Worst forward line, midfield, and defence to win a premiership in the AFL era?

[Always Ballin]

The 2006 Eagles had a pretty terrible forward line. The midfield had to continually overextend itself and kick goals to compensate. Oh, what I would've given for them to have had a time-traveled Josh Kennedy on those teams. I believe the 2005 Eagles had the least marks inside 50 per game in the entire AFL. That has to be an outlier for a team that nearly won the premiership.

 

[bzparkes]

The 2006 Eagles had a pretty terrible forward line. The midfield had to continually overextend itself and kick goals to compensate. Oh, what I would've given for them to have had a time-traveled Josh Kennedy on those teams. I believe the 2005 Eagles had the least marks inside 50 per game in the entire AFL. That has to be an outlier for a team that nearly won the premiership.

Very similar to Collingwood last year. If Bobby Hill didn't have the game of his career, it'd have been a very different story.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Melbourne 2021 forward if centre was fairly workmanlike at best, excellent midfield and defence tgough.

 

[spudmaster]

2024 Hawks - supposedly average on every line but what a win it'll be!

 

[hawkman]

Sydney's forward line in 2012 wasn't great so they picked up Tippett and Franklin in the next 2 years

You could probably argue Hawthorn's backline in 08 especially when Croad played less than half a game

 

[RUNVS]

Sydney's forward line in 2012 wasn't great so they picked up Tippett and Franklin in the next 2 years

How dare you insult Mitch Morton.

 

[Corkintheocean]

Richmond's midfield (factoring Martin rolled forward so often) is probably the most underwhelming of any side to win three flags. Carried by their bookends.

 

[hawkman]

How dare you insult Mitch Morton.

Who? I seem to have completely blanked any memory of him. And no I don't want to be reminded

 

[Mister B]

How dare you insult Mitch Morton.

Sam Reid would be rolling in his grave hearing this slander.

 

[RUNVS]

Sam Reid would be rolling in his grave hearing this slander.

I know. I still can't believe it is coming up on 2 years since his passing.

 

[sawyer]

Richmond's midfield (factoring Martin rolled forward so often) is probably the most underwhelming of any side to win three flags. Carried by their bookends.

Agree midfield wasn’t dominant but I think the fact we had so many mid/forwards that excelled in both roles but weren’t masters in the middle was the reason we were so good.
Players like Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards, Shai Bolton, Kane lambert, Josh Caddy all rotating mid/fwd. F me I’m gunna cry, just miss em

 

[hawkman]

Sam Reid would be rolling in his grave hearing this slander.

Will he ever play again?

 

[Mofra]

Shane Ellen - 5 goals in the 97 GF.

IIRC he only kicked something like 17 for his whole career. It was a hail mary move that worked.

 

[Cleansweep17]

Probably Geelong 07-11 was the most impressive considering what they achieved

3 Flags with no Coleman or Brownlow medalists in it and their best KPF was Mooney.

Lions, Hawks and Tigers all had ones

 

[Tippett2Goal]

Fair few examples in this thread alone of teams winning with pretty average forwardlines. I'd argue Swans 05 had a pretty average midfield (but good forward and back).

 

[STPer18]

Probably Geelong 07-11 was the most impressive considering what they achieved

3 Flags with no Coleman or Brownlow medalists in it and their best KPF was Mooney.

Lions, Hawks and Tigers all had ones

Key forwards weren't superstars but all three Norm Smith Medalists happened to be forwards - Johnson '07, Chapman '09, Bartel '11 (as an undersized KPF after Pods busted his shoulder), and all elite.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Probably Geelong 07-11 was the most impressive considering what they achieved

3 Flags with no Coleman or Brownlow medalists in it and their best KPF was Mooney.

Lions, Hawks and Tigers all had ones

???

Bartel won the Brownlow in 2007 and GAJ in 2009.

 

[Cleansweep17]

???

Bartel won the Brownlow in 2007 and GAJ in 2009.

This topic is about the fwd line.

 

[MisterMarcus]

This topic is about the fwd line.

"Worst forward line, midfield, and defence to win a premiership in the AFL era?"

 

[Cleansweep17]

"Worst forward line, midfield, and defence to win a premiership in the AFL era?"

Yes it’s asking a question for each line, I was talking about the fwd line

It’s not asking which whole team is the worst to win a flag.

 

[Big_Birdy]

North in 96 had a very workmanlike midfield.

Schwass, Rock, Freeborn, Stevens, Simpson.

Not bad players by any means but not the top of the line players.

Great bookends though and pretty much no passengers in that team.

 

[DanA]

I would say:

• Worst Forwardline: Melbourne 2021
• Worst Backline: Bulldogs 2016
• Worst Midfield: Sydney 2012

 

[Jim Prideaux]

I would say:

• Worst Forwardline: Melbourne 2021
• Worst Backline: Bulldogs 2016
• Worst Midfield: Sydney 2012

I agree with the first 2, but I thought Sydney’s Midfield, whilst not stellar, was fairly good

 

[ZEV]

North in 96 had a very workmanlike midfield.

Schwass, Rock, Freeborn, Stevens, Simpson.

Not bad players by any means but not the top of the line players.

Great bookends though and pretty much no passengers in that team.

They did have McKernan who was the AFL MVP that season and polled equal most Brownlow votes...

 

[Mr Meow]

Yes it’s asking a question for each line, I was talking about the fwd line

It’s not asking which whole team is the worst to win a flag.

Ablett and Bartel actually rotated on a forward flank 2007-2010. Often one would be on a flank while the other was mids. The others (Ling, Corey, Kelly, Selwood etc) didn't do it.

The more you know.