Favourite Modern Season?
Power Raid
We Exist To Win Premierships
2017 and 2014
- Mar 2, 2015
- 19,401
- 35,171
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Disagree
Those were some of the most predictable boring seasons I can ever remember
2009
Everyone knew it was going to be a Geelong vs St Kilda Grand Final by about Round 7. No other team looked like challenging them. The Saints looked awesome in the first half of the season with that defensive trap of Ross Lyon's, but anyone who was half-smart knew they'd be worked out by Geelong come finals time at the wide open MCG, in the elements, away from the indoor stadium. The whole season was a boring forgone conclusion. Lyon and Thompson both took the piss from Round 13 onwards, resting many of their players and waiting for the finals. The season seemed to go on FOREVER... I wanted the GF to be brought forward to August 1st.
2010
Mick Malthouse copied Ross Lyon's defensive game plan and nobody got near the Pies that season. They were so far ahead of the pack, it wasn't funny. St Kilda nearly caused a GF boilover and almost pinched the flag. The Pies choked and deserved to lose it. But they were EASILY the best team and once they were given a lucky reprieve, they belted St Kilda just like they belted everyone else. I sat with some Magpie mates for many games that year and they sickened me with how cocky and smug they were about winning the flag. They were never in any doubt.
2011
A bit like 2009... There were only 2 teams in it... Collingwood continued on their dominant ways from 2010 and looked unbeatable at times. Except they couldn't beat Geelong, who rebounded from the 2010 distractions of Gazza and Bomber Thompson and had returned to their dominant best. To illustrate how weak the competition was, Hawthorn won 18 games that season and finished 3rd despite losing 5 key players to season-ending injuries. 18 wins, yet nobody even rated the Hawks a chance of toppling Geelong or Collingwood. A boring 2 horse race which was all too predictable after the final H&A game when Geelong humiliated Collingwood at the MCG by 100 points.
-----------------------------
If you listen to biased misty-eyed Geelong fans, they'll have you believe these were the greatest 3 seasons in AFL history with "super teams" finishing runners-up. But I think the gap between the Grand Finalists and the rest was more indicative of a LACK of competition. People are blinded by the W/L records of St Kilda and Collingwood in those seasons. Both teams gained a significant edge with their defensive game-plans. Rival coaches were behind the 8 ball and took a while to counter the 'forward press'.
Collingwood also had supreme fitness edge throughout 2010 and for most of 2011, outrunning everyone in the 2nd halves, but they were running on fumes by September 2011 (which is why the Hawks nearly knocked them off in the Prelim and the Cats beat them quite easily)
It may be an unpopular opinion on these boards, but I think the competition improved greatly over the next few seasons with Hawthorn, Sydney, Fremantle and West Coast all making significant improvement. Ross Lyon's Dockers (2013-2015) were every bit as good as Lyon's Saints (2008-2010) if not better.
-------------------------------
The last couple of seasons were FAR more interesting with 6 or 7 genuine premiership chances and some massive upsets in September.
No comparison.
Last edited:
Out of curiosity was 2008 any different to 2009 other than the fact that it was Hawks and Geelong instead of Geelong and St.Kilda? There certainly weren't a strong range of contenders that year.
- Mar 2, 2015
- 19,401
- 35,171
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
I rated the 2008 premiership contenders as:
1. Geelong
2. Hawthorn
3. Bulldogs
and then Sydney, Collingwood, Adelaide, St Kilda,
The season was basically a race in three with Hawthorn, Geelong and Bulldogs all unbeaten after 8 rounds
After 15 rounds, the ladder was:
1. Geelong 14-1, 152%
2. Bulldogs 13-1-1, 134%
3. Hawthorn 13-2, 130%
4. Sydney 9-5-1, 125%
5. Collingwood 9-6, 121%
6. Adelaide 8-7, 106%
7. Brisbane 8-7, 103%
8. St Kilda 8-7, 100%
That was a pretty boring season for everyone I guess because it was Geelong's flag all the way.
I was either in denial or clinging onto false hopes as Hawk fan and thinking we could beat the Cats
As it turned out, Hawthorn hit top form that September and Geelong choked on Grand Final day. They'd been winning so easily all year long, they weren't quite prepared for the strong Hawthorn challenge and panicked a little. It was a bit like the drawn 2010 GF between Collingwood and St Kilda in a way. Except that we took our chances and pulled off the upset victory.
--------------------------------
The AFL comp was very stagnant from 2008 to 2011 (just prior to Free Agency.) Very little player movement between clubs. I think this is what led to the large imbalance between the average teams who were making up the numbers and the teams at the top who had their shit together. Many teams were stuck in their rebuilding cycles and taking forever to improve. Free Agency has also led to an increase of trading activity. Coaches have been able to recruit the players they need to bolster their team's structural deficiencies.
Last edited:
Macpotata
Norm Smith Medallist
- Mar 22, 2017
- 9,595
- 10,885
- AFL Club
- Geelong
2007 and 2009, 2011, absolute rippers. Not just for the Catters success. But we had the Saints in 2009 being an absolute juggernaut as well along with the Pies who made the prelims those years, and went into the 2011 decider as champions.
2007 - Eagles and their issues but still the champs. The rise of the Power from nowhere. Collingwood dispatching the grand finallists from the year before and pushing us to the brink. Hawks showed a glimpse of what was to come.
2009 - doggies also a great force.
2011 - Hawks and Eagles very stong also.
2007 - Eagles and their issues but still the champs. The rise of the Power from nowhere. Collingwood dispatching the grand finallists from the year before and pushing us to the brink. Hawks showed a glimpse of what was to come.
2009 - doggies also a great force.
2011 - Hawks and Eagles very stong also.
- Sep 6, 2011
- 13,853
- 22,407
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Other Teams
- GWS (Kayo) Also AFL Member so all clubs
Growing up in the 90s, half the reason for going to the footy was watching the champion full forwards and seeing how many goals they would kick. Thats why 2008 was a great modern season especially that Carlton v Hawthorn game where poor Fev fell 1 goal short of the century. I think most people there wanted to run out onto the ground twice, however in hindsight you can appreciate Clarksons ruthfulness.
The drawn Grand Final was actually Collingwood not taking their chances, game could’ve and should’ve been over at half time. Then we came back.
- Mar 2, 2015
- 19,401
- 35,171
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Oh... and Geelong also happened to win the premiership in those three seasons.
The 3 seasons of the past 56 years when the Cats happened to win the flag and you happened to pluck them out as your favourite seasons.
What a coincidence!
Biased much?
As i previously posted, those were quite boring seasons for non-Geelong fans
2007: Nobody was gonna get near the Cats that September. From the midway point, was a one horse race. 9 Geelong players were in the All Australian team. That sums it up. The Eagles best players (Judd, Cousins, Kerr, Fletcher, Embley) were all injured. Port were the number 2 team and total pretenders. (15-7, 113%) The Hawks were madly inconsistent (13-9), yet were still a top 4 team with 1 round to play.
2008: more of the same, except the Hawks and Dogs had improved and provided some challenge to Geelong
2009: as I posted previously... they could’ve easily just called the season off halfway through and just played the Grand Final in July... there was only 2 teams in it: Cats and Saints. Not very exciting for everyone else
2010: Collingwood was a bit like Geelong in 2007. They had the hunger, they had the skill, they had a supreme list. Nobody was gonna stop them. Geelong was their only real danger, but they were having a topsy-turvy season with Ablett & Thompson feuding. As a neutral, you could see the Cats weren’t going back-to-back that year
2011: a bit like 2009... only 2 teams in it. Everyone knew in April/May it was gonna be a Geelong v Collingwood Grand Final. The Hawks had 5 season ending injuries and nobody rated them a chance to beat Pies or Cats and yet they finished 3rd (18-4, 144%). That’s how weak the competition was. Teams normally finish on top with that W/L record.
Geelong had a magnificent dominant era from 2007-2011 and Cats fans understandably loved every second of it (apart from the 2008 GF) but to hold these seasons up as the best & most exciting of the modern era is a bit of a furphy.
The best seasons in modern times are when there are multiple decent flag chances... When we’re close to the finals and there’s still 6 or 7 teams who really believe they will win it. 2016 and 2017 were good like that.
Last edited:
- Mar 2, 2015
- 19,401
- 35,171
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Yeah, that’s also what I meant.
The dominant top of the ladder team (Geel, Coll) did not take their chances in the first half. The plucky challenger (Haw, StK) kept at it, applied pressure, nailed their goal scoring chances and the top team seemed to panic
The Pies actually got out of jail in that game. It looked for all money like the Saints were going to do it when Goddard took that mark & goaled.
No you can’t it was D*** move by Clarko...
It was a once in lifetime experience and they were up by 70 points
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
- May 20, 2011
- 12,318
- 11,031
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
2020 has been the best modern season. Loving the defensive tactics and the premium placed on scoring. 
- May 3, 2007
- 39,622
- 23,140
- AFL Club
- Fremantle
- Other Teams
- Man City, Valencia, Lazio, Panthers
agreed2020 has been the best modern season. Loving the defensive tactics and the premium placed on scoring.
2006-2012
Of course I'm biased with the Eagles flag but it was really enjoyable watching 3 Elite grade mids carve up teams by themselves.
From 2007-2012 Was great it was the highest peak of football skills especially coming from Geelong but there were a lot of good sides in this era.
I don't know whats changed in recent years either the tactics the changed or the current players of this generation aren't that good.
I also enjoyed how there were actual dominate teams cut above the rest, just the awe of a good team and amazing skills was really fun to watch even if it wasn't your side doing it... you knew what the bar was.
Of course I'm biased with the Eagles flag but it was really enjoyable watching 3 Elite grade mids carve up teams by themselves.
From 2007-2012 Was great it was the highest peak of football skills especially coming from Geelong but there were a lot of good sides in this era.
I don't know whats changed in recent years either the tactics the changed or the current players of this generation aren't that good.
I also enjoyed how there were actual dominate teams cut above the rest, just the awe of a good team and amazing skills was really fun to watch even if it wasn't your side doing it... you knew what the bar was.
Last edited:
WWSD
Premium Platinum
Veteran
10k Posts
Hawthorn Hawks - Conor Nash Player Sponsor 2020
Hawthorn Hawks - James Cousins Player Sponsor 2020
Hawthorn Hawks - Conor Nash Player Sponsor 2019
Hawthorn Hawks - James Cousins Player Sponsor 2019
Hawthorn Hawks - Conor Nash Player Sponsor 2018
Hawthorn Hawks - James Cousins Player Sponsor 2018
- Sep 7, 2009
- 24,285
- 55,000
Season 2011 had the most dominant top four teams I’ve ever seen.
RichLeMonde
Club Legend
I would have to say 2020. The shortened quarters, the soccer scores, the empty stadiums. You’re team falling behind by 2 goals at half time and knowing they’re basically ****ed. I think we can safely say the game is in its zenith
- Apr 28, 2008
- 12,516
- 9,299
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Other Teams
- Arsenal Kilmarnock
I personally prefer the seasons that have a scary top echelon of teams, as there are a handful of sides that feel fully deserving, and you know they'll have to earn it when it counts. 2008-11 generally had that. Competitive seasons are welcome as a palette cleanser, especially when contenders are fresh and finals series chaotic (e.g. 1997, 2005), but generally I like a top handful of 16-6+ type sides, the sort of things neutrals will await even if they don't care for the clubs and might even be a bit sick of them.
That is the one thing I've really missed from the 2016-20 era, the sense that the flag win stacks up historically. Sydney '16, Adelaide '17, Richmond '18 were all intimidating, but all failed to win the flag in the end.
That is the one thing I've really missed from the 2016-20 era, the sense that the flag win stacks up historically. Sydney '16, Adelaide '17, Richmond '18 were all intimidating, but all failed to win the flag in the end.
Last edited:
- May 21, 2015
- 4,737
- 6,989
- AFL Club
- Richmond
2017 and 2019 the best seasons since 1980
2011. Underrated GF.
queensberryrules
Club Legend
- Aug 16, 2019
- 2,670
- 3,722
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
2016 and 2017 resurrected football. 2 previously low achieving teams winning the GFs, a middle finger to the entrenched powers hitherto.
And the football...pressure, mania, unpredictability, no arrogance or smarm, no boring fart flooding or keep possession.
Allaluhia.
And the football...pressure, mania, unpredictability, no arrogance or smarm, no boring fart flooding or keep possession.
Allaluhia.
Similar threads
