- Dec 17, 2006
- 4,389
- 4,658
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
- Other Teams
- South Fremantle, Sturt
One of the silliest things in the AFL in recent years has been the absolute drama a draw causes. Players of both teams slump to the ground devastated like their team has just lost the Grand Final, and debate rages for days about whether draws should continue in the AFL.
I think it is all ridiculous - you finished with the same score as your opponent - get over it already! At least you didn't lose! And who knows, your two points might get you a double chance, a finals place or help you avoid the wooden spoon. What if you played soccer, where draws are as frequent as wins and losses?
Draws are rare, should be retained IMO, and provide fascinating trivia for those of us who love football stats. Here are some, please post others:
I think it is all ridiculous - you finished with the same score as your opponent - get over it already! At least you didn't lose! And who knows, your two points might get you a double chance, a finals place or help you avoid the wooden spoon. What if you played soccer, where draws are as frequent as wins and losses?
Draws are rare, should be retained IMO, and provide fascinating trivia for those of us who love football stats. Here are some, please post others:
- Essendon has played the most draws (33), the most recent of which was against the Brisbane Lions this year.
- The Fremantle Dockers have never played a draw in 15 completed AFL seasons since 1995 (the 2006 sirengate debacle against the Saints not withstanding), while the Adelaide Crows have drawn only once, in the wet against St Kilda in 1994. The other two teams to enter the AFL in the 1990s, the Brisbane Lions & Port Adelaide have drawn more frequently, and in fact played successive draws against each other in 1997/98.
- Of the three clubs to enter the then VFL in 1925, Hawthorn have played just 9 draws, but North and the Bulldogs have played in draws 17 & 22 times respectively.
- Melbourne draw infrequently - when they finished level with the Sydney Swans in Round 7 1992, it was their first draw since 1971, and they would not play a tie again until a late 2006 match against Geelong. They have not played a draw in 3 years since then.
- After Carlton & Fitzroy drew early in 1982, there would be no more draws until a game between North & Hawthorn in 1985. The Football Record commented that very day about the long absence of draws.
- The most recent season without a draw is 2004.
- Carlton and the Sydney/Sth Melb Swans have drawn the most times in games against each other - 6 times, but the most recent tie between them was in 1967.
- West Coast & Collingwood drew in the 1990 Qualifying Final, and scores were again level at the final siren in a 2007 Semi Final between these teams, with the Magpies winning this match in extra time.
- Two Grand Finals have been drawn - 1948 Essendon vs Melbourne and 1977 Collingwood vs North Melb. But while the drawn games attracted good crowds - 85,658 & 108,224 respectively - the replays received much smaller crowds - 52,226 & 98,366.