2002 Pies were scary. That gutsy win over Port in the QF was their best win that season. I knew all week they would win that game.
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Your Favourite Non-Flag Season
- Thread starter Mr_Bojangles
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2002 Pies were scary. That gutsy win over Port in the QF was their best win that season. I knew all week they would win that game.
Carlton 1992.
It was a year of our revival after our lean period from 1989-1991.
The blues missed the 'final 6' in '92 by percentage but still won 14 games, just 2 fewer wins than the cats who finished on top.
Spalding and Greg Williams joined the blues and we had some memorable wins that season against other top sides including:
2 big comeback wins against the saints.
There was a huge build up to the pies 'centenary game' and we won easily despite having just a 4 day break from the previous round.
Defeated reigning premiers Hawthorn twice.
Had a huge win against 2nd place Footscray at Princes Park late in the season.
It was a year of our revival after our lean period from 1989-1991.
The blues missed the 'final 6' in '92 by percentage but still won 14 games, just 2 fewer wins than the cats who finished on top.
Spalding and Greg Williams joined the blues and we had some memorable wins that season against other top sides including:
2 big comeback wins against the saints.
There was a huge build up to the pies 'centenary game' and we won easily despite having just a 4 day break from the previous round.
Defeated reigning premiers Hawthorn twice.
Had a huge win against 2nd place Footscray at Princes Park late in the season.
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This. We had a great team on the rise under a new coach, and peak Ablett.
Tarkyn_24
Okeydoke7 is [redacted]
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Round 9?
Toby from newport
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my dad forced me to follow Collingwood I was 5 years old in 1996 and we didn't make finals till I was 11 in 2002 what a season qf win in Adelaide as massive underdogs 2007 a close second . Also really enjoyed Fremantles 2013 season as a neutral
Doss
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1998 stands out for me. Essendon had had a really bad season in 1997 but we managed to come back and be good enough to make finals without ever truly threatening. But there were some memorable wins in there.
And my side aside, the season was a pretty even one. Not much separated many of the sides. Melbourne had come last by a distance in 1997 but came out of nowhere to make a prelim and give North a very decent fight in that game too.
1997 also deserves a very honourable mention. St Kilda finished top with just 15 wins, Hawthorn finished 15th with 8 and Essendon 14th with 9; it was an incredibly even season. 1993 was similar but I was a bit young then to really have enough of a memory of most of the games.
And my side aside, the season was a pretty even one. Not much separated many of the sides. Melbourne had come last by a distance in 1997 but came out of nowhere to make a prelim and give North a very decent fight in that game too.
1997 also deserves a very honourable mention. St Kilda finished top with just 15 wins, Hawthorn finished 15th with 8 and Essendon 14th with 9; it was an incredibly even season. 1993 was similar but I was a bit young then to really have enough of a memory of most of the games.
SBYM
Fish, chips, cup o' tea, Mary @#? Poppins. London!
99
They were actually lining up at Windy Hill for GF tickets...
They were actually lining up at Windy Hill for GF tickets...
08
2012. Do not think I’ve seen a Crows side play with as much effort as they did. Was seriously impressive that we got so close to beating the much stronger Hawks in the prelim away from home. At least kid me didn’t have to deal with a probable grand final loss, but still would have played better than we did in 2017.
I also have soft spot for 2009. We played some great footy, like keeping Freo to just 13 points and winning elimination final by 96 points. Damn Jack Anthony.
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I also have soft spot for 2009. We played some great footy, like keeping Freo to just 13 points and winning elimination final by 96 points. Damn Jack Anthony.
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1975
first year of going to the footy. Just loved it. There were som great close games that year, including the close Elimination Final against the Magpies which I took in a super 8 camera and filmed some passage of play (still trying to find the film).
Then there was the bizarre St.Kilda comeback at VFL Park after half time.
The Round 20 game against Carlton where the lead changed a zillion times. But the Tigers just got up.
And in the end nobody minded North Melbourne winning the flag.
For Fitzroy - 1981 - the year I began secretly barracking for the Lions and kept tight lipped about…
first year of going to the footy. Just loved it. There were som great close games that year, including the close Elimination Final against the Magpies which I took in a super 8 camera and filmed some passage of play (still trying to find the film).
Then there was the bizarre St.Kilda comeback at VFL Park after half time.
The Round 20 game against Carlton where the lead changed a zillion times. But the Tigers just got up.
And in the end nobody minded North Melbourne winning the flag.
For Fitzroy - 1981 - the year I began secretly barracking for the Lions and kept tight lipped about…
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- Jul 28, 2012
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I haven't liked any season where they don't win the flag, it's all could'a shoulda stuff otherwise....
On the day of the Big Freeze and Neale Daniher being elevated to Officer of the Order of Australia it’s timely to mention my favourite non flag season.
1981
Daniher at 19 won the Essendon B & F (and was named Captain for 1982.
After starting 1-5 the Baby Bombers won 15 games in a row including a number of come from behind victories on the back of Daniher heroics after being shifted forward to become a match winner. (Daniher playedhalf back). In particular Round 20 against eventual premiers Carlton we were 23 points down. Daniher - playing on Bruce Doull (AFL team of the century) kicked two of the last four goals.
Next week Sheedy shifted him into the centre. He won a number of early clearances before doing his knee.
That was the last of 15 in a row and the last game we won for the year. That team became the nucleus of back to back flags in 84-85 but Daniher had 4 knee recos and missed it all.
He ended up playing 80 odd games but my memory is of a player who could have been a legend. I guess he will be after all. A true inspiration!
1981
Daniher at 19 won the Essendon B & F (and was named Captain for 1982.
After starting 1-5 the Baby Bombers won 15 games in a row including a number of come from behind victories on the back of Daniher heroics after being shifted forward to become a match winner. (Daniher playedhalf back). In particular Round 20 against eventual premiers Carlton we were 23 points down. Daniher - playing on Bruce Doull (AFL team of the century) kicked two of the last four goals.
Next week Sheedy shifted him into the centre. He won a number of early clearances before doing his knee.
That was the last of 15 in a row and the last game we won for the year. That team became the nucleus of back to back flags in 84-85 but Daniher had 4 knee recos and missed it all.
He ended up playing 80 odd games but my memory is of a player who could have been a legend. I guess he will be after all. A true inspiration!
TubbsFarquhar
TheBrownDog
2012 and 2015 for reasons mentioned.
I'll throw in 2002 as well. We were largely tipped to finish bottom 4 but, instead, made top 4. Highlights included:
- An epic final win against Melbourne
- Beating Brisbane in the H&A
- Winning in Geelong (one of only three years we've done so)
We ran out of gas in the prelim against Collingwood after a month of travelling but it was nice to exceed expectations.
I'll throw in 2002 as well. We were largely tipped to finish bottom 4 but, instead, made top 4. Highlights included:
- An epic final win against Melbourne
- Beating Brisbane in the H&A
- Winning in Geelong (one of only three years we've done so)
We ran out of gas in the prelim against Collingwood after a month of travelling but it was nice to exceed expectations.
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2022.
Annus horribilis in 2021 (Eddie gone, Bucks gone, 17th place finish), drafted N Daicos in the offseason and came from nowhere to be within 1 point of a grand final berth. Nick Daicos Rising Star and the rise of Jack Ginnivan.
Another season is 2011. Did everything right including a Brownlow Medallist and 5 All-Australians on the back of a flag but didn't win the whole thing when it mattered most.
Annus horribilis in 2021 (Eddie gone, Bucks gone, 17th place finish), drafted N Daicos in the offseason and came from nowhere to be within 1 point of a grand final berth. Nick Daicos Rising Star and the rise of Jack Ginnivan.
Another season is 2011. Did everything right including a Brownlow Medallist and 5 All-Australians on the back of a flag but didn't win the whole thing when it mattered most.
1975
It was the first year I actually attended games instead of listening on the radio.
We made the finals and knocked out both Collingwood and Carlton. What more can you ask in a non-premiership season?
It was the first year I actually attended games instead of listening on the radio.
We made the finals and knocked out both Collingwood and Carlton. What more can you ask in a non-premiership season?
Young Redleg
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2018-
Gawn announcing himself as our best ruckman of the modern era, Oliver getting his first AA jacket, Brayshaw finishing third in the brownlow, Tmac and Hogan kicking 100 goals between them. We were such an exciting team to watch despite having a somewhat leaky defence.
Not to mention that we made the finals for the first time in 12 years and managed to knock off Geelong and Hawthorn, two teams that had been inflicting pain on us for as long as I care to remember. That preliminary final against West Coast though... Took us three years to fully recover from that.
Gawn announcing himself as our best ruckman of the modern era, Oliver getting his first AA jacket, Brayshaw finishing third in the brownlow, Tmac and Hogan kicking 100 goals between them. We were such an exciting team to watch despite having a somewhat leaky defence.
Not to mention that we made the finals for the first time in 12 years and managed to knock off Geelong and Hawthorn, two teams that had been inflicting pain on us for as long as I care to remember. That preliminary final against West Coast though... Took us three years to fully recover from that.
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- Apr 4, 2009
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Absolutely, in some ways I enjoyed 2022 more than 2010 (although of course hard to top 2010)
2019.
We hadn't made the finals for 10 years (our best finish being 12th over the time). The excitement that I would have leading into a game was something else. Now that we have been where we have been the last few years a lot of games we are expected to win and doesn't have the same anticipation.
We hadn't made the finals for 10 years (our best finish being 12th over the time
). The excitement that I would have leading into a game was something else. Now that we have been where we have been the last few years a lot of games we are expected to win and doesn't have the same anticipation.
