What are the biggest rivalries in league Football ? To have a decent rivalry, there are a number of factors to consider. Some rivalries exist due to the two teams having played a lot of big games agaisnt each other over a period of time. Be it 10 years or, 100 years.
Geogrpahy is also important. Freo and West Coast havn't played many big games against each other (in terms of importance), but their rivarly exists due to the geographical similarity of the two teams.
Before I start, I don't really classify Bulldogs vs Brisbane a rivarly. In 3 years time, we will have forgotten all about the "scratching" allegations. To classify that as a rivalry would mean we would have to classify every game that has a tribunal hearing as a rivalry.
Anyway, here we go.
1.) Essendon vs Carlton.
The biggest rivalry in football. Not just due to this years form, either. These two clubs have won 31 of the 104 VFL/AFL premierships between them, and have consistently, over the course of 104 years met each other in big games. 6 Grand Final matches against each other is bettered only by Melbourne-Collingwood, who have met each other 7 times. Add to this the fact that Essendon is one flag behind Carltons record of 16, and many spiteful and memorable clashes over the years, and you have footballs biggest rivalry.
2.) Carlton vs Collingwood
This used to be the biggest rivalry. These two clubs have made the finals more times than any others. 72 times for the Pies, and 62 times for the Blues. Due to this, they have met in many big games, including 6 Grand Finals with the Blues winning the last 5. What makes it even bigger, is that for many years Collingwood classed themselves as the "greatest" club, but Carlton overook their premiership record, often at the expense of their vanquished foe in Grand Finals. Collingwood demise, drops this rivalry back to number 2.
3.) Essendon vs Collingwood.
These two clubs have won 29 flags between them and have met in tons of big games. Remarkably, the 1990 Grand Final was their first Grand Final match since 1911, even though thee two clubs made dozens and dozens of finals appearances over the years. In fact Essendon appeared in 23 Grand Finals between 1911, and 1990, with UNBELIEVABLY not one of them against the Pies. Still, the two clubs have met in many finals agaisnt each other, and have the two bigegst following in Australia. The spiteful 1990 Grand Final, re-ignited a rivalry, that has been brewing for over 100 years. The drought-breaking premiership for the Maggies, makes this rivarly in more "storied"
4.) Richmond Vs Carlton
Carlton is Richmonds greatest rival. They have met in 6 Grand Finals against each other and have had many stirring clashes. Havn't met in a final since 1982. Have won 26 flags between them. From 1969 to 1982, they met in 4 Grand Finals, with Richmond winning two of them. All of them were memorable with the 1972 GF being the highest scoring Grand Final in history. The 1973 GF saw big Nick poleaxed, while 1982 saw the first streaker.
5.) Adelaide vs Port Adelaide.
Whilst they have not been involved in many important head-to-head clashes, the passion of the South Australian fans and the close nature of the contests has made this the biggest of the two local derbies. What has made this rivarly interesting is Port ability to beat the Crows, at times humiliating them with close unexpected wins. The first derby was a great example of this. This makes the rivalry more "mythical".
6.) West Coat vs Fremantle.
Due to the Eagles dominance, this rivalry doesn't have the same impact as the South Australian derby. Still, the fact that the two teams hate each other, combined with the geographical impact you can only get with a local derby, makes this the 6th biggest rivalry in Australin Football today.
7.) Melbourne vs Collingwood.
Between 1955 and 1964, these two clubs met in 5 Grand Finals head-to-head. To put this into context, if you were to meet a team 5 times in Grand Finals over 100 years this would be a lot, and these clubs did it over 10 years ! They have met in 7 GF's alltogether. Part of the "myth" is that Colligwood were the VFL's most sucessfull club, but they couldn't beat Melbourne. Melbourne won 6 of the 7 Grand Finals. In 1958, Melbourne was attempting to equal Collingwood proud record of 4 consecutive premeirships. The Dees met the Pies in the Grand Final that year and the Pies shocked them causing one of the great upsets. They also met in a 1958 Home and Away game that drew 99,000 people. A record for a home and away match. Melbournes demise over the last 36 years, drops this to number 7.
8.) Richmond vs Collingwood
An old suburban rivalry. These two famous clubs have met in 6 Grand Finals, with the Pies beating Richmond in the 1927, 28, and 1929 Grand Finals. How the Tigers must have hated the Pies after that !! They have met in many big games over the years, with Richmonds last premiership coming after beating the Pies in 1980. It was record GF margin at the time.
9.) Essendon vs Hawthorn
Rivals of the 1980's. Along with Rich-Coll in 1927,28,29, Essendon and Hawthorn remain the only two clubs to have met in three successive Grand Finals in 1983,84,85. In the mid eighties, these were the games to be at. They continued to meet in big games right up to the 1989 second semi-final. Therer have been many memorable incidents and clashes between the two teams.
10.) Hawthorn vs North Melbourne.
Great rivals of the 70's. They met in 3 GF's in 1975, 76 and 1978. North won their first flag agaisnt the Hawks in 1975. To illustrate how many finals they played, have a look at the period 1974 to 1978. In those five years, the two clubs met twice a year in the finals, every year. That's 10 finals matches in 5 years, to go along with 10 H&A meetings in that time. That's 20 matches overall. John Kennedy defection to the Roos was also an important factor in that rivalry.
Apologies to Ess vs West Coat (probably number 11.
Also apologies to Collingwood vs Geelong, Geelong vs West Coast, Essendon vs North Melbourne
Thoughts ?
Geogrpahy is also important. Freo and West Coast havn't played many big games against each other (in terms of importance), but their rivarly exists due to the geographical similarity of the two teams.
Before I start, I don't really classify Bulldogs vs Brisbane a rivarly. In 3 years time, we will have forgotten all about the "scratching" allegations. To classify that as a rivalry would mean we would have to classify every game that has a tribunal hearing as a rivalry.
Anyway, here we go.
1.) Essendon vs Carlton.
The biggest rivalry in football. Not just due to this years form, either. These two clubs have won 31 of the 104 VFL/AFL premierships between them, and have consistently, over the course of 104 years met each other in big games. 6 Grand Final matches against each other is bettered only by Melbourne-Collingwood, who have met each other 7 times. Add to this the fact that Essendon is one flag behind Carltons record of 16, and many spiteful and memorable clashes over the years, and you have footballs biggest rivalry.
2.) Carlton vs Collingwood
This used to be the biggest rivalry. These two clubs have made the finals more times than any others. 72 times for the Pies, and 62 times for the Blues. Due to this, they have met in many big games, including 6 Grand Finals with the Blues winning the last 5. What makes it even bigger, is that for many years Collingwood classed themselves as the "greatest" club, but Carlton overook their premiership record, often at the expense of their vanquished foe in Grand Finals. Collingwood demise, drops this rivalry back to number 2.
3.) Essendon vs Collingwood.
These two clubs have won 29 flags between them and have met in tons of big games. Remarkably, the 1990 Grand Final was their first Grand Final match since 1911, even though thee two clubs made dozens and dozens of finals appearances over the years. In fact Essendon appeared in 23 Grand Finals between 1911, and 1990, with UNBELIEVABLY not one of them against the Pies. Still, the two clubs have met in many finals agaisnt each other, and have the two bigegst following in Australia. The spiteful 1990 Grand Final, re-ignited a rivalry, that has been brewing for over 100 years. The drought-breaking premiership for the Maggies, makes this rivarly in more "storied"
4.) Richmond Vs Carlton
Carlton is Richmonds greatest rival. They have met in 6 Grand Finals against each other and have had many stirring clashes. Havn't met in a final since 1982. Have won 26 flags between them. From 1969 to 1982, they met in 4 Grand Finals, with Richmond winning two of them. All of them were memorable with the 1972 GF being the highest scoring Grand Final in history. The 1973 GF saw big Nick poleaxed, while 1982 saw the first streaker.
5.) Adelaide vs Port Adelaide.
Whilst they have not been involved in many important head-to-head clashes, the passion of the South Australian fans and the close nature of the contests has made this the biggest of the two local derbies. What has made this rivarly interesting is Port ability to beat the Crows, at times humiliating them with close unexpected wins. The first derby was a great example of this. This makes the rivalry more "mythical".
6.) West Coat vs Fremantle.
Due to the Eagles dominance, this rivalry doesn't have the same impact as the South Australian derby. Still, the fact that the two teams hate each other, combined with the geographical impact you can only get with a local derby, makes this the 6th biggest rivalry in Australin Football today.
7.) Melbourne vs Collingwood.
Between 1955 and 1964, these two clubs met in 5 Grand Finals head-to-head. To put this into context, if you were to meet a team 5 times in Grand Finals over 100 years this would be a lot, and these clubs did it over 10 years ! They have met in 7 GF's alltogether. Part of the "myth" is that Colligwood were the VFL's most sucessfull club, but they couldn't beat Melbourne. Melbourne won 6 of the 7 Grand Finals. In 1958, Melbourne was attempting to equal Collingwood proud record of 4 consecutive premeirships. The Dees met the Pies in the Grand Final that year and the Pies shocked them causing one of the great upsets. They also met in a 1958 Home and Away game that drew 99,000 people. A record for a home and away match. Melbournes demise over the last 36 years, drops this to number 7.
8.) Richmond vs Collingwood
An old suburban rivalry. These two famous clubs have met in 6 Grand Finals, with the Pies beating Richmond in the 1927, 28, and 1929 Grand Finals. How the Tigers must have hated the Pies after that !! They have met in many big games over the years, with Richmonds last premiership coming after beating the Pies in 1980. It was record GF margin at the time.
9.) Essendon vs Hawthorn
Rivals of the 1980's. Along with Rich-Coll in 1927,28,29, Essendon and Hawthorn remain the only two clubs to have met in three successive Grand Finals in 1983,84,85. In the mid eighties, these were the games to be at. They continued to meet in big games right up to the 1989 second semi-final. Therer have been many memorable incidents and clashes between the two teams.
10.) Hawthorn vs North Melbourne.
Great rivals of the 70's. They met in 3 GF's in 1975, 76 and 1978. North won their first flag agaisnt the Hawks in 1975. To illustrate how many finals they played, have a look at the period 1974 to 1978. In those five years, the two clubs met twice a year in the finals, every year. That's 10 finals matches in 5 years, to go along with 10 H&A meetings in that time. That's 20 matches overall. John Kennedy defection to the Roos was also an important factor in that rivalry.
Apologies to Ess vs West Coat (probably number 11.
Also apologies to Collingwood vs Geelong, Geelong vs West Coast, Essendon vs North Melbourne
Thoughts ?
