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.

 

[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.

There's also a new talent league Grand Final combination this year - the Sandringham Dragons (which are regular participants in the GF) and the GWV Rebels (which are in their first GF since 1997).

The GWV Rebels (initially known as the Ballarat Rebels, then the North Ballarat Rebels) have one of the more enigmatic histories of the 12 Victorian talent league teams. For the most part they have been a mediocre mid-ladder team sometimes scraping into the finals, other times narrowly missing out, but in their only Grand Final appearance way back in 1997 they went into the match as rank outsiders yet managed to upset hot favorites the Dandenong Southern Stingrays in an easy 6-goal victory. They have never made the GF in any other season whether they were a strong team or had just snuck into the finals. They had a bizarre run in the early 2010s when in 2012 they were minor premiers but didn't make the GF, slipped to last in 2013 (the Rebels only wooden spoon to date) and by 2015 were minor premiers again, once more failing to convert their first placed finish into a GF berth.

The Rebels' 27-year GF drought just ended is one of a number in this league. The Western Jets played in the first two Grand Finals in 1992 and 1993, losing to the Geelong Falcons and Northern Knights respectively. If the Jets were thinking third time lucky they have been waiting over 30 years and still counting to find out, as they have not played another premiership decider since, and all the fresh-faced 17 and 18-year-olds from these teams are now middle-aged men.

The Northern Knights won four premierships in a row - 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 - but have not been back to the Grand Final since 1996 and never really looked like recapturing their early dominance, often finishing near the bottom of the ladder.

The Bendigo Pioneers - the easy-beats for over 20 years despite their huge recruiting zone - did have some good seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s and qualified for the GF in 2001. However the Calder Cannons proved way too strong, and the Pioneers have gotten nowhere near the GF ever since. The Calder Cannons enjoyed dominance of the league in the 2000s similar to Central Districts in the SANFL or Subiaco in the WAFL during the same time period, but after winning the GF in 2010 they haven't won another, and their only GF appearance since then was 10 years ago against Oakleigh in 2014 and resulted in a humiliating defeat. The other team with a lengthy GF appearance drought is Gippsland Power, which had a number of GF appearances winning several of them, but nothing after 2012. The Murray Bushrangers have premiership drought dating back to 2008, but have made the GF within the last decade.

It's a bit of a mystery how the teams in the Northern and Western Suburbs of Melbourne (Western Jets, Calder Cannons, Northern Knights) have for the most part struggled over the past decade, especially given Calder's dominance in the prior decade. Even if Calder had fallen away, one would think that the Knights or Jets would step up to take their place, but they haven't done so. The teams across the Central, Eastern and Southern suburbs of Melbourne (Sandringham Dragons, Oakleigh Chargers, Eastern Ranges, Dandenong Southern Stingrays) have done much better.

 

[emuboy]

The GWV Rebels were defeated by the Sandringham Dragons in yesterday's Talent League Grand Final, meaning that all 12 Victorian teams in this league have now finished runner up at least once. Before yesterday the Rebels were the only side not to have lost in a GF. Still yet to win a GF are the Western Jets and Bendigo Pioneers, and considering how consistently bad the Pioneers have been for the past 20 years (despite producing some very good players) I don't think the latter is going to change any time soon.

 

[emuboy]

The Werribee Tigers finally ended a premiership drought of 31 years by beating the Southport Sharks in the VFL Grand Final in a thriller. It was a good day for the Tigers in the state leagues, with Glenelg coming back from a seemingly beaten position against Norwood to win the SANFL Grand Final by five points. Although WAFL team Claremont Tigers weren't in the league GF, they had an easy win over Swan Districts in the colts GF in the curtain raiser. Things looked good for East Perth to end a premiership drought of 22 years, but unfortunately Peel Thunder proved too strong in the WAFL league Grand Final leaving the Royals without a senior premiership since 2002.

Norwood at least were able to capture the SANFL Reserves GF over Sturt, but the Redlegs made it look like hard work in a 7.14-56 to 4.16-40 win over the Double Blues, an atrocious aggregate of 11.30-96. And while the weather in Adelaide yesterday was cool, it wasn't wet or windy. I don't think the office staff at The Parade will be receiving too many calls requesting copies of the Reserves GF on DVD in coming days.

 

[worbod]

The two previous runners-up playing in the next grand final

1920: Richmond (1919 runner-up) vs Collingwood (1918 runner-up)
1928: Collingwood (1926) vs Richmond (1927)
1931: Geelong (1930) vs Richmond (1929)
1942: Essendon (1941) vs Richmond (1940)
1943: Richmond (1942) vs Essendon (1941)
1948: Essendon (1947) vs Melbourne (1946)
1956: Melbourne (1954) vs Collingwood (1955)
1959: Melbourne (1958) vs Essendon (1957)
1966: Collingwood (1964) vs St. Kilda (1965)
1976: Hawthorn (1975) vs North Melbourne (1974)
1985: Essendon (1983) vs Hawthorn (1984)
1987: Carlton (1986) vs Hawthorn (1985)
1995: Carlton (1993) vs Geelong (1994)
2024: Sydney (2022) vs Brisbane Lions (2023)

 

[emuboy]

Dayne Zorko

15

Dayne Zorko

Age

35

Ht

175cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.4

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

8.2

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

6.0

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

14.0

3star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

5.0

5star

CL

2.0

4star

D

16.4

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

5.2

5star

T

6.6

5star

CL

1.2

4star

in Brisbane's winning premiership team today became only the second player with a surname starting with Z to play in a premiership team, and the first in 90 years after Richmond's Eric Zschech, a dual premiership player with the Tigers in 1932 and 1934.

With Isaac Quaynor

3

Isaac Quaynor

Age

24

Ht

180cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

6.7

3star

HB

8.0

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

MG

244.0

4star

D

14.7

4star

K

6.7

3star

HB

8.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

4star

MG

244.0

4star

D

14.7

4star

K

6.7

3star

HB

8.0

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.7

5star

MG

244.0

4star

a member of Collingwood's premiership team last year - the first Q player since Brian Quirk at Carlton in 1968 - it leaves only I, U and X players with no recent premierships. For I, the last such player was Steven Icke for North Melbourne in 1977 while there has never been a U or an X premiership player to date. There have been U players in losing grand final teams (Max Urquhart for Collingwood) or who played senior football for a team in a year it won a premiership (Troy Ugle - West Coast Eagles) but not one in a winning team on the day. As for X - the only X player in history is Tristan Xerri

38

Tristan Xerri

Age

25

Ht

201cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

5.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.5

2star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

2.5

5star

D

5.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.5

2star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

2.5

5star

D

5.5

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.5

3star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

2.5

5star

who has only played for North Melbourne in the 2020s.

Not all is lost for I and U players - Jarman Impey plays for the exciting up and coming Hawthorn team and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan for the enigmatic Western Bulldogs which can do anything - so these droughts may well break in coming seasons. Tristan Xerri

38

Tristan Xerri

Age

25

Ht

201cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

5.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.5

2star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

2.5

5star

D

5.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.5

2star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

2.5

5star

D

5.5

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

2.5

3star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

2.5

5star

needs to request a trade away from North to a team currently in or entering the premiership zone to break the X drought, unless another team recruits an X surname player and wins a premiership.

Today's 18.12-120 to 9.6-60 demolition of the Swans by the Lions also saw another long record break - it is the first time in 70 years and only the second time in history that a team has exactly doubled its opponents score in a grand final. The previous occasion was Footscray's 15.12-102 to 7.9-51 thrashing of Melbourne in the 1954 Grand Final.

 

[worbod]

Brisbane Lions have now become the second club to play 27 games in a season, replicating North Melbourne of 1977. Having a drawn grand final necessitated North Melbourne playing an extra final, whereas Brisbane Lions finished with 23 home and away games before finals. Both North and Brisbane finished their seasons with 18 wins, 8 losses, a draw and a premiership.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Brisbane Lions have now become the second club to play 27 games in a season, replicating North Melbourne of 1977. Having a drawn grand final necessitated North Melbourne playing an extra final, whereas Brisbane Lions finished with 23 home and away games before finals. Both North and Brisbane finished their seasons with 18 wins, 8 losses, a draw and a premiership.

John Cassin is no longer the lone ranger.

 

[worbod]

John Cassin is no longer the lone ranger.

Eleven Brisbane Lions players today played their 27th game of the season to equal Cassin.

 

[emuboy]

With the conclusion of the 2024 AFL season today, we are now halfway through the 2020s and so far in this decade 3 of the 18 clubs have failed to make a finals appearance - the Adelaide Crows, Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne Kangaroos. The Crows have recently undergone a rebuild which unfortunately stalled this year, while the Suns are underperforming at mid-ladder so these two will likely correct this by the end of the decade. But nothing I saw this year convinced me that the Kangaroos have a bright future either short or long-term, so it would not be surprising to see North miss the finals for the entire decade of the 2020s.

So which teams have been completely missing from an entire decade of finals? Here is a list in chronological order:

1890s - Neither Carlton* nor St Kilda* made the finals in 1897, 1898 and 1899
1900s - Richmond* and University*
1910s - University*
1920s - North Melbourne*, Hawthorn*, Bulldogs*
1930s - Essendon, Fitzroy, Hawthorn, North Melbourne
1940s - Hawthorn & St Kilda
1950s - Richmond, South Melbourne & St Kilda
1960s - North Melbourne, South Melbourne
1970s - Melbourne
1980s - St Kilda, Brisbane Bears*
1990s - Fitzroy*, Fremantle*
2000s - None
2010s - Gold Coast*

* Team did not participate every year

Most remarkable would be the 1930s, with 4 of 12 clubs not making the finals at all and 2 other teams - St Kilda and the Bulldogs - qualifying for just 1 finals series each.

 

[worbod]

With the conclusion of the 2024 AFL season today, we are now halfway through the 2020s and so far in this decade 3 of the 18 clubs have failed to make a finals appearance - the Adelaide Crows, Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne Kangaroos. The Crows have recently undergone a rebuild which unfortunately stalled this year, while the Suns are underperforming at mid-ladder so these two will likely correct this by the end of the decade. But nothing I saw this year convinced me that the Kangaroos have a bright future either short or long-term, so it would not be surprising to see North miss the finals for the entire decade of the 2020s.

So which teams have been completely missing from an entire decade of finals? Here is a list in chronological order:

1890s - Neither Carlton* nor St Kilda* made the finals in 1897, 1898 and 1899
1900s - Richmond* and University*
1910s - University*
1920s - North Melbourne*, Hawthorn*, Bulldogs*
1930s - Essendon, Fitzroy, Hawthorn, North Melbourne
1940s - Hawthorn & St Kilda
1950s - Richmond, South Melbourne & St Kilda
1960s - North Melbourne, South Melbourne
1970s - Melbourne
1980s - St Kilda, Brisbane Bears*
1990s - Fitzroy*, Fremantle*
2000s - None
2010s - Gold Coast*

* Team did not participate every year

Most remarkable would be the 1930s, with 4 of 12 clubs not making the finals at all and 2 other teams - St Kilda and the Bulldogs - qualifying for just 1 finals series each.

I don't think Carlton and St. Kilda need an asterisk for the 1890s. They participated in all three available years of play for that decade. Or are you referring to the fact that the competition did not run for the entirety of that decade?

 

[worbod]

Joe Daniher has retired having played 108 games for Essendon and 96 for Brisbane Lions. With his father Anthony Daniher having played 115 games for Sydney and 118 for Essendon, four games is the difference between having the first father-son combination to have played 100 games for two separate clubs.

 

[rapidfire7]

Interesting historical stats about Melbourne and the Bulldogs (and Geelong).

All time winning percentages in all matches:

Melbourne 46.27%, Dogs 46.22%.

Yet, despite this almost identical win/loss rate it is 18 GFs to 4, 13 Premierships to 2.

Melbourne's win/loss rate in finals is 58.51%, Dogs 36.84%

Melbourne really has had a couple of incredibly dominant periods of success, in an otherwise lacklustre history.

The Bullodgs (like Geelong) have generally performed much better in home and away football compared to finals.

Geelong has now incredibly passed Essendon, and is just behind Carlton in the number of finals matches ever played. However, they have also been in a lot less Grand Finals / have a lot less Premierships.

Geelong has historically butchered a lot of opportunities when it matters most (in finals matches).

Some teams seem to consistently rise to another gear in the finals like the Hawks and Tigers. Whereas Geelong, The Bulldogs, Sydney, St Kilda and Collingwood have more often than not done the opposite.

AFL Tables - Team Win-Loss Records

 

[emuboy]

Richard Champion was drafted by the Brisbane Bears from SANFL club Woodville, and his last game for the Warriors in the final round of the 1990 season against the West Torrens Eagles. This game in which the Warriors easily defeated the Eagles, proved to be the last ever for both of them, as they merged in the off-season to become the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
At the struggling Brisbane Bears in 1991, Champion debuted against North Melbourne in Round 2 but would have to wait until Round 16 and their first meeting of the year with Fitzroy to experience an AFL victory for the first time having missed a Round 11 game against the Swans at the SCG.

A consistent and very good player for a decade at Brisbane, Richard Champion was a member of the last ever Bears' team in the 1996 preliminary final against North Melbourne and six months later in Round 1 1997 Champion was a member of the first ever Brisbane Lions team following the Bears' merger with the Fitzroy Lions, played against the Adelaide Crows at Football Park.

 

[emuboy]

It was recently noted in another thread that this was the 25th year of the current final 8 system and that to date no side placed 4th on the ladder has never won a Grand Final, nor even qualified for a number of years.

Looking back to the 1990s when the McIntyre System was used I found another odd anomaly - in the six years of this finals format, never once did 3rd make the Grand Final, despite 3rd defeating 6th five out of six times (the exception 1995) in the opening finals week Qualifying Final played between them.

In this time we saw 4th make the GF twice for a loss (1994 Geelong) and a win (1997 Adelaide), a 5th placed team win the GF (1998 Adelaide) and a 6th placed team make the GF and finish runner up (1999 Carlton). Twice (1994 and 1997) 7th upset 2nd and both times would progress to the Preliminary Final, and while 1st was never beaten by 8th in the opening week of the finals, most of these 1 v8 opening finals were close.

The NRL used the McIntyre Finals system for longer 1999-2011, and it is notable that all three times third made the GF in this time - Melbourne 1999, Newcastle 2001 and Brisbane 2006 - they ended up winning the premiership.

 

[emuboy]

I was watching a Youtube video yesterday about the decline of Essendon in the past 20 or more years, and there was an interesting statistic that I had never thought of before.

From the 2000 season onwards when the stadium first opened, just two clubs based mostly out of the Docklands (Essendon, North Melbourne, Carlton, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda) have won the Grand Final for one premiership each, these being the Bombers in 2000 and the Bulldogs in 2016.

Contrast this with the MCG based tenant clubs (Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn and Collingwood) who have won 10 between them, the Demons 1, the Tigers 3, the Hawks 4 and the Magpies 2 in this time.