Most Embarassing Drought Going into 2025 - Premiership (St Kilda, 1966), Finals Win (Essendon, 2004) or Finals Appearance (Gold Coast, Never)?

[Freomaniac]

Nice try at deflecting.

Fremantle have been in the comp for almost 30 years, at a time when the AFL were all in on making flags attainable to all clubs in the comp.

How many times did hawks make finals In their 1st 30 years from 1925 to 1954?

 

[Freomaniac]

Normally I agree with you Fadge, but I think you’ve clearly lost the plot here.

Why?

Any achievement needs to be measured against expectations.

Has Gold Coast made finals? No. Has anybody expected them to make finals? No.

When did St Kilda last win a Premiership? 1966. Has anybody expected them to win a Premiership since then? Apart from a brief period around 2009 / 2010 when they weren’t shithouse, No.

Essendon. Yeah, they’re a big 4, but let’s not forget that it was only a little more than a decade ago when they were the biggest scandal to ever darken the game. They were sanctioned to a point that would have scuttled any club but a big four. Did anybody expect them to do well? Of course not, that was the point.

So if it’s not those three, which team is it then?!?

The tread title specifically refers to not just any drought, but “embarrassing drought”.

Which club proclaims to be going after a Premiership every single friggen year, and yet has won five wooden spoons since 2000?

Which club sacks its coach on average every three years since rotary dial phones stopped being a thing?

Which club’s supporters most take the piss out of Essendon for not having won a final since 2004? Hint: it’s the club that has only won four finals since 2004.

There is one club that owns the term “embarrassing drought” outright, and it sure ain’t Suns, Bombers or Saints.

Besides 1966, Do you expect the saints to win one after 1966?

Maybe. They had their chances.

1971: lead by 20 points at 3 quarter time vs the hawks and lost by 7 points.

1997: lead by 2 goals vs the crows at half time, lost by 5 goals


2005: wasn't a grand final. Lead by a small margin in a preliminary final vs the swans at MCG. Lost by 33 points. They win that and beat the eagles in a grand final.... Put it this way, I wouldn't be speaking about Ross Lyon.

2009: lead at every quarter but the last one vs the cats.

2010: drawn grand final vs Collingwood.

 

[Saint12]

Besides 1966, Do you expect the saints to win one after 1966?

Maybe. They had their chances.

1971: lead by 20 points at 3 quarter time vs the hawks and lost by 7 points.

1997: lead by 2 goals vs the crows at half time, lost by 5 goals


2005: wasn't a grand final. Lead by a small margin in a preliminary final vs the swans at MCG. Lost by 33 points. They win that and beat the eagles in a grand final.... Put it this way, I wouldn't be speaking about Ross Lyon.

2009: lead at every quarter but the last one vs the cats.

2010: drawn grand final vs Collingwood.

You really do hate the Saints Lol

 

[Wallaby]

of those mentioned it has to be Essendon’s twenty years winless in finals, given the fall from grace, a real gift to long suffering oppo supporters, a resentment that the Saints, Freo & Suns don’t contend with.

Melbourne & Richmond failing to appear in the same finals series in 1942-2017 was iconic. So many near misses and alternating spells in the wilderness. Embarrassing for both clubs.

Sorry - from 1942 to 2017:

Why do you not include the 3 years prior when Melbourne 3-in-a-row?

Why do you not include 2017+ when Richmond won 3-in-4?

And even if you do just take 1942-2016 =

Over those 64 years Melbourne won 7 flags
Richmond won 6 flags.

Thats better than the average. In fact - do you know how many clubs won more flags over that time than Melbourne or Richmond?

Carlton
Essendon
Hawthorn

Thats it. So in a 12-team competition (14+ from 1987) thats a reasonable return. If you expand to 1939-2021 suddenly it looks like a very successful 80 years for each club.

The fact that by a surprising quirk they didn't meet in a final is neither here nor there. I don't think Melbourne fans are disappointed they didn't meet Richmond on tier road to the 1956 flag......................

 

[CURVE]

Sorry - from 1942 to 2017:

Why do you not include the 3 years prior when Melbourne 3-in-a-row?

Why do you not include 2017+ when Richmond won 3-in-4?

And even if you do just take 1942-2016 =

Over those 64 years Melbourne won 7 flags
Richmond won 6 flags.

Thats better than the average. In fact - do you know how many clubs won more flags over that time than Melbourne or Richmond?

Carlton
Essendon
Hawthorn

Thats it. So in a 12-team competition (14+ from 1987) thats a reasonable return. If you expand to 1939-2021 suddenly it looks like a very successful 80 years for each club.

The fact that by a surprising quirk they didn't meet in a final is neither here nor there. I don't think Melbourne fans are disappointed they didn't meet Richmond on tier road to the 1956 flag......................

That's a rather wild rant for someone who has totally missed the point.

Congratulations, that may be more embarrassing than Essendon failing to win a final for over 20 years.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

How many times did hawks make finals In their 1st 30 years from 1925 to 1954?

You’re so desperate to deflect you quote a post you’ve already responded to and also already got an answer to.

 

[Freomaniac]

You really do hate the Saints Lol

I actually don't hate the saints players or fan base.

Just a vocal minority for being angry when Ross Lyon left the saints at the end of 2011 and hating on him for his entire dockers coaching stint.

And sinking the boots on my mob in 2016 when Freo were 0-10 and crippled with injuries.

 

[Freomaniac]

You’re so desperate to deflect you quote a post you’ve already responded to and also already got an answer to.

I don't need to deflect on anything. I acknowledge Freo has won 0 flags from 1995 to 2025.

Your team made finals 0 times from 1925 to 1956. I will give you some slack on that.... There were only 4 finals spots from 1925-1971.

Hard to make finals where there was only 4 finals spots for 12 sides.

 

[Freomaniac]

Gold Coast never making finals is becoming a blight on the game, not just embarrassing. The franchise has been given everything to succeed but remains a failure on the sport.

Winning a flag isn't easy, no shame on the Saints who have come very close in the previous decades. Essendon drug saga a massive reason their finals drought has been prolonged, will win a final before 2030.

Gold coast suns making finals would be good for the AFL.

Had they chosen the right players in 2010, they should of made finals already.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I don't need to deflect on anything. I acknowledge Freo has won 0 flags from 1995 to 2025.

Your team made finals 0 times from 1925 to 1956. I will give you some slack on that.... There were only 4 finals spots from 1925-1971.

Hard to make finals where there was only 4 finals spots for 12 sides.

You, a Freo fan who’s seen your club win Zero in the AFL era of equalization, want to talk about what Hawthorn did in the 1930’s.

It’s amazing the level of deflection you’re attempting.

 

[kickazz]

Gold Coast for sure.

I mean come on. Even now they are win at home, lose away.
It's not good enough.

The Essendon one is interesting, it has gone on long enough to turn the club's identity from being a powerhouse to a middling Melbourne club.

The Saints one is just a bit sad for the supporters, not embarrassing so much. Flags are hard to win. There are a lot of teams now. They have had periods of being a very good side.

 

[Freomaniac]

No. Let Essendon's drought continue for another 20 years. At least.

You really want North Melbourne to win another flag before Essendon wins another final don't you?

 

[Freomaniac]

You, a Freo fan who’s seen your club win Zero in the AFL era of equalization, want to talk about what Hawthorn did in the 1930’s.

It’s amazing the level of deflection you’re attempting.

Fine then, tell the Original poster to add the dockers on this thread then.

 

[Grumpyshades]

answering the op I'd vote Essendon.

 

[CURVE]

You really want North Melbourne to win another flag before Essendon wins another final don't you?

I'd almost feel sorry for Essendon supporters if North won another flag before Essendon won another final.

Almost.

It would be incredibly funny though.

 

[Roddy]

10 years, it's KILLING me....

 

[Bushdid911]

Just to add another drought, Carlton and North have the current record for longest time (1999) without a grand final appearance. Let's share the embarrassment around further