The best prelim finals since 1995?

2notepockets

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#51
This is a few years earlier than the allocated timeline, 1993. Adelaide had the game under control, all they had to do was win, but then at 3 quarter time the Adelaide players did the unthinkable, they sat down in their huddle. Kevin Sheedy saw this and in a moment of magnificence took his players aside and delivered one of the greatest speeches in AFL folklore, which I unfortunately do not have a transcript of, but according to my memory was something along the lines of,

"I had a dream...", nope that was his 1991 speech against the Bulldogs, "Fore score and..." nope that was his 1996 first quarter address against the Hawks... ahh here it is,

"Look at those lazy fcukers! They're sitting down! And Gary (O'Donnell)...?"
Gary - "Yes Sheeds?"
"I am your father"
The thing I remember most about this game was Wanganeen getting nearly as many free kicks as the whole Adelaide team...
 

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iluvparis

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#52
Why not? If the probabilities were, hypothetically, deemed to be as follows:
  • West Coast 60% chance to win PF (Adelaide 40%)
  • If WC make the GF, 50% chance to win it (Sydney 50%)
  • If Adelaide make the GF, 90% chance to win it (Sydney 10%)
Then Sydney's chance of winning the flag is half of 60% + a tenth of 40% = 34%
West Coast's chance is half of 60% = 30%
Adelaide's chance is nine-tenths of 40% = 36%

...making Adelaide the flag favourite despite not being favourites in the prelim. And that's assuming the odds ep2006 referred to weren't the odd way they were for some reason other than directly based on "basic probability". Unlikely? Sure, but hardly "zero chance" of having happened; seems a weird thing to be so insistent about.
What is more likely - that ludicrous scenario about relative probabilities of the two teams beating Sydney or the fact that the posters memory is hazy. I'll say the latter
 

FootyJunkie

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#54
I thoroughly enjoyed the Hawthorn vs. Adelaide prelim in 2012. Tippett was legitimately unstoppable and it was a gripping game with the underdog falling just short. Anyone who watched this game couldn't mock Sydney for signing Tippett for $800,000 with a straight face.

Plus, it was the first Saturday twilight prelim, and I'm a bit of a sucker for the Saturday twilight timeslot.
First twilight prelim at the MCG

Port v North had a twilight prelim in 07 at Footy Park
 

iameviljez

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#55
Anyone who doesn't answer 1999 has no clue

Honorable mentions to 07 and 13
Disagree - for a start, you're completely biased!

I agree with Port vs StKilda 2004 for a few reasons:
- The game was more even - Essendon should have won but for inaccuracy in front of goal
- Port vs StKilda was close all the way through, though I do appreciate the ebb-and-flow of the 1999 game
- Both sides would have gone into the next week as favourites - with all respect to Carlton 1999, they weren't really a match for North
- There was more history riding on it, while Carlton and Essendon had both won flags in the six years prior to 1999

If that game had been played in Victoria we'd still be banging on about it.
 

iameviljez

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#57
My top 5 in no particular order

Port def Saints 2004
WCE def Adelaide 2006
Hawks def Port 2014
Dogs def Giants 2016
Crows def Dogs 1997
It wasn't the best game of footy skill-wise in all history, but gee the emotional attachment to it was fantastic. I love the footage from behind the Dogs cheersquad when Dickson took the mark.
 

hcd199

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#60
What is more likely - that ludicrous scenario about relative probabilities of the two teams beating Sydney or the fact that the posters memory is hazy. I'll say the latter
So when you said "Lol there is zero chance", you meant there was some chance, just that it was unlikely enough for you to be doubtful? And when you said "think about basic probability for a minute", you meant don't think about basic probability? All I'm saying is, why jump to the conclusion that the poster must be wrong, despite it manifestly being a possibility (albeit unlikely and unusual)?
 

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Hawker55

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#63
2001, Ess v Haw, horrible umpiring early that put the Hawks at a disadvatage, Hawks clawed back and had a chance to steal the lead but Trent Crowd hit the post about 60m out, still an entertaining clash on a Saturday afternoon, shown Live into Melbourne on Ch7 as it was a sellout
If that had gone in and we'd won then the croad-mcpharlin trade for pick 1 and 32 probably wouldn't have happened. Fine lines
 

iameviljez

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#64
Surprised so few mentions of Plugger in 1996.

His point on the siren, after a 2 goals in 2 min comback from nowhere and following ground invasion was just a pure footy moment.
Especially given how godawful the Swans were just three years before. Seriously, what a massive turnaround. I know Barassi gets plenty of plaudits for being North's first premiership coach, but his work with the Swans was great.
 

_Mike_

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Moderator #65
It wasn't the best game of footy skill-wise in all history, but gee the emotional attachment to it was fantastic.
Gut determination by both teams made it a memorable final, neither team would lay down and the game was pushed to the very last kick
 

Macpotata

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#67
It's honestly my favourite week of the season. Everything on the line and you're more likely than not to get a belter that goes very close to being a classic.

Carlton v Essendon 99, Cats v Pies 07, Hawks v Cats 13, Dogs v Giants 16.

Bring on the weekend.
I agree. GF's are usually very one sided.
 

Macpotata

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#69
Biggest upset - Blues vs dons 99. 6th placed on the ladder vs a team that lost only 4 for the season and were unbeaten for a while. Carlton did the impossible. Kouta was a ****n gladiator that day. Murdered the bombers in the last qtr. Bradley and Whitnall were first class also. How good was Fraser Browns tackle on Wellman. Saved them the match.

Been some cracking prelims. ours vs the kangas where Ablett goaled after the siren in 94 was a stirrer.

Swans vs Dons 96

Dogs Crows 97

unmentioned but 2002 pies vs crows was alright just for the sheer ferocity and patriotic support of the home crowd.

2004 - port vs saints. Cats vs Lions same year good too.

2006 - crows vs eagles.

2007 - Cats vs Pies

2009 saints vs dogs

2011 Hawks vs pies

2012 Hawks vs Crows

2013 Hawks vs Cats - beauty even though we lost. **** you Varcoe.

2014 - hawks vs port awesome

2016 - giants vs dogs one of the best games ive seen. Cracker.

2017 - ??????
 

iluvparis

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#70
- There was more history riding on it, while Carlton and Essendon had both won flags in the six years prior to 1999
Lol are you kidding me - more history in a Port v St Kilda final then Carlton trying to stop a rampaging Essendon equaling their AFL record 16 flags in one of the AFL's most bitter rivalries at a packed MCG!?!?

You must be 100% taking the piss.
 

iluvparis

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#71
So when you said "Lol there is zero chance", you meant there was some chance, just that it was unlikely enough for you to be doubtful? And when you said "think about basic probability for a minute", you meant don't think about basic probability? All I'm saying is, why jump to the conclusion that the poster must be wrong, despite it manifestly being a possibility (albeit unlikely and unusual)?
I was getting him to think just that though - if the Eagles were favoured over the Crows - think about the relative grand final probabilities that would be needed for the Crows to still be flag faves - as I said - they are ludicrous.
 
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#72
Surprised so few mentions of Plugger in 1996.

His point on the siren, after a 2 goals in 2 min comback from nowhere and following ground invasion was just a pure footy moment.
Both the '96 and '99 close prelims were against ESS, and then NM went onto win the flag in both years.

So the maestro of speeches got up, and in the first ever recorded case of trolling said something along the lines of, 'we set North up for their two GF wins'.

IMO North were all like, 'you're serious?!?'

And then Bombers smacked them in the 2000 QF. You would think that this trolling comment had worked it's magic, but Sheeds was always thinking years in advance.

2001, and we see the pure genius come into play, ESS vs NM Round 16. Essendon has only lost two games for the year.

Picture this, some random guy turns on the radio and is told that, Rex Hunt isn't talking shite (because no one actually ever knew what was happening when Hunt was commentating) and NM is leading the favourites Bombers by 69 points!

Denis Pagan has a wry smile, but then he looks across at the Kasparov, nay, the deep blue, of the AFL world in Sheeds, and Sheeds is calmly sitting back arms folded as if he is not watching his team suffer a demoralising defeat. Pagan sweats, looks down at his board, looks up at Sheeds, and then sweats some more, Sheeds smiles...

Next issue: if it bleeds we can kill it. Sheeds vs Matthews.
 

King Brown

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#74
What is more likely - that ludicrous scenario about relative probabilities of the two teams beating Sydney or the fact that the posters memory is hazy. I'll say the latter
Adelaide had a ridiculous record over Sydney at the time whereas West Coast were only ever 50/50.

West Coast could have been slight favourites over Adelaide and uncertain to beat Sydney with Adelaide expected to beat the Swans easily.

Even Swans fans at the time said they were lucky not to face Adelaide in finals.
 
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