worst team in AFL history?

[emuboy]

University's overall record makes for some horrendous reading - something like 97 losses in their 120-odd games total over seven seasons, including four straight wooden spoons.

Unbelievably, University are the only club to have never lost by 100 points or more. Their heaviest defeats were by 89 points against Collingwood and Fitzroy in 1911 & 1914 respectively. Their winless 1913 team also provided that season's leading goalkicker in Dr Roy Park.

 

[emuboy]

why is it based on stats and not how the team played as a whole. I know a loss is a loss but take the eagles against sydney 2 weeks back as an example.

My pick brisbane bears. That team had no idea what they were doing on the field.

Back in 1987, the Bears were widely tipped to have a season like the one the Gold Coast are having this year, but they won 6 games and were able to avoid the wooden spoon, a remarkable achievement for a team thrown together so quickly. In 1988 & 1989 the Bears copped some terrible hidings, but still were able to win 7 & 8 games respectively. It was in the early 1990s that the Bears really struggled, winning 4, 3 & 4 games respectively in 1990, 91 & 92 (wooden spoons in 90 & 91) and continuing to get flogged. In 1993, the Bears won 4 games again to finish 13th, but were more competetive, with Brisbane improving to mid ladder in 1994 & making the finals in 1995 & 1996 before the merger.

 

[HotPiesWithSauce]

I have the strangest feeling of dejavu

 

[thegreig]

Back in 1987, the Bears were widely tipped to have a season like the one the Gold Coast are having this year, but they won 6 games and were able to avoid the wooden spoon, a remarkable achievement for a team thrown together so quickly. In 1988 & 1989 the Bears copped some terrible hidings, but still were able to win 7 & 8 games respectively. It was in the early 1990s that the Bears really struggled, winning 4, 3 & 4 games respectively in 1990, 91 & 92 (wooden spoons in 90 & 91) and continuing to get flogged. In 1993, the Bears won 4 games again to finish 13th, but were more competetive, with Brisbane improving to mid ladder in 1994 & making the finals in 1995 & 1996 before the merger.

how long did the bears have to put a team together?

 

[CursoryMercenary]

Fitzroy were uncompetitive basically from 1994-1996.

 

[emuboy]

how long did the bears have to put a team together?

The Bears were admitted along with the Eagles late in the 1986 season to commence in 1987, so they would only have had the summer of 1986/87 to get the side together. Unlike the Eagles the same year or the Crows 4 years later, they didn't have a strong state league to recruit from; they weren't relocated like the Swans in 1982, so they had their backs to the wall from the start.

 

[Mr Smiff]

Saints. 2-98 from 100 consecutive matches.

Impressive.
May achieve that again.

 

[Last of the Roys]

Fitzroy were uncompetitive basically from 1994-1996.

1995 (2 wins) and 1996 (1 win) were uncompetitive. 1994, with 5 wins wasn't so bad in comparison.

But even 1995-1996 wasn't the worst period for Fitzroy:
- 1963 and 1964 we went 1 win and 35 losses over those two seasons;
- for the period 1963 to 1966 we had 6 wins from 4 seasons, racking up 3 wooden spoons;
- for the period 1962 to 1968 (7 seasons) we had 19 wins and 109 losses;

 

[Public Enemy No1]

Recent history...Freo under Drum were pathetic

 

[Freomaniac]

Recent history...Freo under Drum were pathetic

5 wins in 1999, 8 wins In 2000. Sacked after being 0-10.

Been worse teams

 

[wal]

The Bears were admitted along with the Eagles late in the 1986 season to commence in 1987, so they would only have had the summer of 1986/87 to get the side together. Unlike the Eagles the same year or the Crows 4 years later, they didn't have a strong state league to recruit from; they weren't relocated like the Swans in 1982, so they had their backs to the wall from the start.

Like Freo aye.

 

[Fire]

Why do Victorians always bring ancient history into things?
The VFL finished as the major league in 1989 whilst the actual Australian football legue which was the real formation of a National competition began in 1990.
Therefore whoever lost 50 games in a row or won 7 premierships back in the 20's and 30's really is totally insignificant Today.
How can any club continually brag in modern Footy how they have won 15 premierships is almost unbelievable.
Clubs like Adelaide,Brisbane,Fremantle,Gold Coast ,Port ,West Coast and soon GWS weren't around in those days so how can anyone have bragging rights?
Come on with the poor attempts at excuses Vics!

Incorrect.

 

[adammania9]

Port Adelaide’s form in the last part of the 2011 season would be the worst run of form a club has been in my lifetime.

Whole season wise, there’s been worse but those two efforts against Collingwood and Hawthorn will be etched into my memory forever. The start to Melbourne’s 2013 season was nearly as disastrous too.

 

[Sparkle]

I remember Melbourne being fairly useless from about 2009-2014. The 186 Game showed how bad they were. The Geelong team that day was pretty good (missing Podsiadly though) but 186 just highlighted how amazingly bad Melbourne were in that era

Port Adelaide around 2011 were very bad too. Handing Gold Coast their first win put into perspective how average they were

 

[Belnakor]

Port Adelaide’s form in the last part of the 2011 season would be the worst run of form a club has been in my lifetime.

remember watching that team and thinking this club is actually going to fold or be in the cellar for 10+ years. Changed quickly.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

I remember Melbourne being fairly useless from about 2009-2014. The 186 Game showed how bad they were. The Geelong team that day was pretty good (missing Podsiadly though) but 186 just highlighted how amazingly bad Melbourne were in that era

Port Adelaide around 2011 were very bad too. Handing Gold Coast their first win put into perspective how average they were

2012-2013 was the real pits of that era. We had some huge wins in 2010 and 2011 which beggar belief in hindsight.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Carlton have been pretty terrible since 2002

 

[Art Corvelay]

Carlton have been pretty terrible since 2002

Carlton have played and won finals since then. More than Essendon can say.

 

[_M_16_]

University's overall record makes for some horrendous reading - something like 97 losses in their 120-odd games total over seven seasons, including four straight wooden spoons.

Unfair to use them in discussion to be honest, as they were pretty much an amateur student team playing in a professional competition.

Same for start up expansion sides, they can be forgiven for their bad records in their first decade or so until they are more established.

 

[roacheee]

carlton 2018
club is a big no.5

essendon 2019 seem to be no.6's

pies in the 2018 gf went from no.1's to no.7's (probably caught it off us)

 

[MrWoollie]

I'm prepared to ignore the pre AFL period. If we include teams like University or pre 1987 VFL teams then we would have to equally consider pre 1987 WAFL, SANFL, TFL etc. teams.

That leaves the 3 wins over two seasons 1995-96 Fitzroy teams as the worst.

 

[Scotland]

I remember Melbourne being fairly useless from about 2009-2014.

2007 and 2008 too.

5-3-4-8-8-4-2-4 over that 8 year period.

2013 with finishing 2-20 54% after two expansion sides had been introduced was the lowest ebb.

I use WC 2001 as my benchmark of shitness. We finished 5-17 65% and lost 10 games by 10 goals. We beat 16th twice, 15th twice and somehow Melbourne who finished 11th to end up 3rd last. Freo and St Kilda below us both managed percentages above 70.

Anyway Melbourne 2013 were one of the few teams I remember being genuinely worse. Brisbane 2016 getting there, Port 2011 also. But they weren't awful for years on end in the lead up. Gold Coast were pretty bad last year but at least managed to average sub 100 points against.

 

[PhatBoy]

Geez reading this thread makes me feel lucky.

In my lifetime - 35 seasons - my side has won at least 7 games every season it has played. In fact it’s only won single figures 6 times.

We had an abysmal grand final record for a long time, defined mediocrity for a long time - before and after the premiership run - so there’s been no shortage of disappointments but to those who’ve had to follow the likes of Melbourne, Carlton etc? You’ve got my respect

 

[Ok Boomer]

West Coast 2001

 

[Scotland]

Geez reading this thread makes me feel lucky.

In my lifetime - 35 seasons - my side has won at least 7 games every season it has played. In fact it’s only won single figures 6 times.

We had an abysmal grand final record for a long time, defined mediocrity for a long time - before and after the premiership run - so there’s been no shortage of disappointments but to those who’ve had to follow the likes of Melbourne, Carlton etc? You’ve got my respect

I don't ever remember a Geelong side shit enough that I thought a win was a given.