We haven't really, IMO - yes, we were second-best from '89 to '95, but many of those on this forum won't have been watching then, and we are nowhere near the heartbreak stories of Collingwood from '64 to '81, StKilda '09 and '10, or Fitzroy.
Most Heartbreaking Loss
- Thread starter Son_Of_God29
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Shell
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And before then Collingwood/Adelaide of 93
Gordon Farkas
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- Mar 8, 2020
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Let’s flip this topic on its head and consider: What is the most heartbreaking loss we have dished out?
Some suggestions:
Then, of course, there was:
- Hawthorn, 2016: ‘Norm’ Smith after the siren (misses)
Some suggestions:
- 1994 QF: Billy after the siren, Danny Southern and Libba in tears
- 1994 PF: Hand of God after the siren. The look on Mick Martyn; Carey went on a four day bender (allegedly)
- Round 22, 1998: We were out of contention but stuffed Essendon’s finals prospects by beating them (some very salty Dons fans around me that day)
- 2007 GF: 119. I’m not sure Port has ever been the same since
- 2009 GF: An epic contest, but someone had to lose
- 2011 GF: Malthouse is still sooking and has never got over it
- 2020 PF: Dream Crushers for Brisbane, who were hoping for a one-off home GF
Then, of course, there was:
- Hawthorn, 2009: Bartel after the siren
- Hawthorn, 2010: Buddy after the siren (long way out and his kick fell short)
- Hawthorn, 2012: Hawkins after the siren
- Hawthorn, 2016: ‘Norm’ Smith after the siren (misses)
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I don't think the 2022 Swans were over the GF by 2024, so you could add that one.
The 2022 Richmond game, solidified Geelong as contenders and essentially let them know their era was over. And they moaned about it for a couple of years.
The 2024 QF put an exclamation on Hinkley's Port being finals chokers. They bounced back a week later, but the QF ruled them out of contention and the manner in which it happened was soul destroying for them.
2016 QF against Hawthorn was the end of their era too. Yes the Bulldogs knocked them out a week later, but if Smith nails his shot they get a week off to recover and then host Sydney, who they had bullied in recent seasons.
It sure was, but despite the terrible loss, I think this match really highlighted that we were not far away from being a very good football team. That all the pieces were there and we just had to figure a few things out.
Few (if any) others could have bashed up the top of the ladder Eagles the way we did for a half. It was bloody amazing!
I remember Rex Hunt making similar points in the paper the following day. That we were not far off at all from being a very good team. Boy was he right!
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I don't think anyone's mentioned it, but the most disappointing loss for me in 2006 was the last game of the year against...the Hawks, of course. Neither side had anything to play for, but we got smacked around (they also smahed us at KP back in Round 3). I still remember saying something like Bomber's lost the team. Started thinking 2004/2005 was about it for this group...and of course hindsight's great, but I don't think anybody would've anticipated what would happen next.
Hurts a lot because we had the game in our control. Up by about 25 when danger kicks that goal to start the second half.
The sharp change from happiness to depression in a matter of a minute from O.Henry’s goal then lions back to back response too, was awful.
In all fairness was a great game, just didn’t go our way
Yep, it was an extremely painful loss. Up there with 2019 I'd say with how much it hurt, and both obviously had very similar circumstances. In control of the games at half time and then through poor coaching (among other factors) they fell from our grasp. Just had to hang on in both matches and we would have almost certainly had 2 extra Premierships.
I think we rightfully deserve at least 1 more Premiership (very soon) to more accurately reflect our dominance this century. I think 6 up to this point would have been extremely good going, but 5 would probably be about right. Don't wish to diminish the wonderful achievements of the club over the past 2 decades, but 4 flags is still slightly unders for me for how good they have been. Slightly.
Let's hope we snag another in 2025, but even if we don't, I am absolutely convinced that Scotty has at least 1 more flag in him. I feel it very strongly
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Shell
Premium Platinum
I'm curious, do other teams boards have threads similar to this? Or are we the only ones who are sadists 
Shell
Premium Platinum
*not heartbreaking not shocking, but what about the one v Sydney at KP. When they printed out all those posters for most wins in a row 
Shell
Premium Platinum
I was in Rome for Hawkins. At a camp site- very ill with some kind of Italian flu, just sitting at a computer screen watching live scores. Internet was too shitty to actually watch it.
Was awesome to finally see some YouTube of the last 10mins when I got to a place with better internet
To throw in one from left field: Collingwood, losing away to Adelaide in 1993.
(If you know, you know.)
(If you know, you know.)
Shell
Premium Platinum
Idk who to be more angry at for that one.. Collingwood or Adelaide
winty
Moderator
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All the finals in the last 10-20 years where we didn't fire a shot early and the game was effectively over at 1/4 time, especially when we came back late to make the scoreboard look respectable:
Qualifying final 2019 vs Collingwood - down 1.2 to 4.2 at 1/4 time - final margin 10 points
Elimination final 2018 vs Melbourne - down 0.2 to 5.3 at 1/4 time - final margin 29 points
Preliminary final 2016 vs Sydney - down 0.5 to 7.2 at 1/4 time - final margin 37 points
Elimination final 2012 vs Fremantle - down 0.1 to 5.7 at 1/4 time - final margin 16 points
Qualifying final 2019 vs Collingwood - down 1.2 to 4.2 at 1/4 time - final margin 10 points
Elimination final 2018 vs Melbourne - down 0.2 to 5.3 at 1/4 time - final margin 29 points
Preliminary final 2016 vs Sydney - down 0.5 to 7.2 at 1/4 time - final margin 37 points
Elimination final 2012 vs Fremantle - down 0.1 to 5.7 at 1/4 time - final margin 16 points
Scoreboard really flattered us on those two. Cue went back in the rack with those.
