- Apr 6, 2020
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Nah spot on. I reckon the quality/intensity definitely plays a big part. Cats added some handy players, maybe next season we might get a cracker. The rematch should be good I reckon.I wonder if the quality of the games plays a part in the rivalry as well?
WCE vs SYD was built off some intense, "flip of the coin" finals during the mid 2000s. Ours and the Hawks had its origins from the 1989 GF, 1991 SF, and the fact they were one of the few teams in the comp who could come to KP and beat us with any regularity. But the rekindling of that wasn't just the 2008 GF, it was the next few games where both teams went hammer and tongs at each other. Both sides seemed to want the win so badly and they always seemed evenly matched. It felt every game was going down to the last few minutes (at least until they broke the "curse", but even today it still happens - the 2nd game in 2017, both times in 2018... the last few haven't been so good).
This just hasn't happened with the Tigers. Until 2017, they'd been our bunnies for years. And when they finally flipped the tables in that 2017 QF, we haven't really fired a shot back since. Sure, the 2nd 2018 H&A game was close and we put a bit of pressure on them in the first half of some finals. But most of the games - 1st 2018 H&A, 2019 final, 2020 H&A, 2020 GF - the Cats were never really in a position to win the game in the last 10-15 minutes. So it was more a case of "same s**t, different game" - and that's not conducive for rivalries. There has to be some give and take.
(You might say Hawks fans could've said the same thing, but the fact almost every game went down to the wire, the intensity and desperate hope was always there. When they won in 2013, there was incredible relief as much as excitement for them. Maybe if the Cats steal a final back in the next year or two, it redefines things a little... but I think Richmond have been the clearly better team and no real rivalry exists.)
I think you might be right there, there doesn't seem to be that real fire between any teams at the moment.Don't think any teams have a rivalry with each other any more. They just run 12ks and get paid.
Just the SA and WA teams a bit.
As supporters? Nah not really. I think your gonna have to wait till Carlton get good.
When Carlton get good? God help us all.