Premiership contenders that failed to live up to expectation

[JD888]

Who are the teams over history that have been as disappointing as Melbourne? Who started the season as a contender but didn't live up to pre-season expectation?

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Who are the teams over history that have been as disappointing as Melbourne? Who started the season as a favourite but didn't live up to pre-season expectation?

I dont think Melbourrne could reasonably be called premiership favourites in the pre-season. Bookies had the Tigers for some reason.

 

[Zoom]

I remember everything thinking GWS were going to go through the year undefeated in 2017. Lots of talent, little heart. We all know what happened in the prelim. Shame they will never capitalise on all their talent.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

I remember everything thinking GWS were going to go through the year undefeated in 2017. Lots of talent, little heart. We all know what happened in the prelim. Shame they will never capitalise on all their talent.

You probably thought that. No-one sensible ever did.

 

[JD888]

I dont think Melbourrne could reasonably be called premiership favourites in the pre-season. Bookies had the Tigers for some reason.

Edit: my first post should say "contender" and not "favourite"

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Edit: my first post should say "contender" and not "favourite". However I did say "a favourite" and not "the favourite".

Fair enough. Just clarifying.

 

[ep2018]

We were one of the favourites in 2013 but we fell off a cliff, won a handful of games and our coach stepped down.

 

[Damon_3388]

Adelaide 2013.

Port Adelaide 2015.

Both had the "they came close against Hawthorn in the prelim the year before, so they should improve again" expectation on them, and both crashed hard to not even make the finals.

 

[yirra_kurl]

i'm not sure anyone else thought it at the time.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/schwabs-big-prediction.101171/

 

[kickazz]

i'm not sure anyone else thought it at the time.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/schwabs-big-prediction.101171/

Yeah I remember that, was bizarre.


GWS come to mind, and I also think Port and the Crows have come up a bit short, they've looked fantastic at times.

 

[Zoom]

If your going to change your story every post, your just a waste of oxygen.

No story. Giants were heavily favoured to win the flag, but Richmond ended their hopes

 

[north_lad]

No story. Giants were heavily favoured to win the flag, but Richmond ended their hopes

Ah yes the year Richmond invented winning the premiership

 

[_Mike_]

Bulldogs own this “curse”.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

No story. Giants were heavily favoured to win the flag, but Richmond ended their hopes

Again you change your story.

 

[M Malice]

They still made the GF both years but IMO the best team I've seen that didn't win a GF in their window was St.Kilda 2009-10.

 

[Portmanteau]

We didn’t fire a shot in 2015, and haven’t really since. We haven’t been terrible but it’s been a pretty bland last 5 years.

 

[swiftdog]

I remember everything thinking GWS were going to go through the year undefeated in 2017. Lots of talent, little heart. We all know what happened in the prelim. Shame they will never capitalise on all their talent.

I think you’ve mixed up GWS and Adelaide here. Adelaide well and truly the favourites from early on in the year. I’d actually nominate Adelaide 2017 for this thread. Yes they made the grand final but it was a very poor performance on the big stage.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Brisbane 2010. Started off promisingly enough winning their first 4, but then got smashed by Melbourne and it was all downhill from there. Brown's year was curtailed by injury but to finish in the bottom 4 after their start was a real shock.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Adelaide 2013.

Port Adelaide 2015.

Both had the "they came close against Hawthorn in the prelim the year before, so they should improve again" expectation on them, and both crashed hard to not even make the finals.

Were we considered a contender in 2013? I was under the impression most had us sliding that year. In 2012, many considered us the lucky beneficiaries of an easy draw and, with a harder draw, we wouldn't back up our top 4 finish. We're a good shout for this year though if we keep going the way we are, just like Melbourne.

 

[PCORF]

Adelaide are very predictable after coming close. 1994, 2007, 2013, and 2018 are examples. And unsurprisingly the same thing is happening to Melbourne this year, it is so hard to win when you are not the most successful club and the expectation is so high.

 

[Toump Ass]

In 2015 Richmond finished the home and away season in the same place as Melbourne last season (fifth).
In 2016 Richmond lost 7 of their first 8 (their one win being the season opener against Carlton), then finished the season with a 100+ thumping at the hands of Sydney.
2017 they won the premiership.

If you think Melbourne not backing up 2018 is some kind of anomaly you know absolutely nothing about football.

 

[emuboy]

Geelong in 1990 were a strong premiership favorite following a 6 point loss to Hawthorn in a classic 1989 Grand Final.

Hawthorn thrashed Geelong by 115 points in Round 1 and shattered the Cats' confidence, Geelong never recovering and bumbling its way to a dismal 10th place with an 8-14 win loss record, which included losses to lowly Richmond, Fitzroy, Sydney (twice) and Brisbane.

 

[Handsuper47]

In 2015 Richmond finished the home and away season in the same place as Melbourne last season (fifth).
In 2016 Richmond lost 7 of their first 8 (their one win being the season opener against Carlton), then finished the season with a 100+ thumping at the hands of Sydney.
2017 they won the premiership.

If you think Melbourne not backing up 2018 is some kind of anomaly you know absolutely nothing about football.

You're completely correct - Melbourne not backing up 2018 is not an anomaly. The real anomaly is what happened to Melbourne in 2018.

 

[chefmeister]

How many times have Collingwood been touted as true contenders?

They’re still Favourites this year ffs.

 

[Benny78]

GWS. Built a solid list way back in 2019 and were touted for basically that entire decade, but as we've found out the last few seasons will never win a premiership.