Opinion which was the greatest Giants season in our history?

[MelbourneGWS]

I know our greatest Giants season of all time is yet to come, as that will be our inaugural Premiership side!

Our club has played 12 AFL seasons, making the finals an impressive 6 times. 4 of these final appearance have resulted in Preliminary finals, and 1 unforgettable Grand Final appearance in 2019.

Any thoughts on which of the 12 years was our best ever season?

Outcomes wise, the 2019 year was the best as that side played in our one and only Grand Final, where unfortunately we were no match for a Richmond side that annihilated us 114-25.

I actually think it was our 2016 year that was our best season, where we finished with our best ever home and away season win-loss record and percentage. 2016 also saw us finish with our equal highest H&A placing (4th, just like in 2017), our first ever finals appearance, and despite the shenanigans of the Bulldogs, we were one kick away from making the Grand Final. That was a real sliding door moment as we had the measure of Sydney Swans who made the GF, and I think we would have won the Premiership if we had made the Grand Final.

I also think that the 2023 year had our third best season - after the 2016 and 2019 seasons. Whilst the 2017 side had a better Home and Away season, we lost the Preliminary Final in 2017 by 36 points - in 2023 our Preliminary Final loss was an agonising 1 point.

This is the Home and Away season summary for our entire history

• 2012: 2 wins, 20 losses. 46% for points for divided by points against. Final H&A Ladder position - Last
• 2013: 1 win, 21 losses. 51%. Last
• 2014: 6 wins, 16 losses. 77%. 16th
• 2015: 11 wins, 11 losses. 99%. 11th
• 2016: 16 wins, 6 losses. 143%. 4th. Finalist
• 2017: 14 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses. 115%. 4th. Finalist
• 2018: 13 wins, 1 draw, 8 losses. 114%. 7th. Finalist
• 2019: 13 wins, 9 losses. 115%. 6th. Finalist
• 2020: 8 wins, 9 losses. 96%. 10th
• 2021: 11 wins, 1 draw, 10 losses. 100%. 7th
• 2022: 6 wins, 16 losses. 85%. 16th
• 2023: 13 wins, 10 losses. 107%. 7th

Thus based just on the Home and Away record our best years in order were: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2021.

Our record for the 6 years we played in the finals were:

• 2016: Preliminary Finalist (beat Sydney by 36 points in the Qualifying Final; Lost PF by 6 points to the Bulldogs)
• 2017: Preliminary Finalist (lost to Adelaide 36 points in QF; beat West Coast 67 points in SF; lost PF by 36 points to Richmond)
• 2018: Semifinal (beat Sydney by 49 points EF; lost SF to Collingwood by 10 points)
• 2019: Grand Finalist (beat Bulldogs by 58 points in EF; beat Brisbane by 3 points in SF; beat Collingwood by 4 in PF; lost Grand Final by 89 points to Richmond)
• 2021: Semifinal (1 point win vs Sydney in EF; 35 points loss to Geelong in SF)
• 2023: Preliminary Finalist (24 points win vs St Kilda in EF; 23 points win vs Port in SF; 1 point loss to Collingwood PF)

Thus based on our final season outcome, our best years in order were: 2019, 2023 (1 point PF loss); 2016 (6 point PF loss), 2017 (36 point PF loss).

 

[steviewonder36]

Blew our chance for the flag in 2016 I believe.

 

[GWS Goose]

I went 2016
It came a little ahead of schedule. We were terrific all year and we finally arrived.
2019 gave me my best moment (obviously the GF)
This year was a great back end.
This will surprise many, but 2021 I felt really proud of us. We had so much bad luck, but we just kept coming and coming and hung in there to make finals, and then knock over Sydney. Underrated year.

 

[dlanod]

2024.

 

[GWS Goose]

2024.

Only surpassed by our undefeated 2026 season that completes the 3 peat

 

[MelbourneGWS]

In terms of the end of season ladder position and our dominance as seen in our percentage, the 2016 year was unequalled. Beating Sydney, the minor premiers that year, in our very first final season appearance was exhilarating, and I am still p***** that the Bulldogs were able to cheat and take our spot in the grand final.

I am however surprised that no one so far thinks our 2019 season was our best ever as objectively that’s our highest ever outcome, with our one (and so far only) grand final appearance. Unfortunately, the extent of the huge loss that Richmond inflicted on us, probably has coloured our perception of the 2019 season.

 

[dlanod]

I am however surprised that no one so far thinks our 2019 season was our best ever as objectively that’s our highest ever outcome, with our one (and so far only) grand final appearance. Unfortunately, the extent of the huge loss that Richmond inflicted on us, probably has coloured our perception of the 2019 season.

We were a better team in other years. That one we just scrapped and scraped ourselves through two of the three finals we won. I'd even rate this year's team above that year - both from a rebound perspective and in terms of the team we put on the field at the end of the year (other than the lack of Jezza).