Most disappointing, underachieving lists ever?

[GoldbergsGold]

Freo 03-07 definitely up there. Even in 06 they only pulled their socks up half the year and were able to make the PF.

I thought moreso 2013-2015 Freo underachieved.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Currently I’d say Melbourne and Doggies although if Melbourne win another this year I’d say that’s a pass. Just feel like they could have won a few recently if they didn’t underperform in finals.

 

[Soggy2112]

Currently I’d say Melbourne and Doggies although if Melbourne win another this year I’d say that’s a pass. Just feel like they could have won a few recently if they didn’t underperform in finals.

When you look at the Dogs bottom 5-6 players it makes a lot more sense.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Richmond 1994-2001, prelims in 1995 and 2001, ninth in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000

 

[SC_Power]

West Coast 2007 had Cousins played the entire season, and him and Judd not been injured probably could have challenged Geelong.

Port in 2003 and 2020 were easily the best team of those years and absolutely blew it.

Adelaide were in great form going into the 2005 finals series, and then just choked in finals. 2006, they fell apart in the second half of the season. 2017 was probably their best chance to win a premiership, they were easily the best team that year but choked on grand final day.

St Kilda should have won 2009, and arguably should have won their 2004 prelim had there been no pitch invasion. I think St Kilda could have beaten The Lions in the 2004 GF, since they were cooked and it would have been in Melbourne.

Geelong choked the worst in 2008, losing that grand final, despite having 4 more wins over Hawthorn, which is a rare record. Not even 2016 was that contrasting, with WB 15-7 record against Sydney's 17-5.

Richmond choked in their 2018 prelim, should have made it to that grand final and probably could have won it.

Just noting our 2003 team had arguably their two best players in Josh Francou and Matthew Primus sidelined for the year with ACL’s. Won in 2004 without them as well. From inside the club, those 2002/3 home final losses are arguably more disappointing than 2007.

 

[Freomaniac]

Yeah, that Freo side was arguably stronger than the 2012-2015 Freo side but Cuddles Connolly's main job was to be a walking Freo hype-man and not an actual coach. If we'd have had Lyon around that period I'm sure we'd have had at least 1 WC/Freo GF

That Dockers era when Chris Connolly was coach from 2002 until 2007 still haunts and frustrates me to this day.

2003: 5th spot and a home final. lost to Essendon in that elim final by 7 goals.

2004: 9th lost too many close games.

2005: 10th... Port vs Freo in the final round. winner goth 7th, loser doesnt play finals. Freo were up by 10 points at half time, lose by 45 points. I went to that game.

2006: 6 wins and 7 losses after 13 games. Freo wins 9 in a row to get 3rd with 15 wins and 7 losses. lose to crows in a qualifying final, win the home semi final vs demons, lose the prelim to sydney.

2007: 11th with 10 wins and 12 losses.



That dockers squad did not just traded in players that made and won finals, that dockers side traded in Blokes that won premierships from other clubs in Peter Bell (won premiership medals at North in 1996 and 1999) , Des Headland (Brisbane in 2002) , Josh Carr (Port in 2004) Jarrad Schofield (Port in 2004, but he was past his prime in 2005-6). That dockers squad should of made finals every year from 2003-06.

 

[Freomaniac]

Pffft, Ross Lyon footy would've struggled to kick a goal against Richmond. But this thread's about disappointing teams...

Ironic....

Because richmond copied Ross Lyon footy.

Watch the 2nd and 3rd quarter of the 2017 grand final between tigers and crows. Tigers chased and tackles and bashed the crows into submission in those 2nd and 3rd quarters

then watch the 2nd and 3rd quarter between freo and swans. freo chased and tackled and bashed the swans into submission in those 2nd and 3rd quarters.

 

[Freomaniac]

Richmond 1994-2001, prelims in 1995 and 2001, ninth in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000

Agreed...

People didnt realise how solid that Richmond side was from 1994-2001.

Matty Richardson, Paul Broderick, Matty Knights, Wayne Campbell, Brendon Gale, Nick Daffy. Turn those 9th placed finishes in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000 in 8th placed finishes, that means finals in 1994-6, 1998, 2000-2001. Yeah it still means only 2 finals wins in 1995 and 2001. Funny thing is a few tigers left the club at the end of 2001. So yeah an interesting end of an era.

Acutally make that possibly 3 finals wins. In 2000, as tigers would of faced 5th placed cats who tigers beat in the middle of 2000. and the funny thing is, Hawks finished 8th in 2000 and beaten the cats.

 

[pie chucker]

Currently I’d say Melbourne and Doggies although if Melbourne win another this year I’d say that’s a pass. Just feel like they could have won a few recently if they didn’t underperform in finals.

Wouldn't you have to say Essendon of 1999-2001 then? Sort of the same position of Melbourne and Doggies. At least you all won one.

I reckon they're so hard to win, that an underachieving list is one that didn't win a premiership. I'm going to say Saints of 2008-2010 period. Probably 2009 they really should have won as they were the best team that year.

edit: sorry just noticed you said currently. But still stand by my remarks on Melbourne and Doggies

 

[rapidfire7]

Cats from '89 - '97. 4 Grand finals in 7 years without a premiership. A number of other heartbreaking finishes too. This period still haunts me. Don't think I'll ever quite get over it no matter happens in the future.

Collingwood 1977 - 1981. 4 Grand Finals (5 if you count the replay in 1977 separately) in 5 years without a Premiership. A number of those were very close loses too from memory.

 

[ioppolo]

I don't buy the St Kilda Port prelim stuff. The pitch invasion happened in the first quarter. Plenty of water to go under the bridge when it happened.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Agreed...

People didnt realise how solid that Richmond side was from 1994-2001.

Matty Richardson, Paul Broderick, Matty Knights, Wayne Campbell, Brendon Gale, Nick Daffy. Turn those 9th placed finishes in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000 in 8th placed finishes, that means finals in 1994-6, 1998, 2000-2001. Yeah it still means only 2 finals wins in 1995 and 2001. Funny thing is a few tigers left the club at the end of 2001. So yeah an interesting end of an era.

Acutally make that possibly 3 finals wins. In 2000, as tigers would of faced 5th placed cats who tigers beat in the middle of 2000. and the funny thing is, Hawks finished 8th in 2000 and beaten the cats.

If Richmond could have kept John Northey as coach during that era I feel the probably would have made more finals

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Essendon 1999-2002

to only walk away with 1 flag with that team was a BIG miss.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Essendon 1999-04. Should’ve won a few flags with that squad but underachieved and only won one flag that era in 2000. Just made up the numbers between 2002-04.

probably not 03 and 04 but definitely 99-02.

 

[_Mike_]

When you look at the Dogs bottom 5-6 players it makes a lot more sense.

Now , yes. 2021-2022 there's no excuse IMO

 

[Soggy2112]

Now , yes. 2021-2022 there's no excuse IMO

Even in 2021, looking at the two GF sides, Rivers, Spargo, Sparrow, Harmes etc a far better than Smith, Vandemeer, Schache, Duryea

 

[_Mike_]

Even in 2021, looking at the two GF sides, Rivers, Spargo, Sparrow, Harmes etc a far better than Smith, Vandemeer, Schache, Duryea

Doc was playing better footy in 2021, forget VDM - just a list filler IMO, Schache yeah. The core team was better than what it is today & made up for the deficiencies. The rest is history

 

[Freomaniac]

If Richmond could have kept John Northey as coach during that era I feel the probably would have made more finals

I acutally have to Agree with you. There was much needed stability when he was your teams coach.

John Northey only lasted 3 Seasons in Brisbane. But he won 2 finals in Brisbane in 1996 and made finals in 1997. He was sacked in the middle of 1998 as Brisbane was dead last.

Robert Walls only lasted 18 months, he was sacked in the middle of 1997.

John Northey was Richmonds coach from 1993-95. Richmond post 1980 had instability when Tony Jewell was sacked after 1981. Guys were sacked after 1 or 2 seasons. Jewell came back in 1985-7 and Kevin Bartlett was coach in 1988-1991. Allan Jeans had a season in 1992.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

I suppose Carlton only winning one flag in the 90's was an underachievement.

I think if it wasn't for us being so poor for a lot of the past twenty or so years, we'd be looking at that decade a lot more critically as well.

Of course the Roos, Bombers and Eagles probably feel that they should have more flags in the 90's as well.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

Collingwood 1964-81

18 years
15 top four finishes
38 finals
no flags

What a beautiful set of numbers there.

 

[Freomaniac]

I suppose Carlton only winning one flag in the 90's was an underachievement.

I think if it wasn't for us being so poor for a lot of the past twenty or so years, we'd be looking at that decade a lot more critically as well.

Of course the Roos, Bombers and Eagles probably feel that they should have more flags in the 90's as well.

Carlton did win the flag in 1995. But that 1993-6 era was interesting.


1993: made a grand final but lost to Essendon.

1994: 2nd on the ladder but lost 2 finals.

1995: won the flag. Lost 2 games all season.

1996: strong season. I think out in straight sets. I know Carlton lost a semi final to Brisbane at the Gabba.

Carlton had an ageing squad in that period too.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

Carlton did win the flag in 1995. But that 1993-6 era was interesting.


1993: made a grand final but lost to Essendon.

1994: 2nd on the ladder but lost 2 finals.

1995: won the flag. Lost 2 games all season.

1996: strong season. I think out in straight sets. I know Carlton lost a semi final to Brisbane at the Gabba.

Carlton had an ageing squad in that period too.

1994 was a flag that possibly got away imo. It was a strong home and away season but we tumbled out of the finals in straight sets.

We weren't good enough in 1993 and we were on a downwards spiral in 1996.

Yes we had an ageing squad and we made poor use of the draft after 1995 as well. All of this would come to a head in 2002!

 

[Freomaniac]

I thought moreso 2013-2015 Freo underachieved.

Nah.... Freo at least had 3 top 4 finishes ladder wise and made 2 preliminary finals in 2013-5.

Freo in 2003-2007 underachieved considering it was easier back then for non Vic sides to make finals.

Hell your eagles in 2002 limped into 8th spot with 11 wins, 10 losses and a draw. Not to mention winning 2 away games all season. One of them was a 1 point win vs North in Canberra.

8th spot in 2024, you need 13 wins minimum.

 

[ioppolo]

Nah.... Freo at least had 3 top 4 finishes ladder wise and made 2 preliminary finals in 2013-5.

Freo in 2003-2007 underachieved considering it was easier back then for non Vic sides to make finals.

Hell your eagles in 2002 limped into 8th spot with 11 wins, 10 losses and a draw. Not to mention winning 2 away games all season. One of them was a 1 point win vs North in Canberra.

8th spot in 2024, you need 13 wins minimum.

2002 seemed to be a weaker year looking at the ladder. Collingwood 13-9 finishing fourth and making a grand final.

 

[ioppolo]

I'm not going through seven pages to find out but surely Geelong late 80's to mid 90's is the obvious answer?