The what if thread

[Dark Eagle 9]

WC were 4 games ahead at one stage having won 15 of the first 16. The Crows successfully lobbied the AFL to do away with the MCG rule after what had happened to the Lions the year before & they obliged. What a serious crock of shite that MCG rule was for the 15 years prior in a national competition.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Eagles should have got a home final in 95 too if not for that rule. They would have beaten North then got smacked in the prelim by Carlton.

 

[Freomaniac]

Could have made a whole thread just on Dogs moments.....

What is Libba's shot was a goal ?
What if Hardie had paid attention to Matthews late in 85 ?
What if Rooke was called for front on contact against Johnno ?
What if Reiwoldt didn't dive ???
What if Aker wasn't paid deliberate ? What if Reiwoldts goal was touched by Morris ??
What if Billy Brownless missed after the siren ??

But it's all in the past, shit happened and will probably keep happening. Just helped make 2016 so memorable....

A Footscray vs Essendon grand final in 1985 would of been interesting. Footscray lost narrowly vs Essendon in that one game they faced in the regular season.

Neutrals would of cheered on the dogs.

Essendon would of had finals experience though

 

[TedDougChris]

A Footscray vs Essendon grand final in 1985 would of been interesting. Footscray lost narrowly vs Essendon in that one game they faced in the regular season.

Neutrals would of cheered on the dogs.

Essendon would of had finals experience though

Back in those days, you played everyone twice. Won the first by 41, lost the second by 24 - but as you say, we had no finals (let alone GF) experience.

But we couldn’t beat the Hawks to get there sadly.

 

[Dan26]

Eagles should have got a home final in 95 too if not for that rule. They would have beaten North then got smacked in the prelim by Carlton.

No, the 1995 semi-Final was played at the correct venue. North finished 6th and won in the first week against 3rd-placed Richmond. West Coast finished 5th and lost in the first week against 4th-placed Essendon

The 4 winners were seeded 1,2,3,4 and the four losers were seeded 5,6,7,8 (with the lowest two losers being eliminated)

In the 2nd-week, 3rd seed hosted 5th and 4th seed hosted 6th. North (4th seed) hosted West Coast (6th seed) and Essendon (3rd seed) hosted Richmond (5th seed) at the MCG. West Coast became 6th seed because they were the second-best of the four losing teams.

For similar reasons, 4th-placed Adelaide (who took 3rd seed after winning in week one) deserved to host the 1997 semi-final versus 2nd-placed (but now 5th-seeded) Geelong. There is a false narrative that Geelong was "hard done by" in 1997. They weren't. Adelaide was the correct venue for the match.

 

[marcus1232]

Where do I start

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Where do I start

97
2004
2009
2010
2019 - poor kicking vs the Tigers.

 

[marcus1232]

97
2004
2009
2010
2019 - poor kicking vs the Tigers.

Trading for Andrew Lovett
Mcartin over Petracca
Billings over Bont
2005 Prelim vs sydney

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Trading for Andrew Lovett
Mcartin over Petracca
Billings over Bont
2005 Prelim vs sydney

2005 just outclassed. Big last qtr by the Swans. Their destiny.

 

[marcus1232]

2005 just outclassed. Big last qtr by the Swans. Their destiny.

Huge complacency from our coach from the time was quite arrogant going into the game though we were just gonna roll over them

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Huge complacency from our coach from the time was quite arrogant going into the game though we were just gonna roll over them

Really ?

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

What if

We were good

Rebuild is strong. Shown improvement. 16-6 this season.

 

[BigVic]

For us

What if Rocca wasn't suspended in '03 or Cloke in '02
What if Elliott was paid a mark in last year's prelim
Wha if Papley was paid a free in 2022
What if Maynard was blocked in '18

We would've won
Made the GF but lost vs Geelong in 2022 and 2025
Held on for the win

 

[BigVic]

What if Ben Cousins joined St Kilda instead of Richmond for the 2009 season? Cousins always stood up in the heat of finals footy, would have provided some much needed x factor for St Kilda and Cousins helping St Kilda win their second flag would have been an amazing story.

The Cousins-Gardiner reunion would've been all over the media. Having Gardiner next to Cousins would've helped him and snared a flag or two for the Saints. Would've probably retired if the Saints did won in '09

 

[demondavey]

What if I didn't see grandad through the bedroom window in nan's knickers twirling round in front of the mirror?

You’d have missed a great educational experience. Be grateful!

 

[demondavey]

The Cousins-Gardiner reunion would've been all over the media. Having Gardiner next to Cousins would've helped him and snared a flag or two for the Saints. Would've probably retired if the Saints did won in '09

St Kilda would have 60% of its list done for illicits.

 

[terrybull]

Where do I start

How about

Founded in 1873, the club originated in the bayside Melbourne suburb….

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

A Footscray vs Essendon grand final in 1985 would of been interesting. Footscray lost narrowly vs Essendon in that one game they faced in the regular season.

Neutrals would of cheered on the dogs.

Essendon would of had finals experience though

Reality is that year we weren't that much better than the dogs so would have preferred them to play the Bombers other than us. Would have put up a better fight IMO.

 

[Dark Eagle 9]

St Kilda would have 60% of its list done for illicits.

What if that list of partying Hawk names was released in 2007 & the AFL put them to trial like West Coast?

 

[RedmanWasHere]

One for you marcus1232.

What if the G-Train didn't kick his 100th goal for the season in the 2004 PF?

 

[Dark Eagle 9]

One for you marcus1232.

What if the G-Train didn't kick his 100th goal for the season in the 2004 PF?

You'd big kicking yourself for eternity if you were a Saints fan that ran on field that night. That team played a much better style of footy too than that Paul Roos/ Ross Lyon crap that we were about to get fed in the ensuring years.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

What if Port beat Hawthorn in 2014? Would they have beaten Sydney?

One of the 7 wonders of the world.

 

[demondavey]

What if Port beat Hawthorn in 2014? Would they have beaten Sydney?

One of the 7 wonders of the world.

Often wondered that. Sydney were so badly brutalised by Hawthorn. Did Port have that same mentality of physicality? Would have been a great GF. I reckon Sydney would have won it. Hawthorn had too many enforcers I think.

 

[demondavey]

If Buddy joins GWS instead of Sydney?
All of a sudden 16,17,19 looks a lot different.

If Martin took a monster offer from another club after 2017? How does 18-20 play out for Richmond? Do Geelong win back to back in 19-20 instead? Do Richmond even make GF in those years without Martin?

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Often wondered that. Sydney were so badly brutalised by Hawthorn. Did Port have that same mentality of physicality? Would have been a great GF. I reckon Sydney would have won it. Hawthorn had too many enforcers I think.

I agree. So often people just assume the side who missed it could just step in and replicate the same performance. It's a completely different set of match ups and tactics. Not to say it couldn't happen as anything possible. I just don't think it would.