Macpotata
Norm Smith Medallist
- Mar 22, 2017
- 9,595
- 10,887
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Many strong sides indeed. Some of the greatest in the history of the game perhaps, that on their day, were unlucky or simply the big stage got to them and they choked.
We had the great West Coast side of 1991 that won their first 12 games of the season and would go on to capture greatness a year later becoming the first side to take the cup out of Victoria. A roaring North Melbourne outfit led by King Carey who should have been out of sight by half time amassing 6.15 to the Crows 4.3 in 1998. Essendon of 2001 who a year before tasted defeat in just a single game all season and arguably were the best side the year before that too. The Brisbane Lions who won 3 successive flags and played in a fourth before succumbing to Port Adelaide who finally broke through after 3 years of heartache. Perhaps if the Lions didn't have to play a '' home '' prelim in Melbourne the week before, they would have claimed a 4th successive premiership. The Sydney Swans were a point or two off going back to back when they lost the deciding rematch in 2006 to West Coast. The great Geelong of 2008, lost just one game all season before the big dance and were gunning for back to back. In many people's opinion { and mine } the best team ever to not win a flag. We'd get it again the next year, and another 2 years after that losing the best player in the competition. The Saints of 2009 were another force to be reckoned with, as were the Pies of 2011, champions just a year before.
What about the Hawks of 2012, that were in it all game. led by 16 points in the last quarter and would just fall short. They went on to win 3 straight after that. In 2011 lost by a whisker to the Black and White army { left out of the Poll by mistake }
And out of respect that they earned for being a great team in the history of the game I'll throw the Dons outfit of 1999 in there too. They were remarkable.
Due to not having enough teams in the Poll, I've left out some sides like Blues 99, Dees 2000, Port 2007
Who were the best 5 of sides not to win it.
We had the great West Coast side of 1991 that won their first 12 games of the season and would go on to capture greatness a year later becoming the first side to take the cup out of Victoria. A roaring North Melbourne outfit led by King Carey who should have been out of sight by half time amassing 6.15 to the Crows 4.3 in 1998. Essendon of 2001 who a year before tasted defeat in just a single game all season and arguably were the best side the year before that too. The Brisbane Lions who won 3 successive flags and played in a fourth before succumbing to Port Adelaide who finally broke through after 3 years of heartache. Perhaps if the Lions didn't have to play a '' home '' prelim in Melbourne the week before, they would have claimed a 4th successive premiership. The Sydney Swans were a point or two off going back to back when they lost the deciding rematch in 2006 to West Coast. The great Geelong of 2008, lost just one game all season before the big dance and were gunning for back to back. In many people's opinion { and mine } the best team ever to not win a flag. We'd get it again the next year, and another 2 years after that losing the best player in the competition. The Saints of 2009 were another force to be reckoned with, as were the Pies of 2011, champions just a year before.
What about the Hawks of 2012, that were in it all game. led by 16 points in the last quarter and would just fall short. They went on to win 3 straight after that. In 2011 lost by a whisker to the Black and White army { left out of the Poll by mistake }
And out of respect that they earned for being a great team in the history of the game I'll throw the Dons outfit of 1999 in there too. They were remarkable.
Due to not having enough teams in the Poll, I've left out some sides like Blues 99, Dees 2000, Port 2007
Who were the best 5 of sides not to win it.
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