The rankings (from best to worst) of the 126 VFL-AFL premiership teams

[76woodenspooners]

This Collingwood team can’t beat anyone by 10 goals, 12 point aggregate margin attests to that.

Collingwood did win five games this year by 10 goal+ margins? Collingwood can do that when they’re clearly the better side.

 

[smasha]

Social Media argh.
Pass me the Panadol.

 

[SuperSub17]

It all depends how much weighting you put to various things. Do you prioritise a team being very good all year without being dominant (like Collingwood this year), or in the pack then dominant in finals (like most other recent premiers)? Dan tends to take into account the whole season (maybe with finals given an extra weight) so will certainly be interesting.

After 18 games this year (exactly the two-thirds mark), Collingwood was 16-2 with a % of 137. This century, Geelong 2009 and 2011 are the only other premiers to match 16-2 at that stage. Sydney 2012 and Hawthorn 2013 both had 15 wins (Hawks lost round 19 to Richmond), and every other premier 14 or under.

They no doubt took the foot off the gas in the last month of H&A, and definitely the narrow September wins will see them penalised in the list a good amount—but overall it was a fairly consistent season with a well balanced attack and defence (which Dan also likes).

 

[The Cryptkeeper]

Collingwood prioritize the win over the winning margin.

Sure, they could try to win by more, but when they do that they’re reducing their chance of winning because by trying to score more they’re also giving the opponent a chance to score.

You’ve noticed that Collingwood win a lot of games by small margins? That’s not because Collingwood somehow manage time and again to scrape through in shootouts.

Well that’s some of the greatest mental gymnastics I have ever seen on this site.

Congratulations sir.

 

[South of the Yarra]

Give me a team who continuously wins clutch games when it counts over a team that is flashy and good when 10 goals up.

 

[Mr Meow]

Was bored so decided to have a crack at last 30 years using an objective, quantifiable method. Measuring overall season dominance.

H&A was ranked by: Finishing position (1st = 8 points, 8th = 1 point etc) and winning % (H&A win loss: there were 11 different winning %s so points were allocated 11 for highest, 1 for 11th highest etc). Total points were added up and in the case points were equal, H&A % was used as the filtering variable. Thus teams could be ranked and sorted 1-30, with 1st getting 30 points and 30th getting 1 point etc. 19 points = highest possible total.

Finals were ranked by: simple finals % of the aggregate 3 or 4 finals each side played. So yes you may have lost a QF and romped in the other finals and finished higher, likewise if you drew a grand final then thrashed your opponent in the replay. Again, sides were sorted 1st to 30th with 1st getting 30 points and 30th getting 1 point etc. 30 points = highest possible total.

Overall seasons were ranked by: simple H&A + Finals points being summed. Highest points = 1st etc. If sides were on identical points, they were left alone and measured as "equal" to remove subjectivity, although total season W/L or % could've been used as deciding factors.

Remember, this is strictly looking at dominance throughout the entire season (H&A + finals) - relative to competitors that year. It does not take into account strength of competitors or the actual talent/coaching of each team - which are separate debates. In other words, best season doesn't necessarily mean strongest team. And it's a one off season approach - not saying "which group of players was the strongest over multiple years?".

These were the results.

1. Essendon 2000
2. Geelong 2007
3. Carlton 1995
Geelong 2022
5. Melbourne 2021
6. Geelong 2011
7. Collingwood 2010
8. West Coast 1994
Brisbane 2002
10. Geelong 2009
11. Hawthorn 2013
12. Brisbane 2001
Richmond 2019
Port Adelaide 2004
15. Hawthorn 2008
16. North Melbourne 1996
Richmond 2017
18. Hawthorn 2014
North Melbourne 1999
20. West Coast 2006
21. Collingwood 2023
West Coast 2018
23. Hawthorn 2015
24. Sydney 2012
25. Brisbane 2003
26. Richmond 2020
27. Western Bulldogs 2016
28. Sydney 2005
29. Adelaide 1997
30. Adelaide 1998

I wasn't bored enough to do a full second run through, so feel free to point out mistakes. And I certainly couldn't be bothered going any further than 30 years back.

HA position

Points

HA win loss

Points

HA Total

HA %

HA rank

HA points

Finals %

Finals rank

Finals points

Total points

Total rank

1994​

1​

8​

73​

5​

13​

132.2​

15​

16​

175.4​

7​

24​

40​

8​

1995​

1​

8​

91​

10​

18​

137.8​

2​

29​

163.8​

9​

22​

51​

3​

1996​

2​

7​

73​

5​

12​

127.4​

19​

12​

160​

12​

19​

31​

16​

1997​

4​

5​

59​

1​

6​

121.6​

28​

3​

123.2​

28​

3​

6​

29​

1998​

5​

4​

59​

1​

5​

123.2​

29​

2​

123.8​

27​

4​

6​

29​

1999​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

115.7​

18​

13​

155.6​

14​

17​

30​

18​

2000​

1​

8​

95​

11​

19​

159.1​

1​

30​

201​

3​

28​

58​

1​

2001​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

127.6​

17​

14​

161.2​

10​

21​

35​

12​

2002​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

136.7​

14​

17​

170.1​

8​

23​

40​

8​

2003​

3​

6​

64​

2​

8​

121.9​

27​

4​

142​

20​

11​

15​

25​

2004​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

132.4​

10​

21​

145.2​

17​

14​

35​

12​

2005​

3​

6​

68​

3​

9​

116.4​

26​

5​

114.1​

29​

2​

7​

28​

2006​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

120.4​

12​

19​

129.7​

25​

6​

25​

20​

2007​

1​

8​

82​

8​

16​

152.8​

5​

26​

227​

1​

30​

56​

2​

2008​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

131.9​

16​

15​

157.2​

13​

18​

33​

15​

2009​

2​

7​

82​

8​

15​

127.4​

7​

24​

150.3​

16​

15​

39​

10​

2010​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

141.7​

9​

22​

160.9​

11​

20​

42​

7​

2011​

2​

7​

86​

9​

16​

157.4​

4​

27​

153.9​

15​

16​

43​

6​

2012​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

140.6​

22​

9​

133.7​

24​

7​

16​

24​

2013​

1​

8​

86​

9​

17​

135.7​

3​

28​

135.2​

22​

9​

37​

11​

2014​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

140.8​

13​

18​

143.2​

19​

12​

30​

18​

2015​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

158.4​

21​

10​

140.4​

21​

10​

20​

23​

2016​

7​

2​

68​

3​

5​

115.4​

30​

1​

134.3​

23​

8​

9​

27​

2017​

3​

6​

68​

3​

9​

118.3​

25​

6​

180.8​

6​

25​

31​

16​

2018​

2​

7​

73​

5​

12​

121.4​

20​

11​

143.7​

18​

13​

24​

21​

2019​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

113.7​

23​

8​

199​

4​

27​

35​

12​

2020​

3​

6​

71​

4​

10​

129.9​

24​

7​

125.5​

26​

5​

12​

26​

2021​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

130.8​

11​

20​

213​

2​

29​

49​

5​

2022​

1​

8​

82​

8​

16​

144.2​

6​

25​

191.3​

5​

26​

51​

3​

2023​

1​

8​

78​

7​

15​

127​

8​

23​

106.1​

30​

1​

24​

21​

 

[Mr Meow]

Interested the logic of Geelong 2022 as second worst premier given won PF and GF by 10 goals plus on the back of 16 straight wins, being undefeated since May? A somewhat dominant season one could say

Yes, Melbourne 2021 and Geelong 2022 seasons were at the upper end of dominance - especially if you look at those last few months for each. Minor premier, 20 (Melbourne)-21 (Geelong) wins and over a percentage of over 190% in finals.

And yes the comp was weak so that doesn't mean a less dominant side from a previous era wasn't stronger player to player.

 

[dean33]

Was bored so decided to have a crack at last 30 years using an objective, quantifiable method. Measuring overall season dominance.

H&A was ranked by: Finishing position (1st = 8 points, 8th = 1 point etc) and winning % (H&A win loss: there were 11 different winning %s so points were allocated 11 for highest, 1 for 11th highest etc). Total points were added up and in the case points were equal, H&A % was used as the filtering variable. Thus teams could be ranked and sorted 1-30, with 1st getting 30 points and 30th getting 1 point etc. 19 points = highest possible total.

Finals were ranked by: simple finals % of the aggregate 3 or 4 finals each side played. So yes you may have lost a QF and romped in the other finals and finished higher, likewise if you drew a grand final then thrashed your opponent in the replay. Again, sides were sorted 1st to 30th with 1st getting 30 points and 30th getting 1 point etc. 30 points = highest possible total.

Overall seasons were ranked by: simple H&A + Finals points being summed. Highest points = 1st etc. If sides were on identical points, they were left alone and measured as "equal" to remove subjectivity, although total season W/L or % could've been used as deciding factors.

Remember, this is strictly looking at dominance throughout the entire season (H&A + finals) - relative to competitors that year. It does not take into account strength of competitors or the actual talent/coaching of each team - which are separate debates. In other words, best season doesn't necessarily mean strongest team. And it's a one off season approach - not saying "which group of players was the strongest over multiple years?".

These were the results.

1. Essendon 2000
2. Geelong 2007
3. Carlton 1995
Geelong 2022
5. Melbourne 2021
6. Geelong 2011
7. Collingwood 2010
8. West Coast 1994
Brisbane 2002
10. Geelong 2009
11. Hawthorn 2013
12. Brisbane 2001
Richmond 2019
Port Adelaide 2004
15. Hawthorn 2008
16. North Melbourne 1996
Richmond 2017
18. Hawthorn 2014
North Melbourne 1999
20. West Coast 2006
21. Collingwood 2023
West Coast 2018
23. Hawthorn 2015
24. Sydney 2012
25. Brisbane 2003
26. Richmond 2020
27. Western Bulldogs 2016
28. Sydney 2005
29. Adelaide 1997
30. Adelaide 1998

I wasn't bored enough to do a full second run through, so feel free to point out mistakes. And I certainly couldn't be bothered going any further than 30 years back.

HA position

Points

HA win loss

Points

HA Total

HA %

HA rank

HA points

Finals %

Finals rank

Finals points

Total points

Total rank

1994​

1​

8​

73​

5​

13​

132.2​

15​

16​

175.4​

7​

24​

40​

8​

1995​

1​

8​

91​

10​

18​

137.8​

2​

29​

163.8​

9​

22​

51​

3​

1996​

2​

7​

73​

5​

12​

127.4​

19​

12​

160​

12​

19​

31​

16​

1997​

4​

5​

59​

1​

6​

121.6​

28​

3​

123.2​

28​

3​

6​

29​

1998​

5​

4​

59​

1​

5​

123.2​

29​

2​

123.8​

27​

4​

6​

29​

1999​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

115.7​

18​

13​

155.6​

14​

17​

30​

18​

2000​

1​

8​

95​

11​

19​

159.1​

1​

30​

201​

3​

28​

58​

1​

2001​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

127.6​

17​

14​

161.2​

10​

21​

35​

12​

2002​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

136.7​

14​

17​

170.1​

8​

23​

40​

8​

2003​

3​

6​

64​

2​

8​

121.9​

27​

4​

142​

20​

11​

15​

25​

2004​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

132.4​

10​

21​

145.2​

17​

14​

35​

12​

2005​

3​

6​

68​

3​

9​

116.4​

26​

5​

114.1​

29​

2​

7​

28​

2006​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

120.4​

12​

19​

129.7​

25​

6​

25​

20​

2007​

1​

8​

82​

8​

16​

152.8​

5​

26​

227​

1​

30​

56​

2​

2008​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

131.9​

16​

15​

157.2​

13​

18​

33​

15​

2009​

2​

7​

82​

8​

15​

127.4​

7​

24​

150.3​

16​

15​

39​

10​

2010​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

141.7​

9​

22​

160.9​

11​

20​

42​

7​

2011​

2​

7​

86​

9​

16​

157.4​

4​

27​

153.9​

15​

16​

43​

6​

2012​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

140.6​

22​

9​

133.7​

24​

7​

16​

24​

2013​

1​

8​

86​

9​

17​

135.7​

3​

28​

135.2​

22​

9​

37​

11​

2014​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

140.8​

13​

18​

143.2​

19​

12​

30​

18​

2015​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

158.4​

21​

10​

140.4​

21​

10​

20​

23​

2016​

7​

2​

68​

3​

5​

115.4​

30​

1​

134.3​

23​

8​

9​

27​

2017​

3​

6​

68​

3​

9​

118.3​

25​

6​

180.8​

6​

25​

31​

16​

2018​

2​

7​

73​

5​

12​

121.4​

20​

11​

143.7​

18​

13​

24​

21​

2019​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

113.7​

23​

8​

199​

4​

27​

35​

12​

2020​

3​

6​

71​

4​

10​

129.9​

24​

7​

125.5​

26​

5​

12​

26​

2021​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

130.8​

11​

20​

213​

2​

29​

49​

5​

2022​

1​

8​

82​

8​

16​

144.2​

6​

25​

191.3​

5​

26​

51​

3​

2023​

1​

8​

78​

7​

15​

127​

8​

23​

106.1​

30​

1​

24​

21​

Good list although pies 2023 too high for mine. The dynasty teams of hawks 2015, lions 2003 and tigers 2020 should all be above them.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Well that’s some of the greatest mental gymnastics I have ever seen on this site.

Congratulations sir.

Not really. It’s pretty obvious to anybody who watches a lot of Collingwood games.

And Collingwood’s Senior Coach pointed it out himself during his GF presser “When we’re ahead we shut the game down so nobody scores”.

 

[Fadge]

Great analysis,Mr Meow, and clearly illustrates why we should always take into account the strength of the competition at the time when drawing these conclusions.

I'm sure you'll agree the Geelong 2022 Premiership side wasn't even the third strongest Geelong premiership team of the past 30 years, let alone the the third strongest of the 30 teams assessed.

 

[Fadge]

Good list although pies 2023 too high for mine. The dynasty teams of hawks 2015, lions 2003 and tigers 2020 should all be above them.

Why?

We're assessing them on their performance in a given season.

If Collingwood go on to win the next 3 flags, do we retrospectively rate this Collingwood 2023 team as stronger than all other dynasty teams?

The Richmond 2020 team were third on the home and away ladder, lost their first final against a much inferior Brisbane team than Collingwood faced in 2023, and won the Grand Final against a far inferior Geelong team than the 2022 Geelong premiership team (courtesy of over 100 goals from Cameron and Stengle, for starters).

 

[dean33]

Why?

We're assessing them on their performance in a given season.

If Collingwood go on to win the next 3 flags, do we retrospectively rate this Collingwood 2023 team as stronger than all other dynasty teams?

The Richmond 2020 team were third on the home and away ladder, lost their first final against a much inferior Brisbane team than Collingwood faced in 2023, and won the Grand Final against a far inferior Geelong team than the 2022 Geelong premiership team (courtesy of over 100 goals from Cameron and Stengle, for starters).

Yes Richmond did lose to Brisbane at the Gabba without Tom lynch, only a couple of goals in it and you suspect we win that if he played. Then had to go to Adelaide and beat port in the prelim.
Also beat a Geelong side that contained a younger Selwood, Dangerfield and Gary Ablett.
Also a point to consider is shorter quarters that year did nothing to help Richmond who won their games by grinding the opposition over four full quarters, so you could say the short quarters brought them back to the pack a bit.

 

[Mr Meow]

Great analysis,Mr Meow, and clearly illustrates why we should always take into account the strength of the competition at the time when drawing these conclusions.

I'm sure you'll agree the Geelong 2022 Premiership side wasn't even the third strongest Geelong premiership team of the past 30 years, let alone the the third strongest of the 30 teams assessed.

Yeah it's definitely more complicated than just assessing dominance relative to other contenders in a given season. But it is one of the only ways you can really put numbers to it. Then debate the quality of contenders thereafter.

Geelong 2007, 2009, 2011 flags felt more like outstanding defence, outstanding midfield, good forward line. 2022 felt flipped a bit - more like outstanding forward line, good midfield, good defence.

I did feel like Collingwood 2022 brought it big time in finals and so were a worthy test. Then the 2022 QF + PF sides we beat fronted up for a GF the next year, while Sydney at least played finals (after a million injuries). But we got two interstate sides at the G which is blessed for a Geelong finals run.

 

[Romeoh1]

Give me a team who continuously wins clutch games when it counts over a team that is flashy and good when 10 goals up.

Happy to watch both those kind of teams myself.

 

[Mr Meow]

Good list although pies 2023 too high for mine. The dynasty teams of hawks 2015, lions 2003 and tigers 2020 should all be above them.

I mean when I ran the final numbers I had only a fraction of an idea where sides would end up (I remembered Carlton 1995, Essendon 2000 and Geelong 2007 ranking very highly for both H&A and finals). Oh and it was obvious Adelaide would finish low.

All three of those dynasty sides last flags shared kind of similar features. More hiccups in H&A, subsequently losing a QF but then using their know how to power through 3 really impressive finals wins. I think the QF loss and finishing outside of top 2 with more losses along the way explain it.

But if anything that's what made each flag more impressive. They weren't dominant but they faced serious challenges and then cemented their dynasties to enhance the collective 3-4 year period.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Give me a team who continuously wins clutch games when it counts over a team that is flashy and good when 10 goals up.

As a Collingwood supporter, my stress levels would actually prefer a team that is flashy and good when 10 goals up please

 

[Frank Grimes]

I'm not sure a season being even is considered a weak season, but I can't remember a more even season than the 2023 season. I remember commenting that any team between 1 to 13 could beat each other at about round 19 or 20. Usually at that point there is usually 3-5 teams clear standouts form wise and usually the ones on top of the ladder.

Collingwood, Melbourne, Brisbane and Port were looking a tier ahead of the competition at some point in the early or mid season, but they were looking like they were falling back to the pack form wise late season. Making the last 4 or so games of the H&A season interesting.

 

[Acinath]

Ah, the annual Essendon thread that makes their fans feel like they aren’t a mediocre club rears it’s head again.

 

[Chronz]

Ah, the annual Essendon thread that makes their fans feel like they aren’t a mediocre club rears it’s head again.

They'd need to go back to the days of the library of Alexandria to find a finals win record.

 

[The Educator]

Was bored so decided to have a crack at last 30 years using an objective, quantifiable method. Measuring overall season dominance.

H&A was ranked by: Finishing position (1st = 8 points, 8th = 1 point etc) and winning % (H&A win loss: there were 11 different winning %s so points were allocated 11 for highest, 1 for 11th highest etc). Total points were added up and in the case points were equal, H&A % was used as the filtering variable. Thus teams could be ranked and sorted 1-30, with 1st getting 30 points and 30th getting 1 point etc. 19 points = highest possible total.

Finals were ranked by: simple finals % of the aggregate 3 or 4 finals each side played. So yes you may have lost a QF and romped in the other finals and finished higher, likewise if you drew a grand final then thrashed your opponent in the replay. Again, sides were sorted 1st to 30th with 1st getting 30 points and 30th getting 1 point etc. 30 points = highest possible total.

Overall seasons were ranked by: simple H&A + Finals points being summed. Highest points = 1st etc. If sides were on identical points, they were left alone and measured as "equal" to remove subjectivity, although total season W/L or % could've been used as deciding factors.

Remember, this is strictly looking at dominance throughout the entire season (H&A + finals) - relative to competitors that year. It does not take into account strength of competitors or the actual talent/coaching of each team - which are separate debates. In other words, best season doesn't necessarily mean strongest team. And it's a one off season approach - not saying "which group of players was the strongest over multiple years?".

These were the results.

1. Essendon 2000
2. Geelong 2007
3. Carlton 1995
Geelong 2022
5. Melbourne 2021
6. Geelong 2011
7. Collingwood 2010
8. West Coast 1994
Brisbane 2002
10. Geelong 2009
11. Hawthorn 2013
12. Brisbane 2001
Richmond 2019
Port Adelaide 2004
15. Hawthorn 2008
16. North Melbourne 1996
Richmond 2017
18. Hawthorn 2014
North Melbourne 1999
20. West Coast 2006
21. Collingwood 2023
West Coast 2018
23. Hawthorn 2015
24. Sydney 2012
25. Brisbane 2003
26. Richmond 2020
27. Western Bulldogs 2016
28. Sydney 2005
29. Adelaide 1997
30. Adelaide 1998

I wasn't bored enough to do a full second run through, so feel free to point out mistakes. And I certainly couldn't be bothered going any further than 30 years back.

HA position

Points

HA win loss

Points

HA Total

HA %

HA rank

HA points

Finals %

Finals rank

Finals points

Total points

Total rank

1994​

1​

8​

73​

5​

13​

132.2​

15​

16​

175.4​

7​

24​

40​

8​

1995​

1​

8​

91​

10​

18​

137.8​

2​

29​

163.8​

9​

22​

51​

3​

1996​

2​

7​

73​

5​

12​

127.4​

19​

12​

160​

12​

19​

31​

16​

1997​

4​

5​

59​

1​

6​

121.6​

28​

3​

123.2​

28​

3​

6​

29​

1998​

5​

4​

59​

1​

5​

123.2​

29​

2​

123.8​

27​

4​

6​

29​

1999​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

115.7​

18​

13​

155.6​

14​

17​

30​

18​

2000​

1​

8​

95​

11​

19​

159.1​

1​

30​

201​

3​

28​

58​

1​

2001​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

127.6​

17​

14​

161.2​

10​

21​

35​

12​

2002​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

136.7​

14​

17​

170.1​

8​

23​

40​

8​

2003​

3​

6​

64​

2​

8​

121.9​

27​

4​

142​

20​

11​

15​

25​

2004​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

132.4​

10​

21​

145.2​

17​

14​

35​

12​

2005​

3​

6​

68​

3​

9​

116.4​

26​

5​

114.1​

29​

2​

7​

28​

2006​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

120.4​

12​

19​

129.7​

25​

6​

25​

20​

2007​

1​

8​

82​

8​

16​

152.8​

5​

26​

227​

1​

30​

56​

2​

2008​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

131.9​

16​

15​

157.2​

13​

18​

33​

15​

2009​

2​

7​

82​

8​

15​

127.4​

7​

24​

150.3​

16​

15​

39​

10​

2010​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

141.7​

9​

22​

160.9​

11​

20​

42​

7​

2011​

2​

7​

86​

9​

16​

157.4​

4​

27​

153.9​

15​

16​

43​

6​

2012​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

140.6​

22​

9​

133.7​

24​

7​

16​

24​

2013​

1​

8​

86​

9​

17​

135.7​

3​

28​

135.2​

22​

9​

37​

11​

2014​

2​

7​

77​

6​

13​

140.8​

13​

18​

143.2​

19​

12​

30​

18​

2015​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

158.4​

21​

10​

140.4​

21​

10​

20​

23​

2016​

7​

2​

68​

3​

5​

115.4​

30​

1​

134.3​

23​

8​

9​

27​

2017​

3​

6​

68​

3​

9​

118.3​

25​

6​

180.8​

6​

25​

31​

16​

2018​

2​

7​

73​

5​

12​

121.4​

20​

11​

143.7​

18​

13​

24​

21​

2019​

3​

6​

73​

5​

11​

113.7​

23​

8​

199​

4​

27​

35​

12​

2020​

3​

6​

71​

4​

10​

129.9​

24​

7​

125.5​

26​

5​

12​

26​

2021​

1​

8​

77​

6​

14​

130.8​

11​

20​

213​

2​

29​

49​

5​

2022​

1​

8​

82​

8​

16​

144.2​

6​

25​

191.3​

5​

26​

51​

3​

2023​

1​

8​

78​

7​

15​

127​

8​

23​

106.1​

30​

1​

24​

21​

A quantifiable measure of overall season dominance = a defensible estimate of the most dominant team in a certain season

The "best" team can't be established through such an approach because it doesn't control for the general quality across the competition between years.

The best teams are the teams that sustained it over several seasons. i.e the dynastic teams.

Essendon in 2000 were clearly not a dynastic team. Everything suggests they just happened to have a charmed season in a year where the competition was in a bit of a lull more generally.

The team that won the previous season (1999) was a better team - they won 2 flags from 7 successive preliminary final performances.

The team that beat them the next (2001) was clearly a better team as they won three successive premierships.

 

[Back One Out]

When we’re ahead we shut the game down so nobody scores

Greatest team eva!!!!

 

[Danw0w]

I'm sure you'll agree the Geelong 2022 Premiership side wasn't even the third strongest Geelong premiership team of the past 30 years, let alone the the third strongest of the 30 teams assessed.

Well why not?

 

[Mr Meow]

A quantifiable measure of overall season dominance = a defensible estimate of the most dominant team in a certain season

The "best" team can't be established through such an approach because it doesn't control for the general quality across the competition between years.

The best teams are the teams that sustained it over several seasons. i.e the dynastic teams.

Essendon in 2000 were clearly not a dynastic team. Everything suggests they just happened to have a charmed season in a year where the competition was in a bit of a lull more generally.

The team that won the previous season (1999) was a better team - they won 2 flags from 7 successive preliminary final performances.

The team that beat them the next (2001) was clearly a better team as they won three successive premierships.

Sure, and I did allude to that in my post. But if I can be pedantic for a second, even a dynastic side changes their grand final 22 each year. And individual player performance will vary year on year, therefore it makes sense that this is true for the collective. The same for the adversity they faced and the level of competition.

So which was the strongest Brisbane side: 2001, 2002 or 2003?
Geelong: 2007, 2009 or 2011?
Hawthorn: 2013, 2014 or 2015?
Richmond: 2017, 2019 or 2020?

Or were they all the same quality simply because they had flags close to each other?

 

[Meteoric Rise]

I will give you an even better stat and the only one I care about. We are the best Premier of the last 5 days.

If that was the only stat you cared about you wouldn't be posting on this thread.

 

[South of the Yarra]

If that was the only stat you cared about you wouldn't be posting on this thread.

I know you like to tell people what they think but you are wrong. The only stat I care about is we are the Premiers. Sweet 16