Is it no longer sustainable to dominate for the whole season?

[PerthBoy86]

Much has been said about 'peaking' at the right time. Like you don't want to peak early then falter later. Many are saying Collingwood peaked too early and are faltering now, but whether it's a sustained decline to a finals exit, or just a lull before a renewed finals push remains to be seen. Brisbane last year started slow and didn't even look like being in the race until late.

Do you think its simply being able to sustain that level? Not wanting to get found out by oppo too early?

The thing is I don't remember hearing about this in the old days (but I was young so maybe there was talk). The Bombers in 2000 or Cats in 2008 only lost a game each all season, yet no one seemed worried about them 'peaking too early.' The Hawks were great but Geelong lost that gf through inaccurate kicking.

Is the game different now? Longer season, higher training loads etc, tactics, that make it harder for a side to say lose 1,2, 3 games and win it all? Will we ever see an undefeated season (hypothetically)? Or is it becoming even less likely.

 

[Kerleys Ghost]

Well losing only 1 game in a home and away season is exceedingly rare. Only happened 6 times in history, twice in the last 75 years, they just happened to be when you were growing up.

Losing only 2 games in a season isn't much easier, with only a few examples in recent times.

You happened to witness 4 or 5 of the most dominant seasons in history in the period between 1995 and 2011.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Well losing only 1 game in a home and away season is exceedingly rare. Only happened 6 times in history, twice in the last 75 years, they just happened to be when you were growing up.

Losing only 2 games in a season isn't much easier, with only a few examples in recent times.

You happened to witness 4 or 5 of the most dominant seasons in history in the period between 1995 and 2011.

True, they are outliers, teams are rarely that dominant. I don't think we've seen a truly dominant side, where you felt that side couldn't lose the grand final, since I would argue even Geelong 08, and they did. 09-10 was a 3 horse race, 11 was between Pies and Cats, even in 12 Hawks were faves, even the 2014 gf Sydney finished top and were actually favourites. Oddly 2018 might be the closest, and Richmond didn't even make it. 99 and 18 two biggest prelim upsets in my time watching.

 

[Cleric]

Much has been said about 'peaking' at the right time. Like you don't want to peak early then falter later. Many are saying Collingwood peaked too early and are faltering now, but whether it's a sustained decline to a finals exit, or just a lull before a renewed finals push remains to be seen. Brisbane last year started slow and didn't even look like being in the race until late.

Do you think its simply being able to sustain that level? Not wanting to get found out by oppo too early?

The thing is I don't remember hearing about this in the old days (but I was young so maybe there was talk). The Bombers in 2000 or Cats in 2008 only lost a game each all season, yet no one seemed worried about them 'peaking too early.' The Hawks were great but Geelong lost that gf through inaccurate kicking.

Is the game different now? Longer season, higher training loads etc, tactics, that make it harder for a side to say lose 1,2, 3 games and win it all? Will we ever see an undefeated season (hypothetically)? Or is it becoming even less likely.

When Adelaide won their flags in 97 and 98, Neil Craig was the fitness coach. He was at the cutting edge of sport science in the AFL having worked with the Australian Olympic cycling teams.

He definitely ran the training program with the team peaking in the finals.
Many credit him as the real reason the Crows won those flags.
After that I thinks its pretty common with every team to do the same.

 

[PerthBoy86]

When Adelaide won their flags in 97 and 98, Neil Craig was the fitness coach. He was at the cutting edge of sport science in the AFL having worked with the Australian Olympic cycling teams.

He definitely ran the training program with the team peaking in the finals.
Many credit him as the real reason the Crows won those flags.
After that I thinks its pretty common with every team to do the same.

Oh was he? Did not know. They certainly ran out the last quarter of the 97 granny. The mid 00 'Crowbots' could run for days, had a generational midfield, but like us lacked scoring firepower. Mid 00s Eagles were carried by their midfield.

Yeah I mean the Crows have not been smashed so far, with their biggest loss about 20 points to Geelong I think, after a tough game in Darwin. They haven't really had a down period, been competitive all year with no signs of slowing. They look fit and strong, they seem to stick their tackles and break tackles with ease, something the Lions also do. Finals footy is about pressure/contested ball, which they do well.

If a game comes down to sheer pressure/willpower I think the Crows, Lions, and Cats and Giants to a lesser extent, are the best.

 

[joe444]

I would never say never, but I think in general terms it's always been difficult.

Most seasons have a front-runner who fades near the end. Most seasons have a Grand Finalist that gets on a winning run.

On those two trends alone, the fading team is Collingwood and the surprise Grand Finalist is Adelaide.

The 80s may have been a bit different (VFL) because the gap between haves and have-nots was ludicrous.

 

[Cleric]

Oh was he? Did not know. They certainly ran out the last quarter of the 97 granny. The mid 00 'Crowbots' could run for days, had a generational midfield, but like us lacked scoring firepower. Mid 00s Eagles were carried by their midfield.

Yeah I mean the Crows have not been smashed so far, with their biggest loss about 20 points to Geelong I think, after a tough game in Darwin. They haven't really had a down period, been competitive all year with no signs of slowing. They look fit and strong, they seem to stick their tackles and break tackles with ease, something the Lions also do. Finals footy is about pressure/contested ball, which they do well.

If a game comes down to sheer pressure/willpower I think the Crows, Lions, and Cats and Giants to a lesser extent, are the best.

For the Crows, there are three teams that always beat us regardless of where we play.
Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood.
I really dont want us to meet Geelong as I think they could open us up.

 

[PerthBoy86]

For the Crows, there are three teams that always beat us regardless of where we play.
Hawthorn, Geelong and Collingwood.
I really dont want us to meet Geelong as I think they could open us up.

The Woods have had the wood on you for way too long, 2 weeks time is the perfect time to make a statement and end that. You've been so close so many times, surely you can get it done with top spot on the line. Hope the pressure doesn't get to the boys.

I remember thinking in round 17 2018 while I sat (or stood) at the MCG singing the song, that it felt like we'd truly buried that MCG hoodoo against the good sides, and it was the first omen that maybe we were due. It was bitter-sweet because Nic Nat went down, but it was pivotal.

 

[Cleric]

The Woods have had the wood on you for way too long, 2 weeks time is the perfect time to make a statement and end that. You've been so close so many times, surely you can get it done with top spot on the line. Hope the pressure doesn't get to the boys.

I remember thinking in round 17 2018 while I sat (or stood) at the MCG singing the song, that it felt like we'd truly buried that MCG hoodoo against the good sides, and it was the first omen that maybe we were due. It was bitter-sweet because Nic Nat went down, but it was pivotal.

It will be a good sign of where we stand finals wise. If we lose to them then we are not ready, and now is the best time to get them as they are on the slide.