Opinion Rank the 5 most heartbreaking finals losses you can recall (from a neutral perspective)

[rapidfire7]

1. 1997 Preliminary Final - Adelaide Vs Western Bulldogs

2. 1997 Grand Final - Adelaide Vs St Kilda

3. 2009 Grand Final - Geelong Vs St Kilda

4. 1999 Preliminary final - Carlton Vs Essendon

5. 2018 Grand Final - West Coast Vs Collingwood

 

[justlookingaround]

Not gonna rank them, but some off the top of my head:

2010 Grand Final - Pies vs Saints: obviously it was a draw, but it was really where the Grand Final was lost. Saints couldn't cap off their best ever era in the AFL with a flag, using everything they had left on this game. Perennially considered 'the one that got away' - just about everyone agrees that if there had been extra time, which nowadays there would be, the Saints would've come out on top.

2017 Elimination Final - PAFC vs WCE: kick after the siren in extra time after a ducked high free kick saw 5th lose a final to 8th.

2013 Elimination Final - Richmond vs Carlton: 5th placed Richmond, at the time often referred to as 'Ninthmond' due to their habit of just missing finals, collapsed in the 4th quarter to lose to Carlton, the team that finished 9th, having taken Essendon's suspended spot in the finals.

2017 Grand Final - Adelaide vs Richmond: Crows were the best team all year and went into the match as favourites, what ensued
pretty much tore the entire club apart.

Round 23 2022 - Collingwood vs Carlton: Blues blow a 4th quarter lead to lose their spot in the finals

Round 19 2011 - Geelong vs Melbourne: Cats beat Dees by 186 points, no one could see any way forward for Melbourne at that point

2015 Preliminary Final - Fremantle vs Hawthorn: Freo were the minor premiers, but no one really thought they were the best in the comp. They hosted the reigning premiers in the Hawks with the opportunity to set up the first Derby GF in AFL history, but couldn't match it with the Hawks who went on to cap their 3peat.

2016 Grand Final - Sydney vs WB: it seems that everyone except the Swans saw the writing on the wall that this one was going to go to the Doggies. The Swans players have spoken of their certainty that they were going to win this one, and now publicly question the umpiring on the day.

Round 4 2024 - Fremantle vs Carlton: recency bias, but Freo supporters rightfully felt they had this one stolen off them after a dubious mark was paid to give Carlton the lead in the last minute of the game, then a dissent free kick right after to seal it.

 

[kickazz]

1987 Prelim Haw v Melb. Stynes walks across the mark giving a 15m penalty away, Buckenra goals after the siren. Robert Flower's last game, misses out on ever playing a GF.


1997 Prelim Adel v Footscray

Dogs thought they were home, famously picked up Libba after what they thought was a goal. Vic folk missed out on the perennially unsuccessful match up of Stk and Foots, only two flags between them in league history.

2014 PF Port v Hawks.

Hawks a dominant team that year, Port probably the better side that night/day but kicked themselves out of.

2018 GF Pies WCE

A pies mate of mine said "there's never a GF won with a winning goal, so to speak. Was pretty stiff to lose that the pies. Poor Bucks.


Essendon Adelaide 1993 PF

Crows up by 40 odd, should have been in a GF. Great comeback by the bombers that day.


Maybe there's others, that's off the top of my head

 

[joe444]

(not including GFs, but 70, 79, 89, 09 and 18 are up there)

1987 Prelim wins by a mile. Couldn't make it up.

1994 Prelim (NM v Geel). "There is no justice in football. That was the look on the face of Michael Martyn

Michael Martyn

Age

56

Ht

190cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

0.7

3star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.8

3star

T

0.6

3star

"

1997 Prelim (WB v Ade)

1991 EF (Gee v StK). The result that changed singlehandedly a finals system. Saints could have won the flag that year (Cats, too)

1999 Prelim (Ess v Carl)

 

[Tarkyn_24]

2002 Grand Final far more heartbreaking than the 2018 Grand Final. In fact I’d suggest there’s a number more heartbreaking finals purely from a Collingwood perspective alone than that Grand Final.

 

[worbod]

1987 preliminary (Hawthorn d Melbourne) Those extra 15 metres for Buckenara
2009 grand (Geelong d St Kilda) That Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

goal which thundered off the goal post
1983 qualifying (Hawthorn d Fitzroy)
2004 1st preliminary (Port d St Kilda)
2005 2nd semi (Sydney d Geelong) Nick Davis! Nick Davis!!

 

[jpmelb7]

Anyone want to have a go at rating the most heartbreaking loss for each club?

 

[marcus1232]

Anyone want to have a go at rating the most heartbreaking loss for each club?

Where do I start as a saints supporter from what I've seen.

Round 9 2000 vs Western Bulldogs
1997 Grand Final vs Adelaide
2004 Prelim Final vs. Port Adelaide
2005 Prelim Final vs. Sydney
2009 Grand Final vs. Geelong

HM
2010 Grand Final Draw as good as a loss even worse than the week later for the heart

 

[ioppolo]

Anyone want to have a go at rating the most heartbreaking loss for each club?

I'll give everyone the Eagles one. 2007 semi vs Collingwood. Marked the end of that era.

It eclipses 2005 as we ended up winning 06. Even as a kid 2007 ruined me more than the gf.

 

[justlookingaround]

2002 Grand Final far more heartbreaking than the 2018 Grand Final. In fact I’d suggest there’s a number more heartbreaking finals purely from a Collingwood perspective alone than that Grand Final.

What made it so much more heartbreaking?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

What made it so much more heartbreaking?

The 2002 side played well above themselves and thoroughly deserved it (as did the Lions who were also immense). The Lions were also an all time great side, 2018 they played below themselves and the standard of the previous week. Definitely more gutting to bring your absolute best and it still not be enough.

2007 Prelim outranks 2018 Grand Final too. Far better performance by the Pies and just edged out by an all time team.

 

[kickazz]

By the way, all your answers are wrong. Including mine posted earlier.

I mean surely, THE most heart-breaking loss is 2009 SF Adelaide v Collingwood.

At least for that one guy anyway...........

 

[rapidfire7]

(not including GFs, but 70, 79, 89, 09 and 18 are up there)

1987 Prelim wins by a mile. Couldn't make it up.

1994 Prelim (NM v Geel). "There is no justice in football. That was the look on the face of Michael Martyn"

1997 Prelim (WB v Ade)

1991 EF (Gee v StK). The result that changed singlehandedly a finals system. Saints could have won the flag that year (Cats, too)

1999 Prelim (Ess v Carl)

You're right. The finals system in 1991 was horrible. Geelong and St Kilda should have never faced each other when they did. What were they thinking.

 

[situationz]

Anyone want to have a go at rating the most heartbreaking loss for each club?

Adelaide - 2009 SF vs Collingwood

Brisbane - 2023 GF vs Collingwood

Bulldogs - 1997 PF vs Adelaide

Carlton - 2022 R23 vs Collingwood

Collingwood - 1970 GF vs Carlton

Essendon - 2014 EF vs North

Fremantle - One of 2008 R7 vs Melbourne, 2011 R16 vs West Coast, or 2020 R12 vs Carlton (some might say 2013 GF, but that was led by Hawthorn for the entire match, and was pretty much over halfway through Q4)

Geelong - 2013 PF vs Hawthorn (actually I've changed my mind to 2005 SF, somehow I forgot that one as a Sydney fan!)

Gold Coast - 2019 R8 vs Melbourne (or 2014 vs Pies - not so much the game itself, which was actually a Gold Coast win, but because of Gary Ablett's injury)

GWS - 2016 PF vs Bulldogs (Edit: arguably topped by the 2024 SF against Brisbane)

Hawthorn - 2011 PF vs Collingwood

Melbourne - 1987 PF vs Hawthorn (2017 R23 West coast vs Adelaide was a heartbreaker too, but it doesn't count since Melbourne wasn't actually playing)

North Melbourne - 2001 R16 vs Essendon

Port Adelaide - 2017 EF vs West Coast

Richmond - 2012 R16 vs Gold Coast

St Kilda - 2010 GF vs Collingwood (not technically a loss, I know, but arguably the most heartbreaking by far)

Sydney - 2016 GF vs Bulldogs

West Coast - 2005 GF vs Sydney


Edit: didn't see the word "finals" in the title. But who really cares, non-finals losses can be heartbreaking as well, especially for teams without a whole lot of finals success (cough Gold Coast cough)

 

[Tom14]

Adelaide - 2009 SF vs Collingwood

Brisbane - 2023 GF vs Collingwood

Bulldogs - 1997 PF vs Adelaide

Carlton - 2022 R23 vs Collingwood

Collingwood - 1970 GF vs Carlton

Essendon - 2014 EF vs North

Fremantle - One of 2008 R7 vs Melbourne, 2011 R16 vs West Coast, or 2020 R12 vs Carlton (some might say 2013 GF, but that was led by Hawthorn for the entire match, and was pretty much over halfway through Q4)

Geelong - 2013 PF vs Hawthorn

Gold Coast - 2019 R8 vs Melbourne

GWS - 2016 PF vs Bulldogs

Hawthorn - 2011 PF vs Collingwood

Melbourne - 1987 PF vs Hawthorn (2017 R23 West coast vs Adelaide was a heartbreaker too, but it doesn't count since Melbourne wasn't actually playing)

North Melbourne - 2001 R16 vs Essendon

Port Adelaide - 2017 EF vs West Coast

Richmond - 2012 R16 vs Gold Coast

St Kilda - 2010 GF vs Collingwood (not technically a loss, I know, but arguably the most heartbreaking by far)

Sydney - 2016 GF vs Bulldogs

West Coast - 2005 GF vs Sydney


Edit: didn't see the word "finals" in the title. But who really cares, non-finals losses can be heartbreaking as well, especially for teams without a whole lot of finals success (cough Gold Coast cough)

Funnily enough from a Brisbane perspective I think the 2021 semi final loss by a point to the dogs was more devastating. Probably because it came during lockdown, it was the second straight sets exit in three years.

Grand final obviously sad but at the game I felt we were very lucky to have a shot to win it. Pies were the better side on the day pretty clearly.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Adelaide - 2009 SF vs Collingwood

Brisbane - 2023 GF vs Collingwood

Bulldogs - 1997 PF vs Adelaide

Carlton - 2022 R23 vs Collingwood

Collingwood - 1970 GF vs Carlton

Essendon - 2014 EF vs North

Fremantle - One of 2008 R7 vs Melbourne, 2011 R16 vs West Coast, or 2020 R12 vs Carlton (some might say 2013 GF, but that was led by Hawthorn for the entire match, and was pretty much over halfway through Q4)

Geelong - 2013 PF vs Hawthorn

Gold Coast - 2019 R8 vs Melbourne

GWS - 2016 PF vs Bulldogs

Hawthorn - 2011 PF vs Collingwood

Melbourne - 1987 PF vs Hawthorn (2017 R23 West coast vs Adelaide was a heartbreaker too, but it doesn't count since Melbourne wasn't actually playing)

North Melbourne - 2001 R16 vs Essendon

Port Adelaide - 2017 EF vs West Coast

Richmond - 2012 R16 vs Gold Coast

St Kilda - 2010 GF vs Collingwood (not technically a loss, I know, but arguably the most heartbreaking by far)

Sydney - 2016 GF vs Bulldogs

West Coast - 2005 GF vs Sydney


Edit: didn't see the word "finals" in the title. But who really cares, non-finals losses can be heartbreaking as well, especially for teams without a whole lot of finals success (cough Gold Coast cough)

05 semi and 08 GF much more heart breaking than 2013 prelim.

 

[Wild Bill]

Adelaide - 2009 SF vs Collingwood

Brisbane - 2023 GF vs Collingwood

Bulldogs - 1997 PF vs Adelaide

Carlton - 2022 R23 vs Collingwood

Collingwood - 1970 GF vs Carlton

Essendon - 2014 EF vs North

Fremantle - One of 2008 R7 vs Melbourne, 2011 R16 vs West Coast, or 2020 R12 vs Carlton (some might say 2013 GF, but that was led by Hawthorn for the entire match, and was pretty much over halfway through Q4)

Geelong - 2013 PF vs Hawthorn (actually I've changed my mind to 2005 SF, somehow I forgot that one as a Sydney fan!)

Gold Coast - 2019 R8 vs Melbourne

GWS - 2016 PF vs Bulldogs

Hawthorn - 2011 PF vs Collingwood

Melbourne - 1987 PF vs Hawthorn (2017 R23 West coast vs Adelaide was a heartbreaker too, but it doesn't count since Melbourne wasn't actually playing)

North Melbourne - 2001 R16 vs Essendon

Port Adelaide - 2017 EF vs West Coast

Richmond - 2012 R16 vs Gold Coast

St Kilda - 2010 GF vs Collingwood (not technically a loss, I know, but arguably the most heartbreaking by far)

Sydney - 2016 GF vs Bulldogs

West Coast - 2005 GF vs Sydney


Edit: didn't see the word "finals" in the title. But who really cares, non-finals losses can be heartbreaking as well, especially for teams without a whole lot of finals success (cough Gold Coast cough)

The top 2 from the Roos:

1994 Prelim
1998 Grand Final

IMO nothing gets close to these 2.

 

[rapidfire7]

05 semi and 08 GF much more heart breaking than 2013 prelim.

05 was extremely heart breaking yes, but had we won, were we realistically going to go on and win the Premiership that year?

I see 2013 as more heartbreaking as it was a chance for sweet revenge against the Hawks, and had we won, we were in with a genuine chance at another flag.

 

[Jugada]

05 was extremely heart breaking yes, but had we won, were we realistically going to go on and win the Premiership that year?

I see 2013 as more heartbreaking as it was a chance for sweet revenge against the Hawks, and had we won, we were in with a genuine chance at another flag.

Would have been just 1 win away from a home GF against an interstate side so a genuine chance still

 

[rapidfire7]

Would have been just 1 win away from a home GF against an interstate side so a genuine chance still

Anything is possible, but we were only 12 wins and 10 losses that year, and even if we were able to somehow beat the Saints the following week, we would have then had to have beaten the 17-5 Eagles. Tough

 

[Purple7x08_24]

1. Lose a game by less than a goal with a kick after the siren to score/miss
2. Lose a game by less than a goal with some sort of missed opportunity or dubious umpiring.
3. Any final lost by less than a goal


Basically in that order

Port Vs St Kilda 2004 - could have gone either way and both teams had a right to win. Wanganeen's goal was insane, the defensive efforts of Port were strong.

Port Vs West Coast with a goal after the siren in overtime.

Sydney Vs Geelong 2006 - Nick Davis

 

[shaqsuns]

Adelaide - 2009 SF vs Collingwood

Brisbane - 2023 GF vs Collingwood

Bulldogs - 1997 PF vs Adelaide

Carlton - 2022 R23 vs Collingwood

Collingwood - 1970 GF vs Carlton

Essendon - 2014 EF vs North

Fremantle - One of 2008 R7 vs Melbourne, 2011 R16 vs West Coast, or 2020 R12 vs Carlton (some might say 2013 GF, but that was led by Hawthorn for the entire match, and was pretty much over halfway through Q4)

Geelong - 2013 PF vs Hawthorn (actually I've changed my mind to 2005 SF, somehow I forgot that one as a Sydney fan!)

Gold Coast - 2019 R8 vs Melbourne

GWS - 2016 PF vs Bulldogs

Hawthorn - 2011 PF vs Collingwood

Melbourne - 1987 PF vs Hawthorn (2017 R23 West coast vs Adelaide was a heartbreaker too, but it doesn't count since Melbourne wasn't actually playing)

North Melbourne - 2001 R16 vs Essendon

Port Adelaide - 2017 EF vs West Coast

Richmond - 2012 R16 vs Gold Coast

St Kilda - 2010 GF vs Collingwood (not technically a loss, I know, but arguably the most heartbreaking by far)

Sydney - 2016 GF vs Bulldogs

West Coast - 2005 GF vs Sydney


Edit: didn't see the word "finals" in the title. But who really cares, non-finals losses can be heartbreaking as well, especially for teams without a whole lot of finals success (cough Gold Coast cough)

Gold Coast's most heart breaking loss was Brent macaffer's tackle on Ablett. The suns were flying up until that point of the season. Moreover, Ablett was guaranteed to win a third Brownlow had that not happened. It really destroyed the whole football club.

 

[shaqsuns]

05 was extremely heart breaking yes, but had we won, were we realistically going to go on and win the Premiership that year?

I see 2013 as more heartbreaking as it was a chance for sweet revenge against the Hawks, and had we won, we were in with a genuine chance at another flag.

The 08 Grand Final still makes me sick until this day. I have wasted too much energy asking myself how Hawthorn beat Geelong that day. 05, I could handle because the cats were not ready. Plus the Sydney story that year, was better for footy.