The most unlikely grand final matchups in recent times

[BigVic]

What are some grand finals we were not expecting in recent history?

1. 2019 Richmond vs GWS Giants
2. 2017 Adelaide vs Richmond
3. 2013 Hawthorn vs Fremantle
4. 2016 Sydney vs Western Bulldogs

 

[Headless]

Unlikely in what sense?

 

[Glassjaw]

Thank god the doggies cracked on. The rest were the absolute worst

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Unlikely in what sense?

Not likely.

Hope this helps.

 

[SplintWhisky]

What are some grand finals we were not expecting in recent history?

1. 2019 Richmond vs GWS Giants
2. 2017 Adelaide vs Richmond
3. 2013 Hawthorn vs Fremantle
4. 2016 Sydney vs Western Bulldogs

Pretty sure the 2017 Grand Final was the second Grand Final since the first ever that all the players had never played in one. Wild as hell stat.

 

[BigVic]

Pretty sure the 2017 Grand Final was the second Grand Final since the first ever that all the players had never played in one. Wild as hell stat.

It was the first with no grand final experience for all

 

[kaiserchief13]

Sydney v Brisbane
Melbourne v Bulldogs
Richmond v GWS
Sydney v Bulldogs
Kangaroos v Carlton
Adelaide v North Melbourne

 

[Roobs321]

Richmond & GWS were both outside the top 4 in R16-18. Doesn’t get more unlikely than that.

R12 1998 3 of the 4 prelim finalists were #7, #8 & #10.

 

[Borussia Teeth]

For ****s sake, why…

 

[Blues177]

Carlton in 1999 playing North in the GF after winning only 12 H&A games, finishing 6th and getting thrashed in the first week of the finals.

 

[Freomaniac]

Richmond & GWS were both outside the top 4 in R16-18. Doesn’t get more unlikely than that.

R12 1998 3 of the 4 prelim finalists were #7, #8 & #10.

Richmond then had 7 games at the MCG before the finals in which many posters complained

 

[BigVic]

Sydney v Brisbane
Melbourne v Bulldogs
Richmond v GWS
Sydney v Bulldogs
Kangaroos v Carlton
Adelaide v North Melbourne

Sydney and Brisbane were 1 & 2 with 4 games remaining before Brisbane blew their top 4 chances and had to win the flag via the hard way from 5th

 

[demondavey]

Wouldn’t have picked Brisbane to get there this year after their start.

Carlton in 99. WB in 16.

 

[Franc de Borges]

Growing up in the 90s and seeing Sydney play in the 1996 Grand Final is probably the weirdest, even though they finished top that year. They lost 26 in a row at one stage.

 

[demondavey]

Growing up in the 90s and seeing Sydney play in the 1996 Grand Final is probably the weirdest, even though they finished top that year. They lost 26 in a row at one stage.

They were horrendous in 1994 from memory. And in 95 didn’t make the 8.

Agree on that. The infamous PF win over Essendon as well.

 

[Roobs321]

Was watching that match in NSW at the time with my blood parents. Had seldom seen my dad so excited to that point, was definitely the furthest they’d gotten in decades supporting them. Mum was able to feel a bit sorry for Sheedy n co losing that brutally. They were so poor and irrelevant that I wasn’t even aware parents were Swans until I happened to ask them in ‘95, it wasn’t plainly evident and I’d already chosen my team by then.