Which side is closer to a premiership - Carlton or Essendon?

[Daka]

We beat both these clubs last year,
and that was after losing 3 of our better players and Graham who was a best 22 player.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

We beat both these clubs last year,
and that was after losing 3 of our better players and Graham who was a best 22 player.

Will forever be thankful to Richmond for that first loss you served Carlton.

 

[Daka]

Will forever be thankful to Richmond for that first loss you served Carlton.

One of the great upsets, I still don't know how Carlton let us back into that... beaten by a bunch of kids with enthustiasm.

 

[boncer34]

We beat both these clubs last year,
and that was after losing 3 of our better players and Graham who was a best 22 player.

Thank god.

The one thing this thread about Essendon and Carlton needed was more Richmond.

 

[Juddernaut08]

This just means your team sucks and you lost your best players if you think about it

how so?

 

[Bagger72]

#Flaggers No17

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

This just means your team sucks and you lost your best players if you think about it

That cliff for Collingwood is ominously approaching. Your core of Dad's Army veterans can only go to the well so often after all.

 

[Digsby]

That cliff for Collingwood is ominously approaching. Your core of Dad's Army veterans can only go to the well so often after all.

Nic Newman,Cripps,Haynes,McGovern,Pittonet and Saad all 30 or older this year

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

Nic Newman,Cripps,Haynes,McGovern,Pittonet and Saad all 30 or older this year

The list has been freshened up with some good young talent in the off season i think.

 

[Digsby]

The list has been freshened up with some good young talent in the off season i think.

small forward mix looks a bit better

 

[timokane]

2 from 2 by the Blues in 2026.

2026 alot of my blue mates thinking of flag already.

Wow could 2026 be the year of the Blues.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

how so?

"our floor is higher" just means you had terrible players and now you have average players to replace three of your awful ones, while also losing one of the 'best' players in the AFL.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

small forward mix looks a bit better

It literally couldn't have gotten worse.

 

[Juddernaut08]

"our floor is higher" just means you had terrible players and now you have average players to replace three of your awful ones, while also losing one of the 'best' players in the AFL.

Well yeah, but it means the terrible players aren't playing for us... How is that not a positive?

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

Well yeah, but it means the terrible players aren't playing for us... How is that not a positive?

Because you lost one of your best players.

 

[Juddernaut08]

Because you lost one of your best players.

no doubt homes, Im saying it's possibly more than offset by replacing the fringe players we had.

have to wait for the real stuff to begin

 

[Worm4]

It literally couldn't have gotten worse.

No worries Fadge. Hows Bobby Hill working out for you this season ?

 

[CarmenSandiego]

Because you lost one of your best players.

so did you, or.. let me guess.. mihochek won’t return to form like the rest of your aging players will?

 

[T2B_]

Why are there Pies pipsqueaks in this thread?

As to the thread - neither. I don't think you can say any team is close to a premiership unless they're playing and winning finals regularly and clearly thereabouts, Even then there's no guarantees.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

so did you, or.. let me guess.. mihochek won’t return to form like the rest of your aging players will?

Hilarious to compare checkers leaving to curnow.

 

[CarmenSandiego]

Hilarious to compare checkers leaving to curnow.

Yeah you’re actually right, it’s far worse for the pies.

Mihochek kicked more goals than Curnow in 2025 & you have no other decent key fwd to fall back on.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

Yeah you’re actually right, it’s far worse for the pies.

Mihochek kicked more goals than Curnow in 2025 & you have no other decent key fwd to fall back on.

I aspire to achieve this level of delusion

 

[CarmenSandiego]

I aspire to achieve this level of delusion

collingwood danster is a fantastic addition to the main board. welcome.

 

[Wraptor]

Neither - both will have the longest/2nd longest premiership droughts in 25 years time.

This post is aging like a fine wine.
Even Fremantle will win a premiership before either of them, as Fremantle have shown they know how to build and maintain a competitive playing list that is capable of contending for premierships.

 

[Roobs321]

1999 Prelims eve (sold separately to the parties concerned):

Carlton, you’ll win this weekend (!), but at a cost, to be revealed in time

North, you’ll win this weekend, and next (!), but at a cost, to be revealed in time

Essendon, you’ll fall short this weekend, but obliterate them all next year like you’ve never seen (!), but at a cost, to be revealed in time

Brisbane, you’ll lose this weekend, but reign supreme over them next century (!), to be revealed in time