Stats observations

[red+black]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

1. First team to get the wooden spoon in an 8-team comp: St Kilda (1897)

2. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 10-team comp: Geelong (1908)

3. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 12-team comp: Hawthorn (1925)

4. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 14-team comp: Richmond (1987)

5. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 15-team comp: Brisbane (1991)

6. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 16-team comp: Fitzroy (1995)

7. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 17-team comp: ????? (2011)

 

[Marklar_33]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

^^^^^ you might wanna fix that link above mate

1. First team to get the wooden spoon in an 8-team comp: St Kilda (1897)

2. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 10-team comp: Geelong (1908)

3. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 12-team comp: Hawthorn (1925)

4. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 14-team comp: Richmond (1987)

5. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 15-team comp: Brisbane (1991)

6. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 16-team comp: Fitzroy (1995)

7. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 17-team comp: ????? (2011)

First in 9-team league - Geelong (1915)
First in 4-team league - Fitzroy (1916)
First in 6-team league - Richmond (1917)
First in 11-team league - Hawthorn (1942)

 

[red+black]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Fitzroy bookends!

.1. First team to be .1st on the ladder: Fitzroy ....... (R1, 1897)
.2. First team to be .2nd on the ladder: Collingwood ... (R1, 1897)
.3. First team to be .3rd on the ladder: Essendon ...... (R1, 1897)
.4. First team to be .4th on the ladder: Melbourne ..... (R1, 1897)
.5. First team to be .5th on the ladder: South Melbourne (R1, 1897)
.6. First team to be .6th on the ladder: Geelong ....... (R1, 1897)
.7. First team to be .7th on the ladder: St Kilda ...... (R1, 1897)
.8. First team to be .8th on the ladder: Carlton ....... (R1, 1897)
.9. First team to be .9th on the ladder: Collingwood ... (R1, 1908)
10. First team to be 10th on the ladder: University .... (R1, 1908)
11. First team to be 11th on the ladder: Carlton ....... (R1, 1925)
12. First team to be 12th on the ladder: St Kilda ...... (R1, 1925)
13. First team to be 13th on the ladder: Footscray ..... (R1, 1987)
14. First team to be 14th on the ladder: Collingwood ... (R1, 1987)
15. First team to be 15th on the ladder: Melbourne ..... (R1, 1991)
16. First team to be 16th on the ladder: Fitzroy ....... (R1, 1995)

 

[Connor7395]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

First team to win by ? margins:

1: Sth Melbourne, R14, 1897
2: Sth Melbourne, R6, 1898
3: Collingwood, R11, 1899
4: Sth Melbourne, R2, 1897
5: Geelong, R9, 1897
6: Essendon, SF, 1897
7: Melbourne, R6, 1897
8: Sth Melbourne, R4, 1897
9: Essendon, R9, 1897
10: Melbourne, R3, 1898
11: Melbourne, R3, 1897
12: Geelong, R12, 1897
14: Carlton, R14, 1898
15: Collingwood, R13, 1897
16: Collingwood, R5, 1897
17: Melbourne, R1, 1897
18: Essendon, R13, 1898
19: Sth Melbourne, R11, 1897
20: Collingwood, R2, 1897
21: Collingwood, R1, 1898
22: Geelong and Essendon, R4, 1897
23: Essendon, R1, 1897
24: Collingwood, R8, 1897
25: Collingwood, R1, 1897
26: Geelong, R11, 1898
27: Melbourne, R10, 1897
28: Melbourne, R12, 1897
29: Essendon, R10, 1897
30: Melbourne, R4, 1897
31: Collingwood, R14, 1898
32: Essendon, R11, 1897
33: Fitzroy, R1, 1897
34: Collingwood, R6, 1898
35: Geelong, R10, 1899
36: Essendon, R7, 1897
37: Essendon, R3, 1897
38: Fitzroy, R8, 1897
39: Essendon, R4, 1899
40: Fitzroy, R2, 1897
41: Sth Melbourne, R5, 1898
42: Geelong, R10, 1897
43: Essendon, R8, 1898
44: Geelong, R4, 1902
45: Melbourne, R2, 1897
46: Sth Melbourne, R9, 1897
47: Geelong, R7, 1899
48: Geelong, R5, 1897
49: Essendon, R11, 1900
50: Geelong, R11, 1897
51: Collingwood, Sec3, 1903
52: Geelong, R3, 1898
53: Sth Melbourne, R8, 1897
54: Fitzroy, R11, 1899
55: Essendon, R12, 1898
56: Essendon, R11, 1898
57: Sth Melbourne, R3, 1897
58: Melbourne, R11, 1897
59: Collingwood, R13, 1898
60: Collingwood, R11, 1898
61: Sth Melbourne, R10, 1897
62: Geelong, Sec1, 1898
63: Sth Melbourne, R12, 1898
64: Sth Melbourne, R3, 1909
65: Melbourne, R8, 1904
66: Geelong, R3, 1900
67: Essendon, Sec1, 1898
68: Geelong, R2, 1898
69: Collingwood, R3, 1899
70: Sth Melbourne, Sec2, 1899
71: Geelong, Sec2, 1903
72: Fitzroy, Sec1, 1901
73: Collingwood, R3, 1910
74: Fitzroy, R18, 1908
75: Essendon, R4, 1898
76: Melbourne, R1, 1898
77: Sth Melbourne, R9, 1909
78: Geelong, R14, 1897
79: Essendon, R9, 1899
80: Essendon, R7, 1901
81: Melbourne, R5, 1897
82: Collingwood, R13, 1930
83: Geelong, R7, 1897
84: Geelong, R13, 1913
85: Essendon, Sec3, 1900
86: Collingwood, R13, 1929
87: Collingwood, R2, 1901
88: Carlton, R8, 1908
89: Collingwood, Sec3, 1902
90: Fitzroy, R18, 1915
91: Essendon, R12, 1897
92: Essendon, R12, 1900
93: Melbourne, R1, 1899
94: Fitzoy, R1, 1904
95: Geelong, R12, 1925
96: Carlton, R4, 1928
97: Geelong, R16, 1936
98: Essendon, Sec1, 1899
99: Fitzroy, R6, 1900

In bold, was the last margin with two digits or less to be achieved, and it took nearly 40 years to be achieved.

 

[worbod]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

You forgot to mention the first team to win by 13 points. Not superstitious I hope?

 

[Marklar_33]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

OK, so I went a bit crazy and decided to list the most recent occurance of every margin. Whatever, big deal, wanna fight about it...

1: Port Adelaide R20 2010
2: Geelong R15 2010
3: Hawthorn R22 2010
4: Richmond R14 2010
5: Brisbane Lions R19 2010
6: Fremantle R22 2010
7: Adelaide R20 2010
8: Western Bulldogs R19 2010
9: Sydney R20 2010
10: North Melbourne R22 2010
11: Fremantle R16 2010
12: Adelaide R9 2010
13: Fremantle R7 2010
14: St Kilda R15 2010
15: St Kilda R4 2010
16: North Melbourne R21 2010
17: Essendon R22 2009
18: St Kilda R12 2010
19: Port Adelaide R17 2010
20: Richmond R18 2010
21: St Kilda R21 2010
22: Collingwood R19 2010
23: Adelaide R11 2010
24: St Kilda R13 2010
25: Collingwood R13 2010
26: Carlton R17 2010
27: Brisbane Lions R21 2010
28: Adelaide R22 2010
29: Western Bulldogs R22 2010
30: Sydney R15 2010
31: Geelong R1 2010
32: West Coast R16 2010
33: Essendon R18 2010
34: Geelong R13 2009
35: St Kilda R14 2010
36: Western Bulldogs R16 2010
37: Fremantle R9 2010
38: Sydney R22 2010
39: Sydney R16 2010
40: Sydney R4 2010
41: Carlton R11 2010
42: Geelong R21 2010
43: Essendon R6 2010
44: Geelong R22 2010
45: St Kilda R17 2009
46: Geelong R16 2009
47: Hawthorn R12 2010
48: Collingwood R18 2010
49: Richmond R12 2010
50: North Melbourne R16 2010
51: Western Bulldogs SF 2009
52: St Kilda R20 2010
53: Geelong R18 2010
54: North Melbourne R19 2010
55: Carlton R14 2010
56: Fremantle R1 2010
57: Fremantle R14 2010
58: Geelong QF 2008
59: Geelong R12 2008
60: Western Bulldogs R13 2010
61: Fremantle R10 2010
62: North Melbourne R19 2009
63: Geelong R17 2010
64: Collingwood R4 2010
65: Western Bulldogs R12 2010
66: Collingwood R7 2010
67: Geelong R7 2010
68: Western Bulldogs R15 2010
69: Essendon R13 2009
70: Western Bulldogs R9 2010
71: Western Bulldogs R18 2010
72: Western Bulldogs R2 2010
73: Melbourne R17 2010
74: Adelaide R21 2009
75: Fremantle R18 2010
76: Carlton R19 2010
77: Richmond R15 2008
78: Hawthorn R22 2008
79: St Kilda R10 2008
80: West Coast R22 2009
81: Geelong R8 2010
82: Western Bulldogs R17 2010
83: Collingwood R14 2010
84: Adelaide R14 2010
85: Geelong R9 2005
86: Collingwood R9 2008
87: Port Adelaide PF 2007
88: Western Bulldogs R14 2009
89: Carlton R20 2010
90: Brisbane Lions R21 2000
91: Sydney R8 2008
92: Sydney R22 2006
93: Collingwood R20 2009
94: St Kilda R19 2010
95: Geelong R4 2010
96: Adelaide EF 2009
97: St Kilda R3 2009
98: Collingwood R20 2010
99: Geelong R22 2008
100: Collingwood R10 2008
101: Geelong R20 2010
102: Collingwood R8 2006
103: St Kilda R17 2006
104: St Kilda R2 2010
105: Melbourne R6 2004
106: Geelong QF 2007
107: Sydney R18 2001
108: Geelong R6 2010
109: Brisbane Bears R5 1996
110: Adelaide R21 2005
111: Carlton R18 2000
112: Fremantle R7 2005
113: Brisbane Lions R22 2004
114: West Coast R4 2000
115: Western Bulldogs R1 2006
116: Hawthorn R21 2010
117: Adelaide R15 2009
118: Sydney R7 2006
119: Geelong GF 2007
120: St Kilda R23 1991
121: Melbourne R21 1993
122: Geelong R4 2002
123: Geelong R8 1992
124: North Melbourne R22 2003
125: Essendon QF 2000
126: Sydney R19 1995
127: Geelong R13 1996
128: Carlton R2 1969
129: Geelong R8 1989
130: Sydney R16 1987
131: North Melbourne R2 1996
132: Essendon R6 1983
133: Essendon PF 1984
134: Geelong R9 1989
135: Geelong R13 2008
136: No Record
137: Adelaide R17 1997
138: Adelaide R10 2006
139: St Kilda R22 2005
140: Essendon R9 1988
141: Brisbane Lions R17 2004
142: Essendon R15 1989
143: Hawthorn R3 1982
146: Essendon R22 1982
147: Collingwood R14 1971
150: Fitzroy R13 1983
151: Richmond R21 1996
152: Richmond R16 1980
157: Geelong R6 2007
160: Hawthorn R20 1992
161: Geelong F3B 1899
162: Brisbane Bears R8 1993
163: Sydney R17 1987
164: Geelong R7 1992
165: Essendon R18 1964
168: Richmond R2 1931
171: South Melbourne R12 1919
178: Collingwood R4 1979
190: Fitzroy R17 1979

The bolds are from this year, the colours represent different years, cause I was feeling pretty

Turns out the margin 90 hasnt happened since 2000, the only margin under 100 that hasnt happen since 2005

 

[red+black]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Last time each team has earned a week off during the finals (post Final Five in 1990):

Collingwood .....2010, 2003, 2002
St Kilda ........2010, 2009, 2005, 1997
Geelong .........2009, 2008, 2007, 1995
Hawthorn ........2008, 1991
Port Adelaide ...2007, 2004
Adelaide ........2006
Sydney ..........2006, 2003, 1996
West Coast ......2005, 1994, 1992
Brisbane ........2004, 2002, 2001
Essendon ........2001, 2000, 1999
Melbourne .......2000
North Melbourne .1999, 1998, 1996, 1994
Western Bulldogs 1998, 1997
Carlton .........1995, 1993 ................
Richmond ........1982(2) - Final Five system
Fremantle .......n/a

 

[red+black]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

The AFL has announced that Gold Coast will have a bye in Round 1 next year. So these stats relate to byes:

1. The only teams to have never had a bye in Round 1 are St Kilda, Hawthorn and Adelaide. (University, Fremantle and Port Adelaide have never played in a season that had byes).

2. Between 1915 and 1924, when the League had 9 teams Geelong always had the bye in Round 1 (1915, 1919-1924).

3. Geelong couldn't repeat that in 1942 and 1943 as they withdrew from the VFL during WWII. In 1942 with 11 teams and a 16 round season, some teams had 2 byes (Ca, Co, No, Fo, St) while the others had just 1 (Ha, Es, So, Me, Ri, Fi).

4. In 1943, perhaps due to criticism of the inequities of the previous year, after each team had played each other once, and thus, had had a bye, the bottom team (St Kilda) was sat out for the remainder of the season.

5. Of the 12 sides to have had a bye leading into finals, 4 returned from the week off with a win, 4 returned with a loss and the other 4 didn't make finals.

6. St Kilda is the only side to have had a bye in the last round more than twice (4 times).

7. The Brisbane Bears (R24, 1994) are the last side to have had a bye.

 

[mianfei]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

1. The only teams to have never had a bye in Round 1 are St Kilda and Adelaide. (University, Fremantle and Port Adelaide have never played in a season that had byes).

Relating to this and other facts:

1. Adelaide are the only team of the fifteen from 1991 to 1994 to have never had a bye in conjunction with another club
2. Sydney had a bye on opening day every year from 1991 to 1993; Footscray and Hawthorn never had a bye in Round 1 between 1991 and 1994.
3. St. Kilda’s Round 22, 2010 score of 5-7 (37) was the nine hundredth score of five goals since the VFL formed in 1897
4. The lowest scores of St. Kilda and West Coast against each other are equal:
   1. West Coast: 3-11 (29) in 1992
   2. St. Kilda: 4-5 (29) in 2000
5. What is notable about these two equal scores is that:
   1. both occurred in Round 18
   2. in both, the number of goals kicked was three less than the previous lowest for that season

 

[Chris who]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

1. First team to get the wooden spoon in an 8-team comp: St Kilda (1897)

2. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 10-team comp: Geelong (1908)

3. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 12-team comp: Hawthorn (1925)

4. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 14-team comp: Richmond (1987)

5. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 15-team comp: Brisbane (1991)

6. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 16-team comp: Fitzroy (1995)

7. First team to get the wooden spoon in a 17-team comp: ????? (2011)

Next year one team will be the only team ever to get the spoon and finish 17th

 

[Marklar_33]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Next year one team will be the only team ever to get the spoon and finish 17th

Big call... you guaranteeing the financial stability of all clubs there???

 

[worbod]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Most goals in a season without winning the club best and fairest

Goals Player . . . . . Club . . . . . Season
150 . Bob Pratt . . . South Melbourne 1934 **
150 . Peter Hudson . .Hawthorn . . . .1971 **
134 . Peter McKenna . Collingwood . . 1971
132 . Tony Lockett . .St. Kilda . . . 1992 **
130 . Peter McKenna . Collingwood . . 1972
129 . Tony Modra . . .Adelaide . . . .1993 **
129 . Gary Ablett . . Geelong . . . . 1994 **
124 . Gordon Coventry Collingwood . . 1929
124 . Gary Ablett . . Geelong . . . . 1993
122 . Gary Ablett . . Geelong . . . . 1995
121 . Ron Todd . . . .Collingwood . . 1939
121 . Tony Lockett . .Sydney . . . . .1996
120 . Ron Todd . . . .Collingwood . . 1938
120 . John Coleman . .Essendon . . . .1950 **
120 . Peter Hudson . .Hawthorn . . . .1969

** most goals in club history

 

[worbod]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Most goals in a season for each club without winning the club best and fairest

Club . . . . . Player . . . . . Goals Season
Adelaide . . . Tony Modra . . . . 129 1993 **
Brisbane Bears Roger Merrett . . . 60 1993 **
Brisbane Lions Alastair Lynch . . .78 2003 **
Carlton . . . .Alex Jesaulenko . .115 1970 **
Collingwood . .Peter McKenna . . .134 1971
Essendon . . . John Coleman . . . 120 1950 **
Fitzroy . . . .Bernie Quinlan . . 116 1983 **
Footscray . . .Simon Beasley . . .105 1985
Fremantle . . .Tony Modra . . . . .71 1999
Geelong . . . .Gary Ablett . . . .129 1994 **
Hawthorn . . . Peter Hudson . . . 150 1971 **
Melbourne . . .Fred Fanning . . . .97 1947 **
North Melbourne Doug Wade . . . . 103 1974 **
. . . . . . . . Malcolm Blight . .103 1982 **
Port Adelaide .Scott Cummings . . .70 1997
Richmond . . . Michael Roach . . .112 1980 **
St. Kilda . . .Tony Lockett . . . 132 1992 **
South/Sydney . Bob Pratt . . . . .150 1934 **
West Coast . . Peter Sumich . . . 111 1991 **

** most goals in club history

 

[mianfei]

Re: Most goals in a season without winning the club best and fairest

It’s remarkable how kicking a record goal total doesn’t win the club best and fairest. Lockett did win it twice with lower goal tallies for teams that were never as good as St. Kilda could be in 1992: they kept Hawthorn goalless in the second half and thrashed eventual premier West Coast by 66 points.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Most players to play their final VFL/AFL game in one match:

Pl Year Rd HC HP AC AP
----------------------
16 1914 18 Un 16 St -
12 1930 18 Sy  4 NM 8
11 1945 20 Ge  3 St 8
11 1946 19 Ha  6 Fi 5
10 1899 S3 Ca  4 Me 6
10 1899 S3 Ge  5 St 5
10 1928 18 WB  8 St 2
10 1932 18 Es  3 Ha 7
10 1955 18 St  7 Ri 3
 9 1903 S3 Es  6 Sy 3
 9 1906 S3 Ge  7 Es 2
 9 1906 S3 Me  7 Co 2
 9 1908 18 Fi  6 Me 3
 9 1911 15 Ca  1 St 8
 9 1913 18 Me  8 Es 1
 9 1918 14 Co  1 Es 8
 9 1920 18 Fi  1 St 8
 9 1929 18 Sy  5 Ha 4
 9 1937 18 Sy  5 Es 4
 9 1950 SF Me  9 Ge -
 9 1961 18 Sy  6 Fi 3

The top entry was University's last match. Surprisingly, only 6 players (all Fitzroy) never played senior AFL football again after the Lions' final match (R22, 1996 v Freo) at Subiaco.

 

[mianfei]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Most players to play their final VFL/AFL game in one match:

9 1950 SF [COLOR=Navy]Me[/COLOR]  9 [COLOR=Navy]Ge[/COLOR] -

The top entry was University’s last match. Surprisingly, only 6 players (all Fitzroy) never played senior AFL football again after the Lions’ final match (R22, 1996 v Freo) at Subiaco.

That 1950 case is particularly telling.

Melbourne won only one match in 1951 and broke the seemingly endless monopoly of the wooden spoon by Hawthorn and St. Kilda during that period. Although the Demons had been a genuine force since 1936 except when decimated by the loss of players to World War II, they retained a rigid tradition of amateurism, owing to the influence of the Melbourne Cricket Club which had always been vehemently opposed to professionalism.

 

[RogersResults]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

2010 Finals Series Week 1 Trivia

1 ) First time since 1935-1936 that Carlton has been eliminated in the first round of a finals series in consecutive years.

2 ) Fremantle v Hawthorn: 4.13: Least goals to most behinds in a final at 3/4 time since Nth Melbourne 4.15-39 v Collingwood 9.12-66 - 1977 drawn Grand Final.

3 ) 7th final Collingwood has won in all 4 quarters and the first since the 1990 Grand Final. Also the 7th final WB/Footscray has lost in all 4 quarters and 1st since the 2006 Semi Final v West Coast

4) 39. Collingwood's 2nd highest number of scoring shots in a final. Highest: 42 - 22.20-152 v Carlton 15.12-102 - 1980 Semi Final.

5) 11th time Geelong has lost a final with more scoring shots and 4th since 2000. Previous: 2008 Grand Final v Hawthorn, 2004 Preliminary Final v Brisbane, 2000 Elimination Final v Hawthorn.

More Here:

 

[mianfei]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

RogersResults,

some really surprising facts out there.

I was surprised that Hawthorn’s first half score of only one goal was only the second in a final since the drawn 1972 second semi! I don’t recall that 2004 game, but I saw that Essendon did manage to get back into the game in the last quarter to lose by only ten points.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

At 198cm, Matthew Primus is the equal tallest man to coach a VFL/AFL team (with Percy Jones). Taller coaches tend not to last all that long:

Hgt Coach         Club(s) Gms
-----------------------------
198 Peter Jones        Ca  24
198 Matthew Primus     PA   7*
196 Ron Alexander      WC  22
196 Jade Rawlings      Ri  11
195 Roger Merrett      Br  11
194 Neil Balme         Me  98
193 Robert Walls Ca/Br/Ri 347
193 Mike Patterson  St/Ri  68
193 Dave McNamara      St  50
193 Carl Ditterich     Me  44
192 Graham Donaldson   Fi  85
192 Bill McMaster      Ge  44
191 Danny Frawley      Ri 113
191 Graham Farmer      Ge  66
191 Barry Richardson   Ri  47
191 Johnny Lewis       NM  18
191 Donald McDonald    Ha   5

NB list excludes coaches who I don't have a height for - those who did not a play a VFL/AFL match, and some early coaches whose height is unknown.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Re: Post 5 random (obscure) stats

Andrew Hooper becomes the Bulldogs' first finals debutant on Saturday. All of the traditional VFL clubs are now represented on the list:

Player             Year Rd Cb Op R   Age   CMa
----------------------------------------------
Hooper, Andrew     2010 SF WB Sy   19y236d
Spargo, Paul       1985 SF NM WB L 18y341d  90
Osborne, Graham D. 1984 EF Fi Co L 21y212d  37
Brereton, Dermott  1982 SF Ha NM W 18y 23d 211
Lovell, Noel       1981 PF Co Ge W 19y358d  20
Howell, Scott      1980 SF Ca Co L 22y126d  39
Cooke, Michael C.  1975 SF Ha NM W 21y270d   2
Dunstan, Graeme    1972 SF Co St L 19y262d  31
Payze, Travis      1966 SF St Co L 20y 70d 127
Thompson, Len      1965 PF Co Es L 18y 22d 301
Batchelor, Keith   1952 GF Co Ge L 21y359d  42
Hay, Bob A.        1942 SF Ri Es W 22y149d   2
Bywater, Ron       1942 SF Sy WB W 23y233d  58
Silk, Sid          1941 PF Es Ca W 20y156d  15
Cordner, Don       1941 SF Me Ca W 19y235d 166
Tuohill, Ted       1938 PF Ge Co L 22y241d  26
Vine, Fred         1926 GF Me Co W 22y  8d 105
Chapman, Charlie   1924 RR Fi Ri W 19y253d 104
Harris, Jacky      1924 RR Sy Fi W 23y315d   6
Miller, Gil        1924 RR Sy Fi W 21y 41d   1
Rawle, George      1923 GF Es Fi W 33y322d  19
James, Billy R.    1920 GF Ri Co W 20y145d   1
Beasy, Maurie      1920 SF Ca Ri W 24y188d  76
Prout, Harry       1908 GF Es Ca L 21y152d  29
Holligan, John     1902 SF Es Me W 26y309d   5
Stranger, Bill     1897 RR Co Ge L 25y312d  17
Cochrane, George   1897 RR Es Co W 19y337d  22
Ferguson, Dave E.  1897 RR Es Co W 22y160d   2
Greeves, Ted       1897 RR Ge Me W 18y255d  20
Hughes, Harry      1897 RR Me Ge L 21y 96d   2
Sheahan, Gerald    1897 RR Me Ge L 24y243d   1
Campbell, Colin M. 1897 RR Es Ge W 25y  8d  12

 

[mianfei]

Players making debuts in finals

Some points about that list, Ron the Bear:

1. very surprising that no players made their debuts in finals between 1986 and 2009! What do you think the cause would be?
2. the last few players listed were very familiar to me from old VFL Yearbooks. Spargo was a promising player who was decimated by a succession of injuries.
3. there are quite a few famous players in that list, viz:
   1. Dermott Brereton
   2. Len Thompson
   3. Travis Payze
   4. Ron Bywater (third in 1947 Brownlow)
   5. Don Cordner

 

[red+black]

Re: Players making debuts in finals

At 198cm, Matthew Primus is the equal tallest man to coach a VFL/AFL team (with Percy Jones). Taller coaches tend not to last all that long:

Hgt Coach             Club(s) Gms
---------------------------------
198 Peter Jones            Ca  24
198 Matthew Primus         PA   7*
196 Ron Alexander          WC  22
196 Jade Rawlings          Ri  11
195 Roger Merrett          Br  11
194 Neil Balme             Me  98
193 Robert Walls  [COLOR="Red"]Fi[/COLOR]/Ca/Br/Ri 347 [COLOR="Red"](115/84/109/39)[/COLOR]
193 Mike Patterson      St/Ri  68 [COLOR="Red"](46/22)[/COLOR]
193 Dave McNamara          St  50
193 Carl Ditterich         Me  44
192 Graham Donaldson       Fi  85
192 Bill McMaster          Ge  44
191 Danny Frawley          Ri 113
191 Graham Farmer          Ge  66
191 Barry Richardson       Ri  47
191 Johnny Lewis           NM  18
191 Donald McDonald        Ha   5

NB list excludes coaches who I don't have a height for - those who did not a play a VFL/AFL match, and some early coaches whose height is unknown.

Additions in red. So we can deduce that no tall coach has coached any one side for more than 115 matches. Primus needs to coach for 5 full seasons to break the record of Robert Walls at Fitzroy.

very surprising that no players made their debuts in finals between 1986 and 2009! What do you think the cause would be?

I would suggest that the Bulldogs should not be playing a debutant and that 1986 should have remained the last time given that the AFL is a professional sport.

 

[Supermercado]

Re: Players making debuts in finals

Massive desperation would seem to be the reason they're doing it.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Re: Players making debuts in finals

Massive desperation would seem to be the reason they're doing it.

Not quite.
More like poor planning. He was always going to play if injuries didn't improve. Bad form meant they didn't want to tamper in round 22 otherwise he would have got a game then. In hindsight they should have. I think they thought Higgins was over his troubles.

 

[mianfei]

Re: Players making debuts in finals

I would suggest that the Bulldogs should not be playing a debutant and that 1986 should have remained the last time given that the AFL is a professional sport.

Actually, the VFL has been a professional sport, at large, for about 90 years. It is true that Hawthorn was essentially an amateur club until the middle 1950s (witness its shocking success rate of 21.55 percent or less than four wins a season to the end of 1953), that St. Kilda could not pay its players enough to be tangible until the same period, and that Melbourne preferred finding jobs to paying players. However, if you look at clubs like Carlton and Richmond, who acquired generous wealthy patrons and were willing and able to pay players for more than the Coulter Law allowed, it is impossible to conclude that the top VFL clubs were not professional eighty years ago.