Have Sydney underachieved in the modern era?

[Black Haze]

With two flags from eight grand finals in the modern era, it's hard to argue that Sydney haven't underachieved. I've heard arguments from Sydney supporters about how hard it is for interstate teams to win flags at the MCG, but it hasn't been an issue for Brisbane who are on a similar playing field to Sydney eg being based in rugby territory, having access to academies and Victorian heritage.

There is no doubt that Sydney are a great club with a strong culture and have been for the past three decades, but do you think they have underachieved in the modern era? Why/why not?

 

[deck]

A few clubs around who would loved to have underachieved like Sydney over the last 20 years.

 

[PerfectFooty]

For a while in terms of making finals over and over again, Sydney and Geelong pretty dominant in that regard (Sydney had a lean couple of years around covid). I would take that at my club in a heart beat. Geelong though have premierships through that 07,09,11 period and 22. Sydney could have replicated that with a 12,14,16 and or a 22,24 but didn't.

They probably have underachieved for the amount of times they've been at the point end and not completed the part that matters most. But their underachieving is still a massive form of higher achieving to many other clubs. Us and Carlton had decade long droughts while Sydney where routinely contending, at a point in time i would have given anything to see us just make September

 

[Xtreme]

Yes, they had Buddy who only went to Sydney to win premierships............ failed spectacularly.

 

[brmi]

Failed miserably.

 

[kid_a]

They've underachieved in Grand finals

Overall though they've been one of the best performing clubs, have just been missing the biggest and most important piece more often than they'd have liked.

 

[kid_a]

For a while in terms of making finals over and over again, Sydney and Geelong pretty dominant in that regard (Sydney had a lean couple of years around covid). I would take that at my club in a heart beat. Geelong though have premierships through that 07,09,11 period and 22. Sydney could have replicated that with a 12,14,16 and or a 22,24 but didn't.

They probably have underachieved for the amount of times they've been at the point end and not completed the part that matters most. But their underachieving is still a massive form of higher achieving to many other clubs. Us and Carlton had decade long droughts while Sydney where routinely contending, at a point in time i would have given anything to see us just make September

Good take

By whole of AFL standards they are well above average.

By their own standards given the positions they've found themselves in, they've underachieved.

 

[RUNVS]

Yes, they had Buddy who only went to Sydney to win premierships............ failed spectacularly.

You have been corrected on this so many times.

Buddy went to Sydney because he wanted to get out of the limelight of Melbourne, and his wife had a job in Sydney. He picked the Swans because between Sydney and GWS he thought Sydney had a greater chance of winning flags, but he did not go to Sydney because he thought we were the most likely in the competition to win premierships, just that we were more likely to win them than GWS were.

 

[Xtreme]

You have been corrected on this so many times.

Buddy went to Sydney because he wanted to get out of the limelight of Melbourne, and his wife had a job in Sydney. He picked the Swans because between Sydney and GWS he thought Sydney had a greater chance of winning flags, but he did not go to Sydney because he thought we were the most likely in the competition to win premierships, just that we were more likely to win them than GWS were.

His own words at his signing press conference said otherwise.

 

[RUNVS]

His own words at his signing press conference said otherwise.

Yes, he was referring to the fact he picked Sydney over GWS, not Sydney over Hawthorn.

 

[Xtreme]

Yes, he was referring to the fact he picked Sydney over GWS, not Sydney over Hawthorn.

And he failed to win one at the Swans, so the footy gods delivered a dose of sweet karma. Everyone wins.

 

[RUNVS]

And he failed to win one at the Swans, so the footy gods delivered a dose of sweet karma. Everyone wins.

GWS did not win one either.

Considering this happened around 13 years ago now you still seem very resentful, especially since Buddy wanted to move to Sydney for non-football related reasons. I would have thought given the service he gave to your club you would be a little more grateful and not actively wish him misfortune.

 

[Xtreme]

GWS did not win one either.

Considering this happened around 13 years ago now you still seem very resentful, especially since Buddy wanted to move to Sydney for non-football related reasons. I would have thought given the service he gave to your club you would be a little more grateful and not actively wish him misfortune.

He went to Sydney primarily to win premierships and failed, shock horror.

 

[RUNVS]

He went to Sydney primarily to win premierships and failed, shock horror.

Except it has been explained to you many times that this is not the case.

 

[JPetro83]

No. The Adelaide Crows are the biggest underachievers. Look at the amount of prelims we have been in and not one premiership to show for it post 2000. so frustrating and disappointing. Sydney have two premierships and made GFs. they are doing fine

 

[bungalow_bill]

Except it has been explained to you many times that this is not the case.

And if it were the case he'd have stayed at Hawthorn where another flag or two was almost a certainty.

 

[Xtreme]

Except it has been explained to you many times that this is not the case.

The rest is just hearsay, he explicitly said that he wanted to go to Sydney to help them win premierships and he ultimately failed.

 

[RUNVS]

The rest is just hearsay, he explicitly said that he wanted to go to Sydney to help them win premierships and he ultimately failed.

Yes, but in the context of all the rumours saying he was going to GWS. He was going to Sydney anyway for personal reasons, but he picked Sydney over GWS because he felt we were more likely to be in premiership contention.

For anyone else, is this hard to understand, am I explaining it in a way that would be impossible for Xtreme to get?

 

[72 years a slave]

The rest is just hearsay, he explicitly said that he wanted to go to Sydney to help them win premierships and he ultimately failed.

Now I realise why you’re constantly sniping the Bloods, because you’re still getting over being dumped by Bud. Pathetic.

 

[jwikked]

I don't agree with the idea that teams can overachieve or underachieve. They perform exactly as they should. Sydney and Western Bulldogs are the same, they've performed precisely as they should.

 

[Xtreme]

Now I realise why you’re constantly sniping the Bloods, because you’re still getting over being dumped by Bud. Pathetic.

You must be new here
I've disliked Sydney since 2007

 

[My Tilly]

Like Geelong, certainly left a few premierships on the table.

Geelong: 1992, 2020, 2025
Sydney: 2014, 2016, 2024

Having said that, Sydney are very well placed to break their 13½ year drought. Curnow, like Franklin before him, will shift their credentials from mere finalists to legitimate premiership contenders.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Sydney will be a serious threat next year for sure.

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

I don’t see how they’ve underachieved. Yes, they’ve lost 6 grand finals and won 2. But more importantly, they’ve made 8 grand finals. That’s an insane number that eclipses the records of most clubs. Only Hawks and Geelong have clearly better records in that time.

Sydney shit the bed in the 2024 grand final, but at least they actually made it. In comparison, GWS went out in straight sets (as did Adelaide in 2025). Is the fact they lost the grand final a sign of underachieving? I’d argue clearly not.

LeBron has won 4 championships and lost 6. Should we focus on the ones left on the table, or acknowledge that he’s brought his team to 10 opportunities and is in the conversation as the GOAT?

Sydney have massively overachieved.

 

[Wolfgang West]

The rest is just hearsay, he explicitly said that he wanted to go to Sydney to help them win premierships and he ultimately failed.

Good to see bitterness & Foolery can co exist.

Exhibit A.