Would a 2023 flag for the Giants be more impressive than the Bulldogs' 2016 flag?

[Matchu]

2016 Premiership
EF: 7th Bulldogs 14.15 (99) def. 6th 7.10 (52) West Coast @ Subiaco
SF: 7th Bulldogs 16.11 (107) def. 3rd Hawthorn 12.12 (84) @ MCG
PF: 7th Bulldogs 13.11 (89) def. 4th GWS 12.11 (83) @ Sydney Showgrounds
GF: 7th Bulldogs 13.11 (89) def. 1st Sydney 10.7 (67) @ MCG

2023 Premiership (hypothetical for now)
EF: 7th Giants 15.11 (101) def. 6th Saints 11.11 (77) @ MCG
SF: 7th Giants 13.15 (93) def. 3rd Port Adelaide 9.16 (70) @ Adelaide Oval
PF: 7th Giants def. 1st Collingwood @ MCG
GF: 7th Giants def. 2nd Brisbane/5th Carlton @ MCG

Which is/would be more impressive and why?

 

[Colonial]

Yes. Giants were picked to be bottom 3. Brand new coach, game plan, played and won at 11 different grounds.

But then to balance that out, I love the Giants and loathe the dogs soo…..

 

[Orange crush]

Going a bit early with this one. Win this week and then consider it.

 

[underthestars]

done it without the umps giving them a free ride so far. without the umps the dogs woudn't have made the finals and certainly would have lost to both the giants and the swans.

 

[Cmarsh]

done it without the umps giving them a free ride so far. without the umps the dogs woudn't have made the finals and certainly would have lost to both the giants and the swans.

Actually thought my side got some handy decisions our way against Port last Saturday. That weren't match defining though.

 

[ep2018]

GWS having to play all four teams away from home (Dogs played two finals in Melbourne) wins it for GWS I think.

 

[deck]

What seems to be forgotten about the Bulldogs team is they only finished 2 games and percentage from top spot. I don't think over the last 30 odd years since the final 8 came in that 7th was that close to top spot at the end of the home & away season too often.

 

[Sentinel]

What seems to be forgotten about the Bulldogs team is they only finished 2 games and percentage from top spot. I don't think over the last 30 odd years since the final 8 came in that 7th was that close to top spot at the end of the home & away season too often.

Correct, the Bulldogs also sat in the top 4 for 11 of the 23 H&A rounds and dropped out with a few rounds left, so the season was almost the opposite of GWS who sat outside and moved into the 8 late.

GWS winning would be a remarkable achievement arguably (probably) more impressive than the Dogs' run in 16 but without the same historical backstory that the Bulldogs carried which I think added to it all. Obviously the have their own backstory.

Still only halfway there though.

 

[Danw0w]

Nah. The Giants have a lot of talent and massively underperformed last year.

The dogs were atrocious in 2014 before Luke Beveridge took over. They have no chance of beating the Eagles in Perth. Except they did and they won 3 more after that.

The dogs beat the previous years grand finalists, one on the other side of the country and the other against a dynasty team from 4 goals down. A side that made the previous FOUR grand finals.

They also had to play a GWS side that was gifted endless talent and a Sydney side that were minor premiers that hardly missed finals for over a decade.

All this with a young team and a dream.

 

[Colonial]

Nah. The Giants have a lot of talent and massively underperformed last year.

The dogs were atrocious in 2014 before Luke Beveridge took over. They have no chance of beating the Eagles in Perth. Except they did and they won 3 more after that.

The dogs beat the previous years grand finalists, one on the other side of the country and the other against a dynasty team from 4 goals down. A side that made the previous FOUR grand finals.

They also had to play a GWS side that was gifted endless talent and a Sydney side that were minor premiers that hardly missed finals for over a decade.

All this with a young team and a dream.

 

[Danw0w]

Thank you for your constructive criticism

 

[Colonial]

Thank you for your constructive criticism

It was succinct and to the point. Why waste characters.

 

[flamethrower]

What a ridiculous thread. The Orange team only won 2 finals and didn't even reach the Big Dance. Couldn't even match what the Bulldogs did in 2021.

Go Pies!!!

 

[TwiggleyFanClub]

It would be super impressive, considering they just lost the prelim.

 

[Colonial]

What a ridiculous thread. The Orange team only won 2 finals and didn't even reach the Big Dance. Couldn't even match what the Bulldogs did in 2021.

Go Pies!!!

To be fair we weren’t kissed on the dick by the umps like the mutts in 2016

 

[Roobs321]

Giants came from further back both preseason and midseason.

That said, the Bulldogs faded into that finals series (like North) and weren’t showing signs of going on a run like that, whereas Giants seemed to have timed a dark horse run. Winning from 5-8 also seems more feasible now than it did going into the 2016 finals series.

 

[Pocket Terrace]

Gonna be hard from here. I’m sure they’re all on the edge of their seats out at Homebush.