Toast 11 Prelims in 22 Seasons

[whiskeytown]

I said the same thing at the beginning of the year. But I never expected it to happen like this. We all thought we were screwed a month ago. But now by hook or by crook we are at prelim and anything can happen from there.

I remember saying with Beams added it should make the ride easier but he has turned out to be a non factor.

Yeah I thought they were cooked several weeks back too. I had us dropping down to 6th... so it's been surprising. One more win and anything can happen GF day

 

[Damon_3388]

Some will say it's "meaningless" if you don't convert it into premierships, but there's only going to be one winner each year, and it's just not possible to be the winner or the best team year in, year out, so "success" needs to be measured beyond just the ultimate prize. I think you can classify this as great success, and Collingwood as a consistently successful club.

If winning a game of footy is truly a 50/50 chance over the last 18 seasons, we should've converted those 9 prelims in to 4.5 Grand Final berths (we've made 5, so check).
Further, we should convert those 4.5 Grand Final berths in to 2.25 Premierships (which we have not, yet).
Putting it like that, we're not too behind, but could be far better. I like the 4 Hawks flags they got from 6 prelims

One poor passage of play away from a flag in 2018
One poor quarter in the prelim from another GF in 2012
One poor quarter from another flag in 2011
Fortunate to draw the first GF in 2010
Unlucky to lose the prelim in 2007
Unlucky to lose the GF in 2002

We could have made the GF and won in 2018, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2007, 2002, which would be an epic return, and make us the most successful club in the land. All "coulda, woulda, shoulda", of course, but fine margins can make all the difference.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Sorry Tarkyn, but I think you'll find converting 8 prelim finals into 1 flag = 12.5%

So it's even worse than you've stated.

If only we could be half a successful as Hawks strike rate (67%), we'd have won 2 premierships after competing in 8 prelims.

I was facetiously counting 2019

 

[Captivating]

You're right to some extent. An excuse for SOME of the losses

2002 and 2003 Brisbane and Port were easily the best two teams. In fact, over those 2 years, the Pies were 1st not he ladder after just one round (rd 3 2003). Brisbane and Port occupied the top spot in 42 of the 44 rounds.

2011 - We were easily the best or second best team, but carried injured players in the GF.

2018 - Richmond and WCE were the top 2 teams - again, we were never on top of the ladder.

 

[Markfs]

2002 and 2003 Brisbane and Port were easily the best two teams. In fact, over those 2 years, the Pies were 1st not he ladder after just one round (rd 3 2003). Brisbane and Port occupied the top spot in 42 of the 44 rounds.

2011 - We were easily the best or second best team, but carried injured players in the GF.

2018 - Richmond and WCE were the top 2 teams - again, we were never on top of the ladder.

yeh since 2000

 

[barrackers]

While everybody would like more flags, you need a lot of luck and it's a mighty fine effort to make nine prelims. We've only finished in the top 4 in eight of those seasons and minor premier twice.

In terms of how everyone else has gone and expanding this out to 2000 to reflect the duration of the current top 8 system (2019 not included):

 

[jimmy35]

Never nice losing a GF of course but your never going to win one if you don’t play in them. Old effort making those prelims and winning one and heading into Grand Final week is always an awesome experience.

 

[domus]

Why bother with it then? To me the likelihood of winning the big dance is so slim that I think you need to find something else about the game to enjoy otherwise it'd just be torture.

Most golf fanatics will say the misery and frustration the game brings to their life far outweighs the joy-but you keep pursuing that incredible emotional high of another sweet strike or hole in one and that somehow makes all the stress and heartbreak worthwhile.

 

[Damon_3388]

2002 and 2003 Brisbane and Port were easily the best two teams. In fact, over those 2 years, the Pies were 1st not he ladder after just one round (rd 3 2003). Brisbane and Port occupied the top spot in 42 of the 44 rounds.

2011 - We were easily the best or second best team, but carried injured players in the GF.

2018 - Richmond and WCE were the top 2 teams - again, we were never on top of the ladder.

While everybody would like more flags, you need a lot of luck and it's a mighty fine effort to make nine prelims. We've only finished in the top 4 in eight of those seasons and minor premier twice.

In terms of how everyone else has gone and expanding this out to 2000 to reflect the duration of the current top 8 system (2019 not included):

View attachment 742125

Never nice losing a GF of course but your never going to win one if you don’t play in them. Old effort making those prelims and winning one and heading into Grand Final week is always an awesome experience.

In a way, I can see being a top 4 side and not making a prelim as a bigger footballing "sin"/disappointment in the current top 8 system, than making a prelim and not going on to win a flag. To be one of the few teams (and the only one among the top 4-5 teams in that table in prelim appearances) to have more prelim appearances than top 4 H&A finishes is an achievement in itself. To me that says we play to or exceed our potential, rather than "wasting" the talent we have, even if it might result in a GF or prelim loss.

Not that "just happy to be there" is the mindset to have, but looking at the context of where we start from to where we end up (eg. 2018 - Go into the season not expected to be a finals side, and hadn't made finals in the past 4 years, to end up a goal away from a flag), we generally do pretty well.

When you take into account talent, age profile, injuries along the way, previous results, and what other teams are doing, taking an objective view (supporter hat off, without the arrogant "We're Collingwood, so we should be top 4/premiers every year by birthright!" train of thought) we very rarely end up below where we "should" IMO.

 

[doppleganger]

Pies give supporters a great ride.

Sure we are left heartbroken more often than not, but having your team consistently go deep into September and record memorable finals wins is what supporting a team is all about.

02 QF v Port - No Buckley, no chance given...up stepped Lica!!
03 QF v Lions - Didak magic in Q4 seals a great win
07 SF v Eagles - extra time victory in Perth was amazing
08 EF v Adel, no Didak n Shaw (naughty boys) yet we’re still able to head to Adelaide and get the W
09 SF v Adel, Jack Anthony ‘right in front of me’!!

And then you get the PFs ranked in order of worst to best

09 PF v Geel, yuck
12 PF v Syd, had high hopes, was gutted with result.

07 PF v Geel, amazing game almost pinched one

03 PF v Port, from memory a bit of a flat one as we looked like winners all day but people concerned about Rocca and his elbow.

02 PF v Crows - first final in Melbourne for a decade, a monster Pie crowd and Rocca torp goal from 70m sent crowd into raptures - Pies we’re back in a GF!!

10 PF v Geel, the first quarter delirium everything went right, L.Brown’s leg break goal!!

11 PF v Haw, the last quarter comeback. Cloke huge. Buddy almost stealing it back. L.Ball!!! Daisy tackle of Cyril!! What a finish to a game!!

18 PF v Rich, Suck it Tigers!!

19 PF v ???

Sure, everyone would want some more flags, but we get a great run for our money more often than not and PF week has been great to us!!

 

[Aussie pie]

Means sweet FA with 2 flags in 60 years. Mediocrity at its best, don’t celebrate it. Get angry and let’s demand change.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Means sweet FA with 2 flags in 60 years. Mediocrity at its best, don’t celebrate it. Get angry and let’s demand change.

You can choose to be suicidal for all but two days in the last 60 years. Pretty sad way of looking at life though.

I am happy to enjoy the ride. Thats the fun bit. Collingwood have given their supporters more good times than bad over the years.

 

[dansa]

People often forget that since 1970, we have rarely been the best side of a season. We have massively over achieved to make so many GF. I would argue that only 2010 and 2011 were we the best side ( and 2011 we were beaten 3 times by the Premiers)

1990 - favourites on the day, but Essendon were the best side during the year

2003 - we were equal favourites going into the game, but in hindsight Lions were a much better side.

Of the 11 Grand Finals we’ve made since 1970 -we probably over-achieved in 9 of those seasons.

Yet this fact doesn’t diminish the pain and disappointment.

 

[magpienato]

Means sweet FA with 2 flags in 60 years. Mediocrity at its best, don’t celebrate it. Get angry and let’s demand change.

Demand what change? That God weigh the dice of luck in our favour next season?

 

[domin8tors]

2002 and 2003 Brisbane and Port were easily the best two teams. In fact, over those 2 years, the Pies were 1st not he ladder after just one round (rd 3 2003). Brisbane and Port occupied the top spot in 42 of the 44 rounds.

2011 - We were easily the best or second best team, but carried injured players in the GF.

2018 - Richmond and WCE were the top 2 teams - again, we were never on top of the ladder.

going by ladder position is folly. whilst it's a guide during the year you play teams an uneven amount of games and injuries. eg this year we have played top 8 teams 11 times where as Geelong only 9 and richmond 8. if we played GC twice then we end up in the top 2

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

BUMP.

10th Prelim since 2002.

Prelims = (2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022)

Since 2002, this is the number of prelim final appearances for each club:

• Geelong = 13
• Collingwood = 10
• Sydney = 8
• Port Adelaide = 7
• Hawthorn = 6
• St Kilda = 5
• Adelaide = 5
• West Coast = 5
• Western Bulldogs = 5
• Brisbane Lions = 5
• Richmond = 4
• Fremantle = 3
• North Melbourne = 3
• GWS = 3
• Melbourne = 2
• Carlton = 0
• Essendon = 0
• Gold Coast = 0

Regardless of the end result, this club has given us good value over the past two decades.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Who cares about our 9 prelims.
The most enjoyable stat is Carlton = 0
hahahaha

...and Essendon = 0

Both still 0

 

[Premier Pies]

BUMP.

10th Prelim since 2002.

Prelims = (2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022)

Since 2002, this is the number of prelim final appearances for each club:

• Geelong = 13
• Collingwood = 10
• Sydney = 8
• Port Adelaide = 7
• Hawthorn = 6
• St Kilda = 5
• Adelaide = 5
• West Coast = 5
• Western Bulldogs = 5
• Brisbane Lions = 5
• Richmond = 4
• Fremantle = 3
• North Melbourne = 3
• GWS = 3
• Melbourne = 2
• Carlton = 0
• Essendon = 0
• Gold Coast = 0

Regardless of the end result, this club has given us good value over the past two decades.

I wish we had even half of Hawthorn's conversion to premiership strike rate, or even Richmond's strike rate which is better than Hawks.
Pies 1x premiership (9 prelims - 11%) Hawks 4x premierships (6 prelims - 66%) Tigers 3x premierships (4 prelims - 75%)

Funny/sad thing is, Pies defeated both amazing teams in Hawks 2011 & Tigers 2018, but didn't go on to win the ultimate.

Will this be the year we increase our conversion to premiership %? I certainly hope so

 

[domus]

Congrats to the club on reaching another preliminary final, its 9th since 2002.

Prelims = (2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019)

Since 2002, this is the number of prelim final appearances for each club:

• Geelong = 10
• Collingwood = 9
• Sydney = 7
• Hawthorn = 6
• St Kilda = 5
• Port Adelaide = 5
• Adelaide = 5
• West Coast = 5
• Western Bulldogs = 4
• Brisbane = 3
• Fremantle = 3
• North Melbourne = 3
• Richmond = 3
• GWS = 3
• Melbourne = 1
• Carlton = 0
• Essendon = 0
• Gold Coast = 0

We've had a good run, but just haven't translated it into more silverware in the end. Hopefully 2019 changes all of that!

Yet the media never stop pumping up the incredible Bloods culture which sees them contending most years. Handy when you have a conveyor belt with superstar key forwards running from Melbourne up to Sydney every time they need one. Yes, our ability to keep contending is undersold and underrated.

 

[domus]

Some will say it's "meaningless" if you don't convert it into premierships, but there's only going to be one winner each year, and it's just not possible to be the winner or the best team year in, year out, so "success" needs to be measured beyond just the ultimate prize. I think you can classify this as great success, and Collingwood as a consistently successful club.



One poor passage of play away from a flag in 2018
One poor quarter in the prelim from another GF in 2012
One poor quarter from another flag in 2011
Fortunate to draw the first GF in 2010
Unlucky to lose the prelim in 2007
Unlucky to lose the GF in 2002

We could have made the GF and won in 2018, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2007, 2002, which would be an epic return, and make us the most successful club in the land. All "coulda, woulda, shoulda", of course, but fine margins can make all the difference.

Shoulda is our second name at Collingwood.

 

[domus]

Both still 0

But I want to snag another flag before the Blues make the finals and pinch one in their first try in twenty years.

 

[legendstatus]

BUMP.

10th Prelim since 2002.

Prelims = (2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022)

Since 2002, this is the number of prelim final appearances for each club:

• Geelong = 13
• Collingwood = 10
• Sydney = 8
• Port Adelaide = 7
• Hawthorn = 6
• St Kilda = 5
• Adelaide = 5
• West Coast = 5
• Western Bulldogs = 5
• Brisbane Lions = 5
• Richmond = 4
• Fremantle = 3
• North Melbourne = 3
• GWS = 3
• Melbourne = 2
• Carlton = 0
• Essendon = 0
• Gold Coast = 0

Regardless of the end result, this club has given us good value over the past two decades.

Fantastic ride given the world against, injuries at crucial times, not a star studded side and some really stupid list management decisions. Imagine if we had 10% more luck across this period.

But great to see Blooze & Peptides challenging Gold Coast and a reminder of how insignificant the Tigers have been outside a lucky period.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

BUMP.

11th Prelim since 2002.

Prelims = (2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)

Since 2002, this is the number of prelim final appearances for each club:

• Geelong = 13
• Collingwood = 11
• Sydney = 8
• Port Adelaide = 7
• Hawthorn = 6
• Brisbane Lions = 6
• West Coast = 5
• Western Bulldogs = 5
• St Kilda = 5
• Adelaide = 5
• Richmond = 4
• Fremantle = 3
• GWS = 3
• North Melbourne = 3
• Melbourne = 2
• Carlton = 1
• Essendon = 0
• Gold Coast = 0

The club's consistency deserves to be applauded.

 

[Kes1984]

BUMP.

11th Prelim since 2002.

Prelims = (2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)

Since 2002, this is the number of prelim final appearances for each club:

• Geelong = 13
• Collingwood = 11
• Sydney = 8
• Port Adelaide = 7
• Hawthorn = 6
• West Coast = 5
• Brisbane Lions = 5
• Western Bulldogs = 5
• St Kilda = 5
• Adelaide = 5
• Richmond = 4
• Fremantle = 3
• GWS = 3
• North Melbourne = 3
• Melbourne = 2
• Carlton = 0
• Essendon = 0
• Gold Coast = 0

The club's consistency deserves to be applauded.

This is both good and bad really.
That many prelim appearances should be at least a few premierships. We have one in that time. Hopefully two soon!

 

[PIEWITHSAUCE]

BUMP.

11th Prelim since 2002.

Prelims = (2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)

Since 2002, this is the number of prelim final appearances for each club:

• Geelong = 13
• Collingwood = 11
• Sydney = 8
• Port Adelaide = 7
• Hawthorn = 6
• West Coast = 5
• Brisbane Lions = 5
• Western Bulldogs = 5
• St Kilda = 5
• Adelaide = 5
• Richmond = 4
• Fremantle = 3
• GWS = 3
• North Melbourne = 3
• Melbourne = 2
• Gold Coast = 0
• Essendon = 0
• CARLTON = 0

The club's consistency deserves to be applauded.

Edited to make it more pleasing to the eye.