Essendon 2000 has to be the greatest Team of all Time?

[The Dark]

They got lucky in 1999, good luck to them, they got the cup and wouldn’t give a shit. There’s no myth though, Essendon constantly destroyed them.

Apart from in the finals in 1998.

 

[Ren]

It was only like 5-6 goal wins, wasn't "destroying them" and it was only in the 1999 home and away season, North Melbourne did beat Essendon a number of times throughout the late 90s, too, like in that 1998 qualifying final. There's also been teams like Sydney 2005 who lost to their grand final opponent twice in the same season and still beat them in the grand final. Home and away season as a template isn't really valid, since finals is a completely different dynamic, we saw it with Port vs Sydney, last season, Port kept beating Sydney for 8 seasons straight until they met in finals. I think the prelim showed Essendon just weren't mature enough to compete for the premiership, a lot of teams have to go through heartache to mature to that premiership level. North were the hungriest team of 1999 because of the 1998 GF, similar to Essendon in 2000 because of the 1999 prelim.

I agree home and away form is irrelevant when it comes to finals form. In 2021 melbourne just snuck in against geelong but obliterated them a few weeks later in finals.

 

[jdstorm]

This x a zillion.

Essendon the Lleyton Hewitt of footy.

Snagged one in between two great dynasties ... North in the 90s and Brissy threepeat.

Not quite.

More like a Marat safin. Lots of unfulfilled potential.

the best modern comparison is the current Bevo Bulldogs.

Bont = Hird
2016 = 1993

Just a completely stacked team that should have far more than 1 flag and 1 GF loss.

Except in 2000 everything just went right for Essendon and they put it together as well as any other team has ever done .

 

[HalloweenJack]

I changed my vote to No because the greatest team would have more than 1 flag to their name. Having said that there is no doubt that Essendon's 2000 season is the greatest season by a team.

 

[Fadge]

Suggest the fact we have 40% of people voting the affirmative, we have our answer.

What other team, that people posting on here would have seen in their lifetimes, would get anywhere near that number of votes?

I can't even think of who the second best single season team is after Essendon 2000.

It's like nominating who the second best cricketer in the history of the game is after Bradman.

 

[Percel]

the all time greatest season ever, filthy that the doggies beat them. Could have been perfect

 

[Toump Ass]

Honestly that 2011 team we had was insane, and it wasn't as though we were shit in the grand final, Geelong were just unbelievable.

Until the last quarter that was the best football I've ever seen, both sides playing at an unbelievable level.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

I changed my vote to No because the greatest team would have more than 1 flag to their name. Having said that there is no doubt that Essendon's 2000 season is the greatest season by a team.

I mean to my eye the context of the original post was a single season? To only win one flag with that team from 99-01 sticks out like a sore thumb.

It is undeniable by anyone that Essendon 2000 is the single best season ever however teams like Brisbane, Hawthorn etc etc are obviously dynasty like periods.

I do wonder if a team will ever be able to do what Essendon did and go one further. Can't see it happening in the modern game though.

 

[jdstorm]

I mean to my eye the context of the original post was a single season? To only win one flag with that team from 99-01 sticks out like a sore thumb.

It is undeniable by anyone that Essendon 2000 is the single best season ever however teams like Brisbane, Hawthorn etc etc are obviously dynasty like periods.

I do wonder if a team will ever be able to do what Essendon did and go one further. Can't see it happening in the modern game though.

Academy Rules being such an advantage make it somewhat possible. We’re already seeing the Swans and Lions pull away from the pack due to it.

Dogs are also a chance if they manage to put it all together. Ridiculous team and some big father son luck

 

[HalloweenJack]

I mean to my eye the context of the original post was a single season? To only win one flag with that team from 99-01 sticks out like a sore thumb.

It is undeniable by anyone that Essendon 2000 is the single best season ever however teams like Brisbane, Hawthorn etc etc are obviously dynasty like periods.

I do wonder if a team will ever be able to do what Essendon did and go one further. Can't see it happening in the modern game though.

I 100% agree. I've backtracked and gone back to yes.

The Bombers 2000 season was unparalleled and unlikely to be equalled or bettered.

Geelong in 2008 if they had won the GF would have come close. However Geelong weren't as dominant, a few close to closish wins and a thrashing by Collingwood during the H&A. Apart from the Bombers loss to the Bulldogs they never looked like losing a game.