Club History Essendon in Grand Finals

[Chiz]

Just looking back at our 28 Grand Final appearances (won 14, lost 14 - two of our 16 premierships were won in a round-robin finals series). A 50-50 record, which is at least better than Collingwood.

But looking at the margins, we have won nearly all of our GFs comfortably (with the exception of pre-1925, when scores were typically low), but have lost a lot of close ones, as this chart shows:



Between 1943 and 1968, we lost five GFs by less than two goals (four less than a goal, including a draw in which we lost the replay). But since 1943, the lowest winning margin of our 10 premierships in that time was 24 points (1984).

Could easily have 20 premierships...

 

[windyhill]

Could've ,should've ,would've had five in a row in the late 40's early 50's. Didn't.

 

[Dan26]

Could've ,should've ,would've had five in a row in the late 40's early 50's. Didn't.

Probably six.

Obviously should've won '47 and '48 (if you look at scoring shots)

But 1951, really was ours as well.

 

[Fear Boner]

it be nice to actually be good enough again to get to play in one again

 

[windyhill]

Probably six.

Obviously should've won '47 and '48 (if you look at scoring shots)

But 1951, really was ours as well.

7.27 !!!! 7.27. King Richard, God bless him..... " I didn't move him, I didn't want to hurt his feelings". Bill brittingham. I have to say it again, 7.27.

 

[Shane Hird]

Collingwood have lost 26 grand finals. They should have 35 flags.

But that's footy.

 

[Dan26]

7.27 !!!! 7.27. King Richard, God bless him..... " I didn't move him, I didn't want to hurt his feelings". Bill brittingham. I have to say it again, 7.27.

It sucks really.

Those lucky pricks today at the MCG win yet another Grand Final, and how many were won after close finals either in the GF or earlier in the finals? (1983QF, 1989GF, 1991-2SF, 2013PF, 2014PF... hell, they kick 18.7 to 11.23 in 2008 too.

And we kick ourselves out of 1947, 1948, 1999, Coleman in '51)

It's bullshit, really.

 

[windyhill]

It sucks really.

Those lucky pricks today at the MCG win yet another Grand Final, and how many were won after close finals either in the GF or earlier in the finals? (1983QF, 1989GF, 1991-2SF, 2013PF, 2014PF... hell, they kick 18.7 to 11.23 in 2008 too.

And we kick ourselves out of 1947, 1948, 1999, Coleman in '51)

It's bullshit, really.

Agreed, I just have to say " I've seen four, I've seen four" and then I start feeling a little bit better, but reading our history can get a little annoying. Coleman gets four for retaliation, Geelong admit they were no hope if he played, misses whole September. Coleman does knee, do it today and he's back in 6 weeks etc etc etc

 

[Dan26]

Agreed, I just have to say " I've seen four, I've seen four" and then I start feeling a little bit better, but reading our history can get a little annoying. Coleman gets four for retaliation, Geelong admit they were no hope if he played, misses whole September. Coleman does knee, do it today and he's back in 6 weeks etc etc etc

Not just that, but even in other years it was a matter of timing and injuries.

1990, we finish top. I KNEW we were going to lose on Grand Final day. Hated the walk to the ground knowing what was going to happen. But we were never the same after the Sumich kick and three weeks off. We hit poor form at the wrong time, but on ability we were as good or better than Collingwood, but circumstance, timing etc.

Same in 2001. Both us and Bris were 17 win teams. Our form earlier in the year wins the flag. But injuries, momentum go against us.

Bloody Hawthorn barely have an injury all year. This year could have been their "Essendon 2001."

Even 1981... We had Carlton's measure. Win 15 straight games and still in an elimination final? What the f***? I know we were young, but with momentum and circustances (playing our bunny at the time, Carlton) with a fit Neale Daniher who doesn't do his knee, who knows what could have happened if we finished 3rd instead of 4th. We were 4-0 against Carlton and Collingwood in that year.

 

[Dan26]

On the other hand, we pinched '93 !! W.coast should've had '93, Geelong just missed that year as well.......

Funny year 1993. Whoever won it pinched it.

Still, we finished top.

What ticks me off, is that we never win it from 2nd or 3rd to "balance out" the times we finished top but didn't win it (1990, 1999, 2001). You'd think the footy Gods would have given us an '81 or '82 if you flick a few results around and we finish 2nd or 3rd instead of 4th.

Sadly, I think we are smack, bang in the middle of what will inevitably turn into our longest premiership drought.

Sorry, I just feel pissed off right now.

 

[Chiz]

Under Sheedy, 7 minor premierships, but only 4 majors. Leigh Matthews turned zero top finishes into 4 flags, and hawthorn have won three after finishing 2nd or 3rd (including 2008).

You need two things to win a premiership - a very good team, and quite a bit of luck.

 

[Dan26]

Under Sheedy, 7 minor premierships, but only 4 majors. Leigh Matthews turned zero top finishes into 4 flags, and hawthorn have won three after finishing 2nd or 3rd (including 2008).

You need two things to win a premiership - a very good team, and quite a bit of luck.

Exactly. We have had no luck, when you think about it.

We won all the flags we deserved to win, but havn't pinched any when we perhaps weren't the best.

My ultimate fantasy would be to win it from 8th.

 

[Chiz]

Exactly. We have had no luck, when you think about it.

We won all the flags we deserved to win, but havn't pinched any when we perhaps weren't the best.

My ultimate fantasy would be to win it from 8th.

Pretty much - plenty of lost grand finals we could've won, plus close preliminary finals etc.

While hawthorn have been the best team over the last three years, they've had plenty go their way in terms of close preliminary finals, and hardly any injuries in September (while their main competitors have had injuries at the wrong time, eg Freo).

 

[LB#16]

Not just that, but even in other years it was a matter of timing and injuries.

1990, we finish top. I KNEW we were going to lose on Grand Final day. Hated the walk to the ground knowing what was going to happen. But we were never the same after the Sumich kick and three weeks off. We hit poor form at the wrong time, but on ability we were as good or better than Collingwood, but circumstance, timing etc.

Same in 2001. Both us and Bris were 17 win teams. Our form earlier in the year wins the flag. But injuries, momentum go against us.

Bloody Hawthorn barely have an injury all year. This year could have been their "Essendon 2001."

Even 1981... We had Carlton's measure. Win 15 straight games and still in an elimination final? What the f***? I know we were young, but with momentum and circustances (playing our bunny at the time, Carlton) with a fit Neale Daniher who doesn't do his knee, who knows what could have happened if we finished 3rd instead of 4th. We were 4-0 against Carlton and Collingwood in that year.

No reason next year can't be their Brisbane 2004.

 

[Chiz]

Sadly, I think we are smack, bang in the middle of what will inevitably turn into our longest premiership drought.

Unless we can win one in the next seven years...

 

[Dan26]

No reason next year can't be their Brisbane 2004.

Nah, they're lucky. Always win close finals that results in premierships. Always win it from 2nd or 3rd, when they aren't the best ream. Always have the momentum and form going their way. It's bullshit.

They could have lost three prelims in a row in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and we'd be saying how they choked when it mattered. But they win because they're lucky pricks.

If they do play like Brisbane in 2004, and are outplayed, they'd probably still kick 18.3 or something, and win by a point.

 

[Mootsy]

Funny year 1993. Whoever won it pinched it.

Still, we finished top.

What ticks me off, is that we never win it from 2nd or 3rd to "balance out" the times we finished top but didn't win it (1990, 1999, 2001). You'd think the footy Gods would have given us an '81 or '82 if you flick a few results around and we finish 2nd or 3rd instead of 4th.

Sadly, I think we are smack, bang in the middle of what will inevitably turn into our longest premiership drought.

Sorry, I just feel pissed off right now.

I agree Dan, I think this will be a 30-40 year drought for us. You need a lot of luck to win it these days and the Hawks have done everything right. Recruited brilliantly well over ten years...

The only thing that might help Essendon is the new training facilities and a new coach that can get the team playing as a team..

But a lot of it comes down to good list management.

 

[Dan26]

Unless we can win one in the next seven years...

You mean in the next 3.

Unless we win the premiership in either 2016, 2017, or 2018, then we enter the 2019 season with a 19 year premiership drought - equal longest in our history.

 

[Chiz]

You mean in the next 3.

Unless we win the premiership in either 2016, 2017, or 2018, then we enter the 2019 season with a 19 year premiership drought - equal longest in our history.

I stand corrected - 1924 to 1943 and 1965 to 1984. Hopefully we are destined to never have a 20-year drought...

 

[OzBomber]

Every year that premiership drought gets extended, the more it hurts to watch teams win the flag.

The jubilation of the players and in particular the supporters feels like a dagger through the heart. In 2000 I was only 7 so I took it for granted and expected us to just win every year. Now that I'm older I feel like I would be able to appreciate a premiership so much more. The optimist in me looks at Port/Eagles of recent years in the hope we can make a shock jump up the ladder with the group core of players we have but the realist in me suggests it's going to be a long time before I see us lifting the cup again.

 

[Mootsy]

Agree completely...

Really should have won in 01 against the Lions..no question. We had the home ground advantage and to beat the lions that day. Lloyd kicked 5 and Lucas played very well...

Needed at least two premiership cups for reward of that amazing list that we had in 2000 era...

It is just very depressing ..

Simple as that..

Could be 20-30-40 years until we even make another GF...

So all those youngster fans or any fans from 2000 era are going to be very old next time around I feel..

Really depressing stuff and that is illustrated in the Ess v Lions documentary as well, by former players showing that emotion of the loss...particularly Allessio, but I'm sure other players as well..

But the most depressing has been the lack of winning culture and inability to even make finals over the last 15 years, very poor performances and the club going from the big 4 to to this supplements scandal and non winning culture..

Watching other teams dominate the modern game for this long and now the Hawks winning every year. It's pretty tough going ...

Still, I'm excited about the current list and hopefully Dodoro can pull something out of a hat in the draft. We need some midfielders and outside run. Got to go hard at the draft this year..

 

[I Remember Bluey]

it be nice to actually be good enough again to get to play in one again

Never Fear Boner, one day soon we will get to rise again just like the glory days of our youth.

 

[Shane Hird]

I was lucky to be born in 70' and pretty much had an even spread of premiership joy through the years.

GFs won or lost at 13,14,15,20,23,30 and 31 years of age ...so i can be a bit more patient than younger fans.
My son is 16 now and has grown bored with my stories of past glory and wants to experience it himself.

Nothing you can do but sit back and wait.

 

[Hawkk]

It sucks really.

Those lucky pricks today at the MCG win yet another Grand Final, and how many were won after close finals either in the GF or earlier in the finals? (1983QF, 1989GF, 1991-2SF, 2013PF, 2014PF... hell, they kick 18.7 to 11.23 in 2008 too.

And we kick ourselves out of 1947, 1948, 1999, Coleman in '51)

It's bullshit, really.

Sorry for intruding but as the ONLY club to have a positive win/loss in finals and as the ONLY club that has won more than one GF against us I hope you stay the hell away from Hawthorn so long as we are in this window!

Wasnt that long ago (round 17 2013) that the Hawks and Bombers were 1st and 2nd and playing off against each other at Ethiad

I will now see myself out

 

[Tassieboy]

Sorry for intruding but as the ONLY club to have a positive win/loss in finals and as the ONLY club that has won more than one GF against us I hope you stay the hell away from Hawthorn so long as we are in this window!

Wasnt that long ago (round 17 2013) that the Hawks and Bombers were 1st and 2nd and playing off against each other at Ethiad

I will now see myself out

Can Goldspink umpire if we meet in finals again?