The Big 4 If It Were Decided Today

[Domenic Fotia]

Collingwood
Eagles

Carlton
Essendon
Swans

Fremantle
Geelong
Adelaide
Richmond
Lions

Minnows - Hawks, Saints, Melbourne, Dogs, North, Port, GC, Giants

 

[slimdusty4]

The big four is Carlton collingwood Richmond and essendon.

Always has been, always will be, they are the most supported clubs, and draw the biggest crowds. Even though were bottom 4 we still draw big crowds.

The only people who really bring this up are people who (for some unnecessary reason) are jealous their club isn't a big four club.

 

[Pessimistic]

Because they are jealous and desperately want their team to be relevant, it's always enjoyable watching them squirm with indignation when they are presented with the fact that their clubs just don't cut it with the big boys .

Or could it be we are just excited to witness our clubs transitionin ginto so called power clubs (while realising theres still a way to go)

 

[simba_]

Essendon
Collingwood
Carlton
Richmond

 

[bloodsportz]

Who care's about being in the 'big four'.

Geelong has shown that being a mid-sized club with a mid-sized membership based whilst owning your home ground and investing in the football department can provide dividends on and off the field.

 

[bloodsportz]

Collingwood
Eagles

Carlton
Essendon
Swans

Fremantle
Geelong
Adelaide
Richmond
Lions

Minnows - Hawks, Saints, Melbourne, Dogs, North, Port, GC, Giants

When you mention the Lions above the Hawk's you know your relevance to this topic is close to nil.

 

[windyhill]

This is ironic considering how Essendon 2000 showed how many bandwagoner Essendon fans there were. All these people started suddenly coming out of the woodwork saying they supported Essendon. Geelong's fiannces were up before the success. This has merely helped.

1. You have a thing for Essendon
2. Essendon and collingwood carry this league, we have been generally horrendus for quite a few years now and the crowds/membership figures have been absolutely outstanding.
3. You won the flag, get over that loss.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

When you mention the Lions above the Hawk's you know your relevance to this topic is close to nil.

He hates Hawthorn for some reason. He trolls us non stop. I think it's cute

 

[Gavin Excell]

LOLZ

This again! I bet this will turn to a 100 page thread.

The BIG 4 was a concept created in the 60s-70s.

It referred to the dominant Melbournian teams that powerful on field, off field and had the largest derbies against one another. Back then it was Richmond, Carlton, Collingwood & Essendon. Whichever way you want to look at it.

Since then however, the VFL has become the AFL, 8 new clubs were introduced and elements to the game have changed (players don't drink at the pub after a win anymore).

Historically the BIG 4 is just a term to coincide with the strength of these four clubs at the time of its inception. Right now however, the competition has become so competitive, that the BIG 4 would change constantly, one could argue the BIG 4 was Brisbane, Collingwood, Port Adelaide & Essendon only 10 years ago. Now however it would be Hawthorn, Geelong, Collingwood & West Coast. In 10 years it may be Gold Coast, GWS, Melbourne & Fremantle.

Get with the times, its an old term, its a dead term and it was a term created for Coll, Carl, Rich & Ess.

Is that correct? I have always considered Essendon, while definitely big 4 now, were a somewhat late entry to that club. Could well be mistaken and happy to be corrected but pre 1980 were Essendon genuinely ranked alongside Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond?

 

[theyear2012]

I remember in the 70`s coll vs rich was massive Richmond always had similar crowds to collingwood , in saying that we need Richmond to become a power team again easy to say hard to do.

PS there crowds were ferral big time .

 

[Brownlow Murphy]

the big four will always be the big four, if you look at recent times where most of them have been in the bottom half of the ladder, they still drew the biggest crowds of the season in games between 2 of them.

id like to see any of west coast, hawthorn or geelong do this.

this is why collingwood, carlton, essendon and richmond are and always will be the big four

 

[smasha]

Richmond=the big ONE.

 

[smasha]

Ugh..... somedays I'd have the patience to pick your comments apart bit by bit, but I cant really be stuffed today.

So please, provide me the source indicating a dramatic rise in Essendon's 'claimed supporters' directly following it's 2000 flag. I'm sure it will be enlightening, and far more useful than the quantifiable figures I was offering.

Premierships do get a ton of bandwagonners like the Essendon supporters.

I remember back as a kid hardly anyone was a Bomber supporter then they won flags and the glory boys came rolling in lol.

 

[Gazza_11]

Why anyone would want their club to be considered as one of the 'big four' is beyond me.

 

[forwardflanker]

Why anyone would want their club to be considered as one of the 'big four' is beyond me.

well thats easy, if your not a big 4 club your more likely be totally irrelevant to the competition, kind of like how Melbourne and St Kilda have been throughout their histories.

& lol at the op trying to justify that Geelong and Hawthorn are powerhouse clubs. As its pointed pointed out often to Hawthorn supporters no club that enjoyed their success in recent times can call themselves a powerhouse if they a) nearly have to merge and b) have to sell games interstate.

Geelong are well run and have good security but I doubt they ever compete with the bigger Melbourne and interstate clubs consistently on a financial basis

 

[Gumbleton_OneDay]

What the hell ? what kind of thread is this....are we pretending we dont know who the big 4 are ???

1. Collingwood
2. Essendon
3. Carlton
4. Richmond

Hawthorn, Geelong and West Coast you deserve respect for a good decade of footy but please... come back if your still on top in 40 years. Thanks

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Essendon
Collingwood
Carlton
Richmond

Lol at Richmond ahead of West Coast and Adelaide

 

[unstable punt]

Why are people fascinated with this concept?

trivial crap, I hate this time of year, the subjects on this site are just pathetic. May as well sign off until about late January

 

[PTizzle]

LOLZ

This again! I bet this will turn to a 100 page thread.

The BIG 4 was a concept created in the 60s-70s.

It referred to the dominant Melbournian teams that powerful on field, off field and had the largest derbies against one another. Back then it was Richmond, Carlton, Collingwood & Essendon. Whichever way you want to look at it.

Since then however, the VFL has become the AFL, 8 new clubs were introduced and elements to the game have changed (players don't drink at the pub after a win anymore).

Historically the BIG 4 is just a term to coincide with the strength of these four clubs at the time of its inception. Right now however, the competition has become so competitive, that the BIG 4 would change constantly, one could argue the BIG 4 was Brisbane, Collingwood, Port Adelaide & Essendon only 10 years ago. Now however it would be Hawthorn, Geelong, Collingwood & West Coast. In 10 years it may be Gold Coast, GWS, Melbourne & Fremantle.

Get with the times, its an old term, its a dead term and it was a term created for Coll, Carl, Rich & Ess.

Perfect summary, end thread.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

the big four will always be the big four, if you look at recent times where most of them have been in the bottom half of the ladder, they still drew the biggest crowds of the season in games between 2 of them.

id like to see any of west coast, hawthorn or geelong do this.

this is why collingwood, carlton, essendon and richmond are and always will be the big four

Only if we had a bigger stadium.

The only club that matches us financially is Collingwood.

The only club that just pips us for success in the last 20 years is Geelong.

 

[FootyJunkie]

West Coast
Adelaide
Collingwood
Essendon

Big 3 Australian Rules states covered.

Carlton loses some points for their on field/off field troubles in the noughties.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

What the hell ? what kind of thread is this....are we pretending we dont know who the big 4 are ???

1. Collingwood
2. Essendon
3. Carlton
4. Richmond

Hawthorn, Geelong and West Coast you deserve respect for a good decade of footy but please... come back if your still on top in 40 years. Thanks

Richmond ahead of Hawthorn, Geelong and West Coast .... what colour is the sky in your world? Get with the times. The party wound up on the likes of the Carltons, Richmonds and Essendons 10 years ago. Those three clubs are so far behind the Hawks, Cats and Eagles, it's laughable even talking about it.

If you want to talk about 40 years, maybe count up how many flags the Hawks have won in the past 40 years (9 flags) and compare that with your ficticious "Big 4".

 

[Koutou43]

Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, West Coast

Richmond would be back in there with a little success.

Adelaide seems to have gone backwards the last few years but should return with the move to Adelaide Oval.

Geelong are next in line of the Vic clubs, Fremantle of the interstate clubs.

The Swans and Lions are important for tv rights and national sponsors.

The rest are making up the numbers.

 

[Domenic Fotia]

Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, West Coast

Richmond would be back in there with a little success.

Adelaide seems to have gone backwards the last few years but should return with the move to Adelaide Oval.

Geelong are next in line of the Vic clubs, Fremantle of the interstate clubs.

The Swans and Lions are important for tv rights and national sponsors.

The rest are making up the numbers.

correct weight

 

[Jesse Custer]

He hates Hawthorn for some reason.

Many people hate hawthorn.