Opinion What is the Best Rivalry in AFL?

[lethalsax]

All I’ve got for reference is this Wikipedia article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivalries_in_the_Australian_Football_League

To me, it sounds like Hawthorn vs Geelong is a big one, as well as Essendon vs Richmond and Essendon vs Hawthorn. But I’m interested in seeing what fans of any team would consider a must watch rivalry.

Also, there are so many rivalries with names. Anyone have a link or care to provide a list of named rivalries like Dreamtime, etc?

 

[bjwilliams]

Dogs v Giants has been the best rivalry for the past 5 years imo.

 

[Vaccination]

All I’ve got for reference is this Wikipedia article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivalries_in_the_Australian_Football_League

To me, it sounds like Hawthorn vs Geelong is a big one, as well as Essendon vs Richmond and Essendon vs Hawthorn. But I’m interested in seeing what fans of any team would consider a must watch rivalry.

Also, there are so many rivalries with names. Anyone have a link or care to provide a list of named rivalries like Dreamtime, etc?

Before going into rivalries it's important to know some of the history and location behind teams.

So the big four Melbourne sides (Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond) all have some form of rivalries with each other and would normally draw at least 60-70,000 to the MCG on a normal day.

Collingwood and Carlton would probably be the biggest rivalry in the comp if both teams were ever good at the same time. This stems from the early days of the VFL and well into the 70's

Collingwood and Essendon is also big. They play each other every year on ANZAC day (Similar to memorial day for Americans). This is probably the biggest game of the regular season and get's 80-90,000 people every year (Think Cowboys vs Eagles in the NFL)

Essendon and Richmond play each other every year around May-June during indigenous round. This game is known as the dreamtime game, and attracts large crowds.

Carlton and Richmond also play each other at the start of every year as the opening game.

 

[Catsnlakers]

I’m biased, Geelong vs Hawthorn.

 

[Vaccination]

All I’ve got for reference is this Wikipedia article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivalries_in_the_Australian_Football_League

To me, it sounds like Hawthorn vs Geelong is a big one, as well as Essendon vs Richmond and Essendon vs Hawthorn. But I’m interested in seeing what fans of any team would consider a must watch rivalry.

Also, there are so many rivalries with names. Anyone have a link or care to provide a list of named rivalries like Dreamtime, etc?

Geelong and Hawthorn was the biggest rivalry in the late 80's and between 2008-2018. Both teams were always good, hated each other and had close games. The wikipedia article on it does a really good job on it.

Hawthorn and Essendon also hate each other. Had some bloodbaths in the 80's and 2000's. If you get the chance have a look at the line in the sand game

A lot of the rivalries don't really have names, it's more just team vs team. Periods of time between team's might be known as something or games might have individual names.
Eg:
Line in the Sand game (Essendon vs Hawthorn 2004)
The Kennett Curse (Hawthorn vs Geelong 2009-2013)
The Demolition Derby (West Coast vs Fremantle 2000)
The Draw (St Kilda vs Collingwood 2010)

Anyways, in the past 5 or so years the best rivalries imo have been Port Adelaide vs Adelaide and Bulldogs vs GWS. Collingwood vs West Coast as well

 

[Vikingnz]

GWS and Bulldogs is the only real antagonistic, spiteful yet close rivalry of the last 5 years. Doing stuff like sending Haynes to the coin toss with Bont after Bont fractured Haynes larynx in the last game. Plus some great tight contests in there.

All the 'traditional' rivalries have suffered recently from either being too one-sided or both sides being irrelevant.

 

[Wojcinski]

Hawthorn v Geelong WAS a great rivalry but the Hawks are garbage now and will be for a long time so the rivalry has died off. GWS v Dogs is good, the budding Lions v Tigers is also enjoyable

 

[Bipolar Bear]

I love GWS vs. the Doggies.
Essendon vs. Hawthorn is always full of drama and is very physical.
I love the Showdown and the Derby also. Brisbane vs. Port in the 2000s.
Eagles vs. Sydney is also a sneaky good rivalry.

 

[Ati Tude]

The best rivalries are built on animosity eg Ess and Carlton, Port and Crows, Hawkes and Cats, Ess and Hawkes, Dogs and GWS.

Ess and Rich isn't a real rivalry. Clubs have too much in common and Ess haven't been strong for a while whilst Rich has and when Ess were stronger, Rich hasnt been so there haven't been dramatic finals matches.

Personally as an Ess supporter, it is Carlton, then Coll, then Hawkes. Nothing beyond that is much of a rivalry. If Ess and Carlton ever get back to contending again at the same time (yeah yeah might take decades), it will take off.

 

[El_Scorcho]

In terms of recent history, Hawthorn vs Geelong.

In terms of genuine hatred, the Showdown and it isn't close.

 

[Lsta062]

- Essendon vs Carlton
- Port Adelaide vs Adelaide
- Essendon vs Hawthorn
- Geelong vs Hawthorn
- Sydney vs Essendon
- GWS vs Bulldogs
- Richmond vs Collingwood

Those I think are the current established rivalries.

Others for Richmond:
- Richmond vs Geelong
- Richmond vs Brisbane
- Richmond vs Port Adelaide.

Don’t know how long the Brisbane and Geelong ones will last as they are recent ones, but I feel like the Port Adelaide one has been there even before the current Premiership (or even finals) era. I’d say going back to maybe even around 2010 (well, at least in my opinion). Regardless of ladder position or ground, it feels like any of these two sides can beat the other.

 

[lethalsax]

I appreciate all the responses! Makes it a little bit easier to gauge the importance of each match and decide which ones are worth staying up for!

 

[Bipolar Bear]

I appreciate all the responses! Makes it a little bit easier to gauge the importance of each match and decide which ones are worth staying up for!

Which US sport codes do you follow? if you follow the NFL, we may be able to muster up some rivalry comparisons

 

[300Weatherby]

How about Eagles vs Crows, always seems to be a big game.

 

[Engimal v3]

Port v Fremantle probably the biggest in recent years

 

[Electronic_Renaissance]

There will always be the traditional rivalries but I think it changes. It really depends on where teams are in terms of their "premiership window".

WC vs Freo and Ade vs Port, ANZAC clashes etc will always be rivalries.

Sydney Vs WC was a great rivalry during the mid 2000's. That seems to have fizzled out a bit.

Say if Melbourne and the Bulldogs are up there for a few years, that could provide a great rivalry.

 

[PhatBoy]

- Essendon vs Carlton
- Port Adelaide vs Adelaide
- Essendon vs Hawthorn
- Geelong vs Hawthorn
- Sydney vs Essendon
- GWS vs Bulldogs
- Richmond vs Collingwood

Those I think are the current established rivalries.

Others for Richmond:
- Richmond vs Geelong
- Richmond vs Brisbane
- Richmond vs Port Adelaide.

Don’t know how long the Brisbane and Geelong ones will last as they are recent ones, but I feel like the Port Adelaide one has been there even before the current Premiership (or even finals) era. I’d say going back to maybe even around 2010 (well, at least in my opinion). Regardless of ladder position or ground, it feels like any of these two sides can beat the other.

I think the one with us has a bit of history purely because for so long it was so one sided. Now that it’s balanced a bit there is a genuine antagonistic element to it

 

[WilloTree]

Caro V SOS

 

[lethalsax]

Which US sport codes do you follow? if you follow the NFL, we may be able to muster up some rivalry comparisons

Certainly follow the NFL. Really all major US sports and a little bit of soccer/futbol.

 

[emblurr]

2012

2023
The four-time premiership coach unloaded on his players in a withering half-time spray. Witnesses said that during that outburst a chair was picked up and thrown into a wall.

Clarko vs Walls

 

[Skipper_]

West Coast vs the bye

 

[spudmaster]

2012

2023
The four-time premiership coach unloaded on his players in a withering half-time spray. Witnesses said that during that outburst a chair was picked up and thrown into a wall.

Clarko vs Walls

Bit of a one-sided rivalry - Clarko's undefeated.

 

[raskolnikov]

I enjoy the Port - Adelaide rivalry. It's always a good read to go on one of the team's board when the other has lost.

 

[Stottzy]

Hawthorn vs Essendon is a great rivalry because the clubs literally just don't like each other beyond supporters banter. Pretty bitter between boards & administration even.

 

[Gough]

Crows v Port for older fans is still the SANFL v Port Adelaide and the enmity is deep.