Edit: Covid years notwithstanding.

Crows lost a final in 1998

You can't do that from 5th in current system

 

[Lunchtime]

In my opinion it is one of the greatest seasons I have seen for a team in terms of the pathway to the Premiership win and also taking into account their injury list too - it was a big injury list and they still got the job done. Well done Brisbane, 2-5 after the first seven games and then for the next 20 games: 16-3 & 1 draw.

Seriously...amazing effort.

 

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

It's hard to win 3 interstate finals in a row

3?
I was on the Lions. Thought they'd win and glad they did, but whilst the MCG might be an interstate venue, it's a neutral ground for both sides, so doesn't really count IMO.
I enjoyed the Bulldogs' win, as my wife is a Dogs supporter, but I think the Lions' run was better. 14 wins from their last 16 games after going 4-6 and a draw.

 

[imagifED]

Brisbane for sure.
If we Adelaide defeated West Coast at home in the final round in 2016 or won another game (infamous Troy Pannell game and Hawthorn games), we would've finished 2nd rather than a Hawthorn on last legs. That would've changed the whole finals series. Plus Bulldogs didn't play Geelong who were their bogey team at the time. And the umpiring.

 

[Freomaniac]

I will say Brisbane and their 2024 finals run was impressive. Winning 4 finals is hard.

3 of them were away .

Mind you the dogs 2016 finals run was impressive too. Had to win in WA then at the MCG vs the hawks then vs GWS in NSW then finally at the MCG again vs top placed swans.

Saying that , had the dogs won that 2021 grand final vs demons, that path would of been impressive too. Had to win in Tassie, then in the Gabba vs Brisbane, then belt Port in Adelaide oval by 70 points on the preliminary final .

 

[Schauermann]

On the Dogs, just because NOBODY saw it coming

Same here. Brisbane were one of the form teams going into finals. A lot of people expected them to do some damage...

 

[BigVic]

Freo 2022 blew a top 4 chance, finished 5th and won their first final at Optus. However they ran into Collingwood in Week 2 and lost to the Pies at the 'G.

Just shows how hard it is to win 3 finals in a row away from home to the flag. Only has been done once since 2000

 

[Zarrix]

People discount Adelaide's 1998 run because it was under the old system. I argue that makes it even better as their first match would've been against the 8th team (Essendon?) at home, meaning they would've likely advanced to the second week regardless, with the added benefit of an easier home game.

This year, the top 4 weren't particularly strong given our form collapsed in the back third of the year and Port, GWS and Geelong have a lot of flaws in their game. I'd argue that Brisbane, Hawthorn and the Dogs were the better teams by the end of the year, so it's not surprising at all that one of them went on to win the flag.

 

[JHF1870]

not bad to win it from 0-2

 

[Pies No 1]

Lions 2024 was the better run with Brisbane not stepping foot on home ground since the first week and had to win 3 finals on the road from 5th.

Bulldogs 2016 was gifted.

From Rnd 23 the Dogs went Perth/Perth/Melbourne/Sydney/Melbourne and sent foot on home ground zero times, as their home ground is Marvel. Not really sure what you are on about, as if the Dogs played every final at their home ground? The Dogs like the Saints have traditionally been bad at the MCG and play their best at Marvel. If anything Sydney should have had the advantage as the MCG is an open air ground the Dogs dont play many games at.

 

[Redline]

Given who they played I think the Lions.

They had a few things in their favour they should never have finished 5th, it was a very even season and they didn't have to play a Victorian team on Grand Final Day

The umpiring in favour of the Bulldogs in the Prelim and Grand Final in 2016 was the most one sided I have seen and I've been watching all levels of football for 40 years.

If it was the other way around AFL house would of been burnt down.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Was gonna make this exact thread. My initial thoughts were Bulldogs, but reflecting on it more I actually think the Lions this year was a bit more amazing in the context of the season. People forget the Dogs were like 3rd late in the season, and yes, had a few injuries, but it was a very even year and by win loss/ratio they'd be top 4 many years. So they were a very good 7. Lions too really blew a top 4 spot, but I believe the Dogs won 15 in 2016 from memory, could be wrong, 1 more than the Lions. What makes the Lions a bit more unlikely were the poor start and the many ACL injuries. Then again they were runners up last year and imo their best was always the equal best in the comp.

Both finals campaigns were amazing in different ways. The Bulldogs just getting it done, and the Lions coming back twice and then demolishing the Swans was incredible though, I've never seen such a turnaround in 2 weeks of finals from when they were 44 pts down to GWS to 70 pts up to Sydney.

I suppose both felt emotional to be as a 'neutral' as I was living in Footscray in 2016, knew some Doggies supporters, and they're such a big part of the identity of a place/community I hold dear. 62 years is a long time. The Lions just as an example of overcoming adversity and they've always been my 2nd/3rd team.

 

[adogsfan5]

Hard to answer but they almost feel like two completely different scenarios.

Dogs - at the time it was something “new” - nobody wins it outside the top four (as viewed at that time) - as soon as we won the semi, I reckon everyone started to believe. We were in the game / winning positions in all finals.

Lions - most even season that I can remember / not a shock to win outside the top four.
People were off them pretty early - heaps of travel in the finals and were in positions in finals where they looked dead and buried.

Maybe lions, due to the positions they were in in the finals and having to come back twice? Looked done in the semi. Pretty unreal story.