Stats observations

[North park]

The way South Melbourne fell away so fast in the late 1930s was quite strange, I've never been able to explain it although the Swans did rebound in the early-mid 1940s and were back in the finals in the later years of WW2.

Melbourne in the late 40s/early 50s were quite an odd case. Premiers in 1948, 5th in 1949 and back in the finals in 1950, the Demons slipped to last with 1 win in 1951 and were second last in 1953, before rising to runner-up in 1954 and premiers in 1955, this setting off a golden era for the Demons with more premierships in 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964, and runner up in 1958.

Oddly enough, I can't find an AFL inverse of the Dees of this era - a bottom team that soared up the ladder to claim a premiership within a few years, but just as quickly fell back to the bottom of the ladder. There are some examples in the state leagues, like in the WAFL South Fremantle were last in 1969, rose to first in 1970 and crushed Perth in the Grand Final, but were last again by 1972 after finishing 6th (of 8 WAFL teams at the time) in 1971. Can you say, 'whiplash?'

More recently there's enigmatic SANFL team West Adelaide which finished 9th (second last) in 2014, raced up the ladder to win the 2015 SANFL premiership (their first since 2015) but were last with just two wins a year later in 2016, and since then the Bloods have been 9th in 2017, 8th in 2018, five consecutive wooden spoons 2019-2023 and 8th with 5 wins and an abysmal percentage after many terrible thrashings yet again in 2024.

Oakleigh were a powerhouse of the VFA in the early 1970s, winning the 1972 Division 1 flag in one of the most dominant seasons seen in this league, and runners up to the powerful Prahran and Port Melbourne teams in 1973 and 1974 respectively. But after a mediocre mid-ladder season in 1975 thought to be an aberration, Oakleigh finished last in 1976 and were relegated to Division 2. One of the strongest teams in the VFA's lower division, Oakleigh should have gotten back to Division 1, but unfortunately the Devils developed a hoodoo for Grand and Preliminary finals, and missed numerous chances to get back to the top league. When Oakleigh finally snapped their GF hoodoo in 1988, crushing Sunshine in that year's Division 2 GF, it was an anticlimax, as Division 2 would be scrapped and all teams back in Division 1 from 1989.

South Melbourne's success in the 1930s was primarily due to local businessman Archibald Crofts being club president from 1933 - 1937. Crofts' Wikipedia page explains what happened:

"In late 1931 South Melbourne Football Club official Jack Rohan persuaded Crofts to become club vice-president, as Croft's wealth, stature in the local community and Protestantism would help the club (South Melbourne was primarily a Catholic club).[6] Crofts was elected president in 1933, serving until 1937.[2] As President, Crofts had the financial resources to help attract star Australian rules footballers to South Melbourne, paying them the maximum £3.00 per match allowed under the VFL's Coulter Law and employing many of them in his business.[6] In all, between 1931 and 1934 South Melbourne recruited 11 players, including seven from Western Australia.[7] In response, a journalist jokingly suggested that South Melbourne should be known as "The Swans" (swans being the faunal emblem of Western Australia).[8]"

There has been a book written on South Melbourne's rise and fall during the 1930s (see below).

Oakleigh's success and fall during the 1970s followed a similar pattern. It was able to attract high-profile, high-priced players such as Bob Johnson and Bill Barrot, which led to the 1972 premiership and runners up in 1973 and 1974. However, these players retired or moved on, and the club was unable to continue to offer big money to attract more big names.

So both cases involved short-term success by "buying" premierships, but not setting up long-term success based on a solid foundation.

 

[North park]

With Collingwood failing to make the finals, we now have two consecutive premiers who missed the finals in the following year - Geelong (2022-23) and Collingwood (2023-24).

It is over 50 years since this previously happened. The last instance involved three consecutive premiers - Richmond (1969-70), Carlton (1970-71) and Hawthorn (1971-72).

 

[emuboy]

Regardless of the results of the two VFL preliminary finals of Werribee vs. Brisbane Lions and Footscray vs. Southport, there will be a 'new' VFL Grand Final next week, as there has never been a Werribee vs. Footscray, Brisbane vs. Southport, Footscray vs. Southport or Werribee vs. Brisbane Grand Final before.

In the SANFL, the preliminary final will be between Glenelg and Central Districts for the chance to play Norwood in the Grand Final. Victory by the Bulldogs will see the first SANFL Grand Final between Norwood and Centrals since 2010 - the last premiership won by the Dogs in their golden era from 2000-2011. Alternately if the Tigers win, it will be the first Norwood vs. Glenelg Grand Final in 42-years, the Redlegs and Tigers not playing a premiership decider since 1982.

The WAFL Preliminary Final will be between Swan Districts and Peel Thunder for the winner to advance to the Grand Final and play East Perth. A win by Peel will see the first ever East Perth vs. Peel Thunder Grand Final, while victory by the Swans will see the first East Perth vs. Swan Districts Grand Final since way back in 1961.

 

[North park]

Regardless of the results of the two VFL preliminary finals of Werribee vs. Brisbane Lions and Footscray vs. Southport, there will be a 'new' VFL Grand Final next week, as there has never been a Werribee vs. Footscray, Brisbane vs. Southport, Footscray vs. Southport or Werribee vs. Brisbane Grand Final before.

In the SANFL, the preliminary final will be between Glenelg and Central Districts for the chance to play Norwood in the Grand Final. Victory by the Bulldogs will see the first SANFL Grand Final between Norwood and Centrals since 2010 - the last premiership won by the Dogs in their golden era from 2000-2011. Alternately if the Tigers win, it will be the first Norwood vs. Glenelg Grand Final in 42-years, the Redlegs and Tigers not playing a premiership decider since 1982.

The WAFL Preliminary Final will be between Swan Districts and Peel Thunder for the winner to advance to the Grand Final and play East Perth. A win by Peel will see the first ever East Perth vs. Peel Thunder Grand Final, while victory by the Swans will see the first East Perth vs. Swan Districts Grand Final since way back in 1961.

The two AFL Preliminary Finals will provide us with these possible Grand Final match ups:

Sydney v Geelong - a repeat of the 2022 Grand Final. After never meeting in a Grand Final for 125 years until 2022, the Swans and Cats may be matched up for the second time in three years.

Geelong v Port Adelaide - a repeat of the 2007 Grand Final (let's hope the margin is a bit closer!).

Brisbane v Port Adelaide - a repeat of the 2004 Grand Final, when the Power won its first and only premiership.

These match ups will all be only the second time these clubs have met in a Grand Final.

A Sydney v Brisbane match up will be the first time these clubs have met in a Grand Final. However, the origins of these two teams - South Melbourne (Sydney) and Fitzroy (Brisbane) - have also met once before in a Grand Final. It was in 1899 with Fitzroy winning the premiership.

 

[worbod]

TV show "Footy Furnace" (Sunday night) and The Herald Sun (today) displayed a stat showing the biggest finals leads which have resulted in comeback wins. They both overlooked a game from 1973 which should be in second place.

Margin	Team	Opponent	Game	Venue	Scores prior to comeback
47	Geelong	Carlton	preliminary final, 1931	MCG	0-47
45	Richmond	Collingwood	preliminary final, 1973	MCG	22-67
44	Carlton	Collingwood	grand final, 1970	MCG	29-73
44	Brisbane Lions	G. W. S.	1st semi-final, 2024	Sydney Showground	36-80
42	Essendon	Adelaide	preliminary final, 1993	MCG	42-84
41	Fremantle	Western Bulldogs	1st elimination final, 2022	Perth Stadium	1-42

 

[emuboy]

The two AFL Preliminary Finals will provide us with these possible Grand Final match ups:

Sydney v Geelong - a repeat of the 2022 Grand Final. After never meeting in a Grand Final for 125 years until 2022, the Swans and Cats may be matched up for the second time in three years.

Geelong v Port Adelaide - a repeat of the 2007 Grand Final (let's hope the margin is a bit closer!).

Brisbane v Port Adelaide - a repeat of the 2004 Grand Final, when the Power won its first and only premiership.

These match ups will all be only the second time these clubs have met in a Grand Final.

A Sydney v Brisbane match up will be the first time these clubs have met in a Grand Final. However, the origins of these two teams - South Melbourne (Sydney) and Fitzroy (Brisbane) - have also met once before in a Grand Final. It was the first Grand Final ever played in 1898 with Fitzroy winning its first premiership.

Discounting clubs that have never met in a Grand Final, teams that have entered into mergers and joint ventures and clubs which have left their respective competitions, this year we won't be seeing any of the longest droughts breaking for any of the Grand Final combinations for existing teams that have occurred but which haven't come up again for the longest period of time:

AFL - Essendon vs. Swans 1912
VFL - Port Melbourne vs Coburg Lions 1980
Talent League - Geelong Falcons vs. Western Jets 1992
SANFL - North Adelaide vs. South Adelaide 1902
WAFL - Subiaco vs. Perth 1915
NRL - Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney 1935 (Easts were premiers and Souths runners up again in 1937, but no GF)

 

[Gibbsy]

TV show "Footy Furnace" (Sunday night) and The Herald Sun (today) displayed a stat showing the biggest finals leads which have resulted in comeback wins. They both overlooked a game from 1973 which should be in second place.

Margin	Team	Opponent	Game	Venue	Scores prior to comeback
47	Geelong	Carlton	preliminary final, 1931	MCG	0-47
45	Richmond	Collingwood	preliminary final, 1973	MCG	22-67
44	Carlton	Collingwood	grand final, 1970	MCG	29-73
44	Brisbane Lions	G. W. S.	1st semi-final, 2024	Sydney Showground	36-80
42	Essendon	Adelaide	preliminary final, 1993	MCG	42-84
41	Fremantle	Western Bulldogs	1st elimination final, 2022	Perth Stadium	1-42

They both ignored the 1973 match because they were ripping the data from the table that the league itself posted. There's not much hope when the so called 'keeper of the code' can't even get it right.

 

[worbod]

They both ignored the 1973 match because they were ripping the data from the table that the league itself posted. There's not much hope when the so called 'keeper of the code' can't even get it right.

It's probably a fair bet they have quoted 47 points for the top game based on the quarter-time score and not bothered to delve deeper into any reports of the game. As it turns out the 47 points is correct when you read The Sporting Globe review of the game. A score of 2.3 (15) to 7.5 (47) is quoted during the account of the second quarter, and the margin never betters 47 for the remainder of the game.

Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954) - 3 Oct 1931 - p3

Geelong Win Way to League Grand Final in Thrilling Game; Geelong Seconds Win; Players In The Final; Motor-Cycle Trial; Wind Influences Game; E. Jolly (S.A.) Has Easy Marathon Win; ROWING; WHIPPET RACING; RIFLE SHOOTING; TENNIS; PIGEON RACING; TRAP SHOOTING; ATHLETICS; TENNIS IN U.S.A.; N.Z...

trove.nla.gov.au

As for the 1973 game you can watch the whole thing on YouTube. Every time there is a score the camera pans to the scoreboard, making it easy to track the score. After the 55th minute the scoreboard prepares to change the scores to 67 to 22 in Collingwood's favour.

 

[Catsace]

In regards to the PF '73 between the Tigers and Pies, do any long-standing Pies fans have any recollection if there was any significant blowback for the 19-3 Pies to straight-set? Sides have done that before, but it's the most commanding position in VFL/AFL history for a side to not reach a GF, especially in the era of 2nd Semi wins offering direct passage to the GF.