1998

[kelvin_sheedy]

A bit of perspective from the not to distant past.

In 1998 we were sitting at 2 wins and 5 losses after round 7.

In 1998 were were 6 wins and 8 losses after round 14.

In 1998 we went 6 and 2 in our last 8 games to make the finals where we lost a close fought battle with the then powerhouse Kangaroos.

Would tanking in 98 have made us a better side in 99 and 00 or did the belief of winning, playing finals and matching it with the best give us the extra impetus for 3 years at or close to the top?

We are currently sitting at 5-9, if we can go 6 and 2 and make or just miss the finals it can set us up beautifully for next year.

ps. we were penalised from the 99 draft so it wouldn't have mattered in regards to draft picks.

 

[Spikey]

As shown by our three shocking seasons after that. We should of tanked. In fact, We also should of traded that over-rated hack Hird too.

 

[dave_27]

Geez we had some close ripper wins in that '98 season. Carlton, St Kilda, Collingwood, Hawthorn all in a row I think aswell late that season.

We had to rely on Melbourne belting Richmond in the last round to make it.

 

[dave_27]

And we had the minor premiers on toast until that animal Carey went nuts in the last quarter and won them the game.

 

[retroparty]

The belief to win got Essendon the premiership in 2000.

Tanking gets you nowhere unless someone like Chris Judd wants to move to your club.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

And we had the minor premiers on toast until that animal Carey went nuts in the last quarter and won them the game.

And Longy was giving Pickett the runaround before getting injured and not having much impact second half if I remember correctly.

We were also getting murdered by the umps!

 

[windyhill]

That was a great game. Mick Long was on absolute fire and norf were bricking it. One man got them over the line that night.

 

[AxelFoley]

Great thread and puts things in perspective.

Going on 1998, there's no doubt that we built a lot of confidence and self belief from efforts late in the season. After the poor start, playing with the 'nothing to lose' mindset really set us up for the following three years of dominance.

Hopefully a similar thing is happening now. We're playing nothing to lose football which IMO craps all over the losing cultue mentality/tanking that earns higher draft picks

Nothing to lose attacking gameplan/lower draft picks>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Tanking/higher draft picks

 

[Giggidy Giggidy]

Great illustration of the future benefits of not tanking - however a bit of a flaw in the comparison is evident when you consider the players we had on our list in '98 compared to now, and their recent history. Whilst we finished very low in '97 (and '94) the majority of our '98 list had already experienced finals in 95-96 (inc. a PF) & many of them a flag in '93. Currently we only have 6 premiership players on our list - and most have not played in any final let alone a PF/GF.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

A bit of perspective from the not to distant past.

In 1998 we were sitting at 2 wins and 5 losses after round 7.

In 1998 were were 6 wins and 8 losses after round 14.

In 1998 we went 6 and 2 in our last 8 games to make the finals where we lost a close fought battle with the then powerhouse Kangaroos.

Would tanking in 98 have made us a better side in 99 and 00 or did the belief of winning, playing finals and matching it with the best give us the extra impetus for 3 years at or close to the top?

We are currently sitting at 5-9, if we can go 6 and 2 and make or just miss the finals it can set us up beautifully for next year.

ps. we were penalised from the 99 draft so it wouldn't have mattered in regards to draft picks.

good post

 

[Jesse Custer]

The belief to win got Essendon the premiership in 2000.

The belief to win was the catalyst for the great season in 99. Overconfidence blew it at the end in that year, it was raw anger and passion that gave us that unbelievable season of 2000.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

The belief to win got Essendon the premiership in 2000.

Was a bit more than belief that got us over the line I would've thought. That team was absolutely formiddable and despite the variety of ages in players most were hitting their peak in 2000.

 

[toddy104]

Bring back the glory days!!

I can't wait.

We are going for four in a row against Brisbane. Who would have thought that a month ago?

Sensational stuff.

 

[Don5]

A bit of perspective from the not to distant past.

In 1998 we were sitting at 2 wins and 5 losses after round 7.

In 1998 were were 6 wins and 8 losses after round 14.

In 1998 we went 6 and 2 in our last 8 games to make the finals where we lost a close fought battle with the then powerhouse Kangaroos.

Would tanking in 98 have made us a better side in 99 and 00 or did the belief of winning, playing finals and matching it with the best give us the extra impetus for 3 years at or close to the top?

We are currently sitting at 5-9, if we can go 6 and 2 and make or just miss the finals it can set us up beautifully for next year.

ps. we were penalised from the 99 draft so it wouldn't have mattered in regards to draft picks.

Kelvin, I think you forgot the fact that 97 we finished 14th, 1996 with 70% of the same squad we finished 3rd/4th. Oh plus we had James Hird!

But I'm hopeful to finish the season strong!

 

[Rack Watts]

Bring back the glory days!!

I can't wait.

We are going for four in a row against Brisbane. Who would have thought that a month ago?

Sensational stuff.

I seem to remember making a post saying that if we beat West Coast the snowball would become a boulder. <_<