The biggest "What could've been?"

[Mningasimisonda]

THat's been my thoughts for awhile. I rewatched the last 10 minutes the other day and that last forward entry is seat of the pants stuff from several backmen, Johnson in particular. The Milne bounce is becoming folklore, but - either there was still time for either team to score.

Let's say the Saints had of won, which they legitimately could have, there would be hundreds of Pies supporters pointing at Cloke's misses in the first half which would open up a whole can of worms re his subsequent contract negotiations etc. Not to mention the dynamics of 2011 would have been completely diffreent

No free kick against Mooney and waved off goal in the QF, and Saints would've had to go the long way and probably wouldn't have made the GF.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

What if Sydney decided to keep Wayne Carey.

 

[Mningasimisonda]

What if Sydney decided to keep Wayne Carey.

Or if Hawks kept Ablett. No one would've touched them in the late 80s.

 

[year of the cat]

What if Gary Ablett Snr had have stayed at Hawthorn for his entire career, with his brothers and brother in law? We may have got Jnr too as Father/son. Those 2 would have minimum 9 flags between them, and with those two in our sides during those glory periods, quite conceivably more, instead of 2. I reckon we would have won '84 and '12 respectively if we'd had those in those sides. Would have been 11 flags between them instead of 2.
That one boggles my mind.

That's frightening.

 

[Snake_Baker]

What if Sydney decided to keep Wayne Carey.

....and John Longmire!

 

[footyfan1978]

How would that have worked though? Having two teams called the Magpies in prison bar black and white jumpers?

Who cares. That would be their problem. I am sure there were two Tigers in the VFL not that long ago. Was not the end of the world. One would simply be the Collingwood Magpies and the other Port Adelaide Magpies.
Collingwood have never had a jumper like Port SANFL club. The colour of black and white is same but so what ?
North and Geelong are both blue and white. No one cares at end of the day. You just get used to it.

 

[Bombermania]

Who cares. That would be their problem. I am sure there were two Tigers in the VFL not that long ago. Was not the end of the world. One would simply be the Collingwood Magpies and the other Port Adelaide Magpies.
Collingwood have never had a jumper like Port SANFL club. The colour of black and white is same but so what ?
North and Geelong are both blue and white. No one cares at end of the day. You just get used to it.

Absolutely I think that is the case in a few leagues. Eddie should have been told to get over himself, in turn Port could have agreed to have played in an all black or or white jumper whenever they played Collingwood.

 

[footyfan1978]

I still believe that the AFL would've been better having Norwood come in instead of crows along with Port Adelaide, would've lead to more interest coming from SA as their great rivalry could continue on an even bigger stage

Would have found it much more interesting myself to have Port Adelaide Magpies and Norwood Redlegs in rather than plastic franchises of Camries and Power. Not that the young uns over there that grown up only knowing Crows and Power would care. They brought right in the marketing of them so it is all they know.

 

[Daniel Flynn]

Would have found it much more interesting myself to have Port Adelaide Magpies and Norwood Redlegs in rather than plastic franchises of Camries and Power. Not that the young uns over there that grown up only knowing Crows and Power would care. They brought right in the marketing of them so it is all they know.

The rivalry would've been massive just imagine before getting a tasmanian team they should bring in the redlegs just to make you and me happy

 

[BigVic]

Gary Ablett never leaves Geelong

 

[Countrypie]

Would have found it much more interesting myself to have Port Adelaide Magpies and Norwood Redlegs in rather than plastic franchises of Camries and Power. Not that the young uns over there that grown up only knowing Crows and Power would care. They brought right in the marketing of them so it is all they know.

I totally agree. I never saw a problem with it.

 

[Major Colvin]

Would have found it much more interesting myself to have Port Adelaide Magpies and Norwood Redlegs in rather than plastic franchises of Camries and Power. Not that the young uns over there that grown up only knowing Crows and Power would care. They brought right in the marketing of them so it is all they know.

The Adelaide Crows as a venture has worked though. If you just had Port and Norwood as AFL teams, it seems like your potentially (definitely) alienating large numbers of people who supported the 8 other teams - I think the AFL and SANFL recognised that which is why they reneged on the first Port bid and entered a composite team first.

 

[Cudi_420]

What if Collingwood had beaten Geelong in the 07 Prelim? Would Cats have won it in 09 and 2011?

 

[Countrypie]

What if Collingwood had beaten Geelong in the 07 Prelim? Would Cats have won it in 09 and 2011?

Probablywould have won '08. FWIW if Collingwood have of won that Prelim, POrt would have won the flag. The pies were out on their feet

 

[Cudi_420]

Probablywould have won '08. FWIW if Collingwood have of won that Prelim, POrt would have won the flag. The pies were out on their feet

Based on Port's GF performance, not so sure. Would have been closer but Pies may have done a Bulldogs.

 

[RupieDupie]

Since Bulldogs won the Premiership last year, this is not as big of a deal anymore, and someone else may have mentioned it, but 1997, Bulldogs vs Adelaide to get into the Grand Final to play St Kilda, both Dogs and Saints had only won two premierships between them. It would have been an interesting Victorian-centric clash.

 

[Major Colvin]

Since Bulldogs won the Premiership last year, this is not as big of a deal anymore, and someone else may have mentioned it, but 1997, Bulldogs vs Adelaide to get into the Grand Final to play St Kilda, both Dogs and Saints had only won two premierships between them. It would have been an interesting Victorian-centric clash.

The Dogs would have won that clash IMO - just a feeling. Everitt didnt play for St Kilda - just seemed too overwhelmed by the occasion.

 

[RupieDupie]

The Dogs would have won that clash IMO - just a feeling. Everitt didnt play for St Kilda - just seemed too overwhelmed by the occasion.

Would have been an epic clash!

 

[Mr.X]

What Blues could have been if this guy was removed from the presidency around 1997?

No draft scandal, massive fines, spoons and the last 16 years of rubbish

 

[iameviljez]

Here's one for Saints fans: Matt Maguire.

He was, IMO, a really promising strong-bodied CHB in the Grant Thomas years, and looked all the world like a 10-year investment as that Jakovich-style strong-bodied defender. Had a horrendous injury run just before the Saints really came good, and eventually played out a serviceable career at Brisbane, but as a shadow of the player he really would have been.

The one spot where StKilda were really vulnerable was in terms of their tall defenders. Maguire should have set them up from the back for years to come, but instead Dawson had to be drafted in to do the job.

 

[Major Colvin]

Bigger than any player switching clubs in the last 50 years were the arbitary allocation of players to VFL clubs via their country zones. Would be interested to understand how some zones were consistently more fruitful than others. They were brought in to circumvent to unfair advantage the wealthy Melb clubs had to "poach" players outside their metropolitan zones, but lead to even greater disparity. Hawthorn had access to the biggest and strongest region in terms of growth and talent in Mornington Peninsula. Without these zones the likes of Matthews, Brereton, the Abletts etc would have played for the Saints. The zones were supposed to be rotated but the beneficiaries of good zones (Hawthorn, Carlton, Richmond) refused.

 

[footyfan1978]

What Blues could have been if this guy was removed from the presidency around 1997?

97 was also too late.
He should have gone after 10 years and would not be seen in such poor light by us fans any more.
If he left at end of 95 would have been ideal for all concerned.

 

[Damon_3388]

What if Sydney decided to keep Wayne Carey.

What if he'd chosen to stay in SA and continue into senior footy with North Adelaide, instead of moving to Melbourne as a 16-year-old in 1987?

Is the 1989 SANFL GF more competitive with a young Carey in the Roosters' lineup (North Adelaide lost 108-14)? Does Andrew Jarman stay at North Adelaide in 1990, instead of moving to Norwood? Does Carey + A. Jarman make for a Roosters premiership in 1990 (they eventually won in 1991)? Does Carey then become part of the Crows inaugural squad? How many flags do the Crows then win in the '90s? Where would North Melbourne be without the same success in the '90s? Merged with Fitzroy? Extinct?

 

[Willo 17]

What if Dangerfield did not get rubbed out for his tackle. Would he be favorite for his second medal still?

 

[The Final Word]

John Coleman knees hold up and plays more than 98 games to add to his 537 goals
Gary Ablett Senior stays at Hawthorn and they get 10 years of him plus Gary Ablett Jnr.
Terry and Neale Daniher to Essendon from South Melbourne for Neville Fields
Steve Johnson is passed fit by Collingwood and is traded by Geelong at the end of 2006