Which Grand Final or Big Final was the '' one that got away '' For your Team?

[Blues177]

I always put 1972 GF into this category. Carlton and Richmond finished 1-2 on the ladder, 3 games clear of 3rd. Richmond beat Carlton twice in H&A. Drew the second semi, and Richmond comfortable won the replay. Carlton completely changed their ganme style for the GF - and it came off off. Percy Jones full-time first ruck (which he hadn't played all year), Nicholls permanent forward (kicked 6 - previous best for the year was 3). Add that to their amazing accuracy on the day (28.9).

It's one of those - 'play the game 10 times and Richmond win it 8 times'. Not this one.

John Nicholls admitted that the blues would have lost the grand final if they didn’t implement those game plan changes and positional moves (they made 8 moves).
If the blues won the second semi draw they may not have made those changes for the grand final and kept the players in the same positions as that helped the blues finish on top of the ladder.

Tom Hafey mentioned in a documentary that the tigers were critical of their defence during the year because it lacked versatility and they played players in the backline who were not really defenders. He was probably referring to players such as Dick Clay and Ray Boyanich.
During the season the tigers conceded 24 goals against the Saints at Moorabbin and 25 against the Cats at the MCG. Nicholls may have reflected on those games when planning for the grand final and instructed the team to play an attacking game.

The subsequent emergence of Merv Keane and the recruitment of players such as Robert McGhie and Gareth Andrews helped balance the tiger side better over the next couple of years.

 

[emuboy]

I always put 1972 GF into this category. Carlton and Richmond finished 1-2 on the ladder, 3 games clear of 3rd. Richmond beat Carlton twice in H&A. Drew the second semi, and Richmond comfortable won the replay. Carlton completely changed their ganme style for the GF - and it came off off. Percy Jones full-time first ruck (which he hadn't played all year), Nicholls permanent forward (kicked 6 - previous best for the year was 3). Add that to their amazing accuracy on the day (28.9).

It's one of those - 'play the game 10 times and Richmond win it 8 times'. Not this one.

Interesting piece of side trivia from the 1972 Grand Final - it is the first and to this day only time that Carlton have played in a match with a 300 point match aggregate score. Considering Carlton has had some formidable scoring teams in the past and has been involved in some high-scoring matches over the years, this is quite extraordinary.

 

[Blues177]

I remember Carlton were not even favorites in the 1979 2nd semi because of their past finals records. Out in straight sets 1975, 1976 and 1978.

Then in 1980 it happened again.

We won an elimination final against the Cats in 1978 but our finals record was still not good between 1975-78.

We had a great season in 1979, finished on top with a 19-3 record and scored over 100 points in 21 games. I cannot remember who was favourite in the second semi but during the season I feared what Barassi could do as a coach in the finals and North Melbourne were experienced and playing as well as they did in the previous 5 years if not better.
I was surprised that North lost the Prelim to the pies.

 

[terrybull]

We won an elimination final against the Cats in 1978 but our finals record was still not good between 1975-78.

We had a great season in 1979, finished on top with a 19-3 record and scored over 100 points in 21 games. I cannot remember who was favourite in the second semi but during the season I feared what Barassi could do as a coach in the finals and North Melbourne were experienced and playing as well as they did in the previous 5 years if not better.
I was surprised that North lost the Prelim to the pies.

Felt most sorry for Gary Dempsey never got to play in a Grand Final and immortalized on VHS and DVD.

 

[Outback Footy]

In order of most painful to farkin annoying;

2021. I thought wed won it by half way through the third. Then the Dees turned it on, we fell apart and they deserved to win it. But losing the biggest game of the year is always gonna be "the one that got away"

The farkin prelims. Forever falling over at the last hurdle. 85, 97 and 09 hurt the most.

And then the 2015 elimination final where turncoat Tahlia gave away the game plan.

 

[Rich01]

I was left stunned in the first half. Just didn't expect it. Unfortunately for your team, Cox had one of the greatest marking games I've seen. He's never been able to replicate it although serviceable.

Wasn’t just Cox though.
Sidebottom was immense.
Hardwick was too pig headed to change the game plan and put someone on him when it was obvious in the first quarter he was just doing as he pleased.

 

[darcyl09]

had a mate whose dad played in the 99' and 96' prelim for the dons. he said those two 1pt losses changed the whole culture at the club and what mainly sparked the famous 2000 dons campaign

 

[terrybull]

Not Grand Finals that got away from us, but here are some Grand Final Match-ups we got close on getting that had not happened before:

1976 - Carlton losing the Preliminary to North meant we missed a first Grand Final between co-tennents Hawthorn vs Carlton. We had to wait till 1986 for the first time for this to happen.

1978 - If Collingwood could have overcome North in the Preliminary we would had our first Hawthorn vs Collingwood Grand Final. Still yet to happen.

1979 - If favorites North had beaten Collingwood in the Preliminary we would had the first Carlton vs North Melbourne Grand Final. We had to wait till 1999 for this to happen.

1981 - If Geelong could have beaten Collingwood in the Preliminary we would have had our first Carlton vs Geelong Grand Final. We had to wait till 1995.

1982 - If Hawthorn could have beaten Carlton in the Preliminary we would have our first Richmond vs Hawthorn Grand Final. Still hasn’t happened.

1983 - If Fitzroy had just won one final game then we probably seen the first Hawthorn vs Fitzroy Grand Final. Still hasn’t happened, not even with Brisbane Lions.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Premierships blown iyo.

1993 West Coast if they weren't so rocky blew a golden opportunity to go b2b. Open season.

Roos 1998
1999 bombers. North got lucky in 99 made up for 98.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

2008 hawks outplayed the cats tough luck.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

93 for Geelong also had they made finals would have won it

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

65, 71, 97, 2009.

2010 would have been a smash and grab as the pies were the better side that year.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

I think a few of our regrettable close prelim loses could have been flags had we not chocked them away.

1997 (0.6 in the last ten minutes) being the main one but 2009 (inaccurate, riewoldt diving and the late deliberate call) and 1985 (wasn’t really a choke but could a bit of luck was required) were a chance.

I suppose being three goals up in the third quarter of the 2021 grand final you think you are a chance. But the Dees were a better side overall that year and Dogs had to do it the hard way because they ****ed around late in the season so being blown away wasn’t completely off the cards.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

I think a few of our regrettable close prelim loses could have been flags had we not chocked them away.

1997 (0.6 in the last ten minutes) being the main one but 2009 (inaccurate, riewoldt diving and the late deliberate call) and 1985 (wasn’t really a choke but could a bit of luck was required) were a chance.

I suppose being three goals up in the third quarter of the 2021 grand final you think you are a chance. But the Dees were a better side overall that year and Dogs had to do it the hard way because they ****ed around late in the season so being blown away wasn’t completely off the cards.

Yeah 97 for sure. Also I don't think you beat Geelong but 09 was a big chance gone begging.

 

[PerfectFooty]

We probably should have done a lot more in 06. Should have finished in the top 4 and pushed for a prelim. But losing to the spooners that year twice deservedly sets you back

 

[Disco_Stu]

2018. Our best year by far. As long as we were withing 4 goals at 3/4 time we were confident. So much running power, great defensive 6, mids were good enough and Lynch and Jack doing the business with some potent, underrated small fowards.

All came to a crashing stop vs Pies in the prelim, courtesy of a dodgy bain-marie that food poisoned half the squad, sent Astbury to hospital and Dusty carried a nasty corky.

Oh, and that bloody American.

ED: ha! Not Lynch obviously.

 

[Cyclops]

65, 71, 97, 2009.

2010 would have been a smash and grab as the pies were the better side that year.

Better in the finals, all season Saints and Cats were a level above, then injuries caught up with both and we sailed past like....something sailing past two other things that are a bit busted.

Same thing happened to us a few times.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

2018. Our best year by far. As long as we were withing 4 goals at 3/4 time we were confident. So much running power, great defensive 6, mids were good enough and Lynch and Jack doing the business with some potent, underrated small fowards.

All came to a crashing stop vs Pies in the prelim, courtesy of a dodgy bain-marie that food poisoned half the squad, sent Astbury to hospital and Dusty carried a nasty corky.

Oh, and that bloody American.

Yep, that year was the one I felt we had the biggest gap between us and the next best team. Definitely the one that got away.

Collingwood played out of their skins on that Friday night Prelim. We weren't even all that bad, they were just brilliant.

Ironically, I think that's the only way the Pies don't win the flag this year themselves. They're so far ahead of the next best team atm, it will only be a freakish one-off performance against them in a Prelim which will be their undoing.

Funny thing is, despite that devastating loss in 2018, I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[Lions2Good]

2020 Brisbane Lions. Had a golden opportunity after playing so many games at home.

If the Lions had also pinched 2023, it would have been a massive steal. Still surprised how close it was - The Pies should have won the GF by at least 5 goals minimum.

 

[Old M8]

Yep, that year was the one I felt we had the biggest gap between us and the next best team. Definitely the one that got away.

Collingwood played out of their skins on that Friday night Prelim. We weren't even all that bad, they were just brilliant.

Ironically, I think that's the only way the Pies don't win the flag this year themselves. They're so far ahead of the next best team atm, it will only be a freakish one-off performance against them in a Prelim which will be their undoing.

Funny thing is, despite that devastating loss in 2018, I wouldn't change a thing.

I’d have a look at our end to the home and away season again.

We were playing our best football of the year in each of the latter stages of 2017, 19 & 20

In late 2018 we fell over the line against pretty average opposition. Our last 4 games of the home and away were A 3pt win v Geelong (8th), 8pts v Essendon (11th) and 3pts v Footscray (13th)

We won the most games of that premiership era, but we we looked bog average coming into finals

 

[Cleric]

Adelaide got two flags after beating the two best teams that year, but er also lost against Richmond when we ere the best team that year. We also lost a preliminary after been minor premier as well.

 

[Clark G]

2018. Our best year by far. As long as we were withing 4 goals at 3/4 time we were confident. So much running power, great defensive 6, mids were good enough and Lynch and Jack doing the business with some potent, underrated small fowards.

All came to a crashing stop vs Pies in the prelim, courtesy of a dodgy bain-marie that food poisoned half the squad, sent Astbury to hospital and Dusty carried a nasty corky.

Oh, and that bloody American.

Lynch joined Richmond after the 2018 season in time for the 2019 season. But regardless, that PF was a massive upset. Getting Lynch was a big factor in Richmond bouncing back in 2019.

 

[Go the Guts]

Crows:

1993
2005
2006
2012
2017

 

[Headless]

We probably should have done a lot more in 06. Should have finished in the top 4 and pushed for a prelim. But losing to the spooners that year twice deservedly sets you back

Agree generally on that 2004-2006 period, but I reckon 2004 was the one.

We were a game clear on the top of the ladder with four rounds left. Ended up missing the top four, and it cost us badly.

 

[UltraEgo]

2018. Our best year by far. As long as we were withing 4 goals at 3/4 time we were confident. So much running power, great defensive 6, mids were good enough and Lynch and Jack doing the business with some potent, underrated small fowards.

All came to a crashing stop vs Pies in the prelim, courtesy of a dodgy bain-marie that food poisoned half the squad, sent Astbury to hospital and Dusty carried a nasty corky.

Oh, and that bloody American.

you didn't have Lynch in 2018