I don't know if Collingwood will miss the top four, but it's possible, and given the certainty of Collingwoods supremacy six weeks ago that possibility is hilarious.
Anyway, I'm looking at teams which have been top during the minor round in the second half of the year who have missed the top four.
Brisbane 2022: Top after rounds 13/14. Finished 6th, lost a prelim.
Bulldogs 2021: Top after rounds 19/20 but lost their last 3. Finished 5th (in a 3-way tie for 4th). Lost the grand final.
2020 - Nothing to see here - Port Adelaide were first after literally every round, and Adelaide were tied for last, or (mostly) actually last after literally every round. There must be some demographic that would make happy.
North Melbourne 2016: Top from rounds 4-12, finished 8th and three wins off seventh, then hammered in an elimination final. (I feel pretty smug about this one. I posted on Bigfooty "I don't even think they'll play a home final" while they were 9-1 and top.)
Port Adelaide 2014: Top from rounds 8-14, finished 5th, and narrowly lost a semi.
Melbourne 2004: Top after round 18, then lost four matches and an elimination final.
West Coast 1999: Top from rounds 4-15, won one of their last seven, finished fifth and lost a semi-final.
St Kilda 1998. Top after round 14, finished 6th and lost two finals.
Carlton 1996. Top after round 12, finished 6th and got hammered in two finals.
That's as far back as I'll go - the Wikipedia pages for earlier seasons don't have the chart that makes it easy to identify these flops.
Anyway, I'm looking at teams which have been top during the minor round in the second half of the year who have missed the top four.
Brisbane 2022: Top after rounds 13/14. Finished 6th, lost a prelim.
Bulldogs 2021: Top after rounds 19/20 but lost their last 3. Finished 5th (in a 3-way tie for 4th). Lost the grand final.
2020 - Nothing to see here - Port Adelaide were first after literally every round, and Adelaide were tied for last, or (mostly) actually last after literally every round. There must be some demographic that would make happy.
North Melbourne 2016: Top from rounds 4-12, finished 8th and three wins off seventh, then hammered in an elimination final. (I feel pretty smug about this one. I posted on Bigfooty "I don't even think they'll play a home final" while they were 9-1 and top.)
Port Adelaide 2014: Top from rounds 8-14, finished 5th, and narrowly lost a semi.
Melbourne 2004: Top after round 18, then lost four matches and an elimination final.
West Coast 1999: Top from rounds 4-15, won one of their last seven, finished fifth and lost a semi-final.
St Kilda 1998. Top after round 14, finished 6th and lost two finals.
Carlton 1996. Top after round 12, finished 6th and got hammered in two finals.
That's as far back as I'll go - the Wikipedia pages for earlier seasons don't have the chart that makes it easy to identify these flops.
