The team of the century

Dank You Steven

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#51
As an Essendon supporter, nice to see that amazing 2000 team recognised again in some sort of public and considered way.

http://www.theage.com.au/interactive/2017/afl-team-of-the-century/

I think the numbers basically spell it out anyway, but as I said, nice to see.

What a team. Both the backline and forward line were almost All Aust lineups on their own. Incredible.
Can't argue with it. On the basis of one season, no team gets close. Took shit, negative tactics for them to lose. Great side.
 

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Dank You Steven

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#54
That 2011 Collingwood team would be #1... if it weren't for losing the bloody Grand Final.
Nope, Essendon win clearly. Collingwood went 20-2 home and away, so did St Kilda in 2009. Couldn't complete the deal. What I will say about Collingwood in 2011 is their nearest rivals went 19-3 and 18-4 respectively - that is fierce competition.
 

Dank You Steven

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#56
Bruce's commentary at the end of the 2000 grand final would sum it up, I think.

"You can argue forever about who the best teams are, but this is the best season we've seen"

If that's the measure one uses, then it's pretty hard to mount a case against Essendon 2000. That they failed to salute in 1999 and 2001 and then the Sheedy stuff ups that led to the team being dismantled after 2001 ultimately doesn't change how good that 2000 season was.

Closest season I've seen to that would be Geelong 2008. Collingwood up to Round 23 in 2011 (before they got thumped by Geelong in the last round) would also be very close.
Spot on observation using Bruce's quote. As a season, no one gets close. Unbelievable performance. (I am choking saying this, by the way... !!!)
 

PhatBoy

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#57
Brisbane had a 20 game winning streak, pretty sure that equals or beats Essendon of 2000 winning streak. They also went undefeated for a ridiculous number of games at home - i think Geelong beat their record, but all their blockbuster games were played at the MCG, so there is a bit of a * on their record.

Brisbane never played for top spot, top 4 was only ever their goal. They knew it was a marathon, not a sprint.
Geelong won:
15 straight
Lost 1 by a kick in the last 15 seconds
Won 12
Lost - randomly flogged by Collingwood
Won 16 straight
Lost the grand final to Hawthorn
Won 11 straight (I think) to start 2009 before losing to St Kilda - themselves unbeaten.

54 games out of 57 at one point, the 3 losses to a grand finalist, a preliminary finalist, and a premier. And the loss at the end of all that was to another grand finalist.

You would be hard pressed to find any side with a record like that.
 

Dank You Steven

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#58
Take out the fact I am a Hawthorn fan and therefore completely balanced in my observations on this (!!!), don't underestimate the Hawthorn 2014 performance. Coach goes down crook, major injuries to our best backman (Gibbo), best midfielder (Mitchell), most explosive forward (Cyril) lose our best forward to FA (Buddy), plus other key players (Lake, Hodge) being injured for parts, yet go top 4, win all their finals, including thrashing what many media (wrongly) were describing as the most talented list ever in a GF as underdog - that's a fair effort. Not the best one off season, but impressive and underrated.
 

Dank You Steven

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#59
Geelong won:
15 straight
Lost 1 by a kick in the last 15 seconds
Won 12
Lost - randomly flogged by Collingwood
Won 16 straight
Lost the grand final to Hawthorn
Won 11 straight (I think) to start 2009 before losing to St Kilda - themselves unbeaten.

54 games out of 57 at one point, the 3 losses to a grand finalist, a preliminary finalist, and a premier. And the loss at the end of all that was to another grand finalist.

You would be hard pressed to find any side with a record like that.
The article is based over a season, not two...
 

Papa G

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#60
Take out the fact I am a Hawthorn fan and therefore completely balanced in my observations on this (!!!), don't underestimate the Hawthorn 2014 performance. Coach goes down crook, major injuries to our best backman (Gibbo), best midfielder (Mitchell), most explosive forward (Cyril) lose our best forward to FA (Buddy), plus other key players (Lake, Hodge) being injured for parts, yet go top 4, win all their finals, including thrashing what many media (wrongly) were describing as the most talented list ever in a GF as underdog - that's a fair effort. Not the best one off season, but impressive and underrated.
Loses points for Stevic inspired Prelim victory.
 

threesixpio

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#61
Geelong won:
15 straight
Lost 1 by a kick in the last 15 seconds
Won 12
Lost - randomly flogged by Collingwood
Won 16 straight
Lost the grand final to Hawthorn
Won 11 straight (I think) to start 2009 before losing to St Kilda - themselves unbeaten.

54 games out of 57 at one point, the 3 losses to a grand finalist, a preliminary finalist, and a premier. And the loss at the end of all that was to another grand finalist.

You would be hard pressed to find any side with a record like that.
I like this post. That sandwich Bomber ate must have been pretty yummy ay?
 

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Dom PC

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#64
Geelong won:
15 straight
Lost 1 by a kick in the last 15 seconds
Won 12
Lost - randomly flogged by Collingwood
Won 16 straight
Lost the grand final to Hawthorn
Won 11 straight (I think) to start 2009 before losing to St Kilda - themselves unbeaten.

54 games out of 57 at one point, the 3 losses to a grand finalist, a preliminary finalist, and a premier. And the loss at the end of all that was to another grand finalist.

You would be hard pressed to find any side with a record like that.
And yet it took your team 5 years to achieve what mine did in 3...
 

PhatBoy

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#71
Although I myself have taken the argument outside one season in a manner of speaking, your post misses the point.

A side can win the spoon for 7 years, win a flag without dropping a game, then win another 7 spoons. They would still be in the discussion because the spoons do not have anything to do with the year being assessed.
 

Bloodied52

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#74
And the Brisbane team beat the Bombers in the 2001 final which was close to the Bombers 2000 side- who beat the "world beaters" Melbourne in that grand final....
If The 2000 was so good why did Brisbane beat them??? You would think the best ever side would win more than one flag or at least beat a good side (sorry for the Melbourne disrespect,but they weren't exactly a power house side who were regular contenders)
EFC late last C and 2001 possessed a terrific list in a period of relative 'mediocrity' but its underachievement in winning just one Premiership in the window emphasises yet again that Sheedy was not a great coach. EFC were overwhelming favourites in 2001 and bombed against BL.

For me the Lions epitomised the most dominant team since the 5/6 Premierships won by the Demons 55-60. The Hawks were also wonderful in their 3peat.

Do not give a rats about the lowly ranking given my mobs two wins. Underdogs in each and with distinctly lesser lists, we got over the line in two thrilling matches (just as the Dogs did in 16 and WC in 06*).
 
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