By The Roar -
November 25th 2009 @ 8:43am
What is The Roar’s Australian sporting team of 2009?
Geelong players celebrate their win after the 2009 Toyota AFL Grand Final between the St Kilda Saints and the Geelong Cats at the MCG.
2009 saw some remarkable team performances from Australia’s best: teams such as the Socceroos, Geelong Cats, St. Kilda Saints, Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory, Queensland Origin and the Melbourne Vixens. But which deserves to be Australian sporting team of the year?
The nominees are:
Socceroos – Football
While fans debate the likely makeup of Pim Verbeek’s Socceroos heading into the 2010 World Cup, it’s important to reflect on what they achieved in 2009. They qualified for their second consecutive World Cup with a 0-0 draw away to Qatar on 5 June. The Socceroos only conceded one goal in the whole qualification period, and their victory away to Oman sets them up for Asian Cup qualification. They also held the Netherlands to a draw and defeated Ireland 3-0 in friendlies.
Geelong Cats – AFL
Geelong exacted revenge for their 2008 upset Grand Final defeat with their second premiership in three years. Geelong showed signs of faltering with injuring threatening to derail their season, but they came storming back into contention, easing past the Bulldogs and Collingwood to set up the much-anticipated clash with St. Kilda. Their two-goal victory in the Grand Final confirmed their place as one of the great teams. To cap of their season, Gary Ablett finally claimed a long overdue Brownlow medal.
Melbourne Victory – A-League
The Melbourne Victory confirmed their status as the benchmark team of the A-League in season 2008/09, both on and off the pitch. The Victory claimed the pre-season cup, the premiership and became the first A-League side to win two championships by defeating Adelaide United 1–0. Despite losing the likes of Danny Allsop and Michael Theoklitos, the Victory are once again at the forefront in the 2009/10 season.
St. Kilda Saints – AFL
Although premiership success may have eluded them by 12 points, their record run of 19 consecutive victories in a season shattered the club’s previous mark of 10 in a row and created AFL history. The minor premiers decimated many an opposition during that record run.
Melbourne Storm – NRL
Like Geelong, the Melbourne Storm exacted revenge for their 2008 disappointment with premiership success; defeating the Parramatta Eels 23-16. Led by Billy Slater, the Storm nullified the threat of Jarryd Hayne in the Grand Final, winning their second premiership from four consecutive Grand Final appearances. For many it confirmed their status as the greatest NRL side of the decade.
Queensland State of Origin – League
Queensland claimed their fourth straight State of Origin series, continuing their domination over the NSW Blues. Comprised of greats such as Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer and Billy Slater, the current Maroons squad was too strong for Craig Bellamy’s Blues, wrapping up the series in the second game.
Melbourne Vixens – ANZ Netball Championship
The Vixens claimed their first ANZ Championship in the second season of the trans-Tasman competition. The inspirational Sharelle McMahon led the way with the team only losing one game throughout the whole season. They defeated the Adelaide Thunderbirds 54-46 in the Grand Final.
Other possible candidates –
Parramatta Eels – NRL. Emerged from the pack for a late season run that took them to the Grand Final.
Australian Diamonds – Netball. Prepared for the upcoming Commonwealth Games by beating arch rivals, the Silver Ferns, in a Test series in New Zealand.
Australian Kangaroos – League. Claimed the Four Nations with an easy victory against England in the final.
Feel free to justify your selection, or add your own team of 2009 in the comments area below.
The winner will be announced on Tuesday December 8.
So, who deserves the title?
Vote for The Roar's Australian sporting team of 2009
- Socceroos – Football (26%)
- Geelong Cats – AFL (18%)
- St. Kilda Saints – AFL (13%)
- Queensland State of Origin – League (10%)
- Melbourne Storm - NRL (10%)
- Melbourne Victory – A-League (9%)
- Parramatta Eels – NRL (5%)
- Australian Kangaroos – League (4%)
- Melbourne Vixens – ANZ Netball Championship (2%)
- Australian Diamonds – Netball (3%)
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(86)
Jay said | November 25th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
What? the wallabies don’t get a mention. Outrageous!
JiMMM said | November 25th 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
I know this comparison stuff is just fun to do, but could at least wait until December and the silly season proper before we start trying to compare teasm across codes
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment
It’s December in five days dude.
Crazy Dave said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
LOL!!!!
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Hmm – a tough one.
One small comment – in AFL circles, we never refer to the Geelong Cats, St Kilda Saints, etc – for the traditional teams, the two monikers are rarely mentoined side by side, although it does happen for pretty much all new teams post 1982 (when the marketeers took over).
I don’t think the Sainters should be there – all they managed to do in the end was match Essendon’s home and away record of 2000.
Interestingly, all of the Cats, Storm and Victory won their 2nd premiership in 3 seasons (and in the identical years).
So that makes it extra tough.
The Socceroos’ efforts have been undervalued by many – but it’s not every day you make your second consecutive WC (in fact, it’s a first for us) – so I would have to give my vote to the Socceroos.
If any of the Cats, Storm or Victory can follow up with a consecutive premiership (making it 3 in 4 years) – then they will clearly be in the box seat for next season!!
On a side note – does anyone know how the Australian korfball team went this year? (just interested)
JiMMM said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
Now I’m intrigued, what on earth is korfball??
M1tch said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korfball
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Jimmmmmmm
I’m glad you asked!!
According to this site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Oceania_Korfball_Championship
Australia came 2nd in 2006 in the Asia-Oceania Korfball championships (embarassingly, we came 2nd to Taiwan, but did finish above India).
There should have been another one in 2008 – but I have no details.
My main agenda for coming onto the Roar is to publicise the sport of Korfball a bit more – which appears to get short shrift in the Australian sports media.
I also have a thing for sjoelbak.
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sjoelen
JiMMM said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Noble aims good sir, but unfortunately as Korfball and Sjoelbak are not part of the Australian sporting psyche, we are going to have to cut thier funding off, until they can get some large participation numbers. ;P
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Geez – with a bit of funding – I coodabeen the sjoelbak champ’een o’ the world!! (enter piercing violin)
macavity said | November 26th 2009 @ 5:59pm | Report comment
I used to play Sjoelen all the time as a kid – Dutch grandparents.
good fun.
BigAl said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Pip – good pick up on cultural subtleties within AFL.
I mention subtle, but then again it’s bleedin’ obvious..
– I mean how many Saints are there in the AFL apart from St Kilda ??
factos incorrectos said | December 7th 2009 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
St Kilda lost 2 home and away games in 2009, they didn’t equal any record. Essendon lost 1 in 2000, as did Geelong in 2008. The Socceroos shouldn’t be rewarded for being average in the past.
M1tch said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Storm..dont rate the QLD origin team at all
Art Sapphire said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Team of the Year – The All Whites
Sportsman of the Year – Thierry Henry
Brett McKay said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Can we add the Victorian Bushrangers to the list?? Shield and FRC champs, and lost the Big Bash final to NSW in the last over….
M1tch said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Why not NSW..who won it
Brett McKay said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
well, because they won one of the three on offer, and were nowhere near the finals for the other two. The Vics had also won the previous three Big Bash series’…
Chris said | November 25th 2009 @ 5:38pm | Report comment
Victoria – Australian champions. New South Wales – World Champions.
and don’t pretend that Victoria is better than NSW because they won the FRC and Sheild – because if NSW were actually allowed to play their full strength team they would win those in a canter.
Brett McKay said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
well it’s complete then, T20 has taken over the world….
this whole “if NSW were actually allowed to play their full strength team” arguement is little tired now, you make it sound like being picked for Australia is a punishment. Either way, at different points last year Victoria lost D.Hussey, Siddle, White, McDonald, and McGain as well, so it’s not even that valid any more.
As it turns out, Victoria fell in a heap in last years FRC and lost the final in Melbourne to Qld….
AndyRoo said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Vic and QLD are the two states that would be effected most by any rules forcing them to pick young players.
They love to keep their loyal stalwarts that have no chance of a test recall and this means they win domestic trophies while WA and NSW provide the bulk of the Australian team (despite slection bias in favor of Vics). The Vic players that called up for the national team are by and large very ordinary, the nSW players are potential stars.
Perhaps untrue but that is my story and I am sticking to it until someone writes a really good Roar article to suggest otherwise.
Michael C said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
I loved the reports on Chan 9 this morning of the NSW FRC loss to WA yesterday, talking about the understrength NSW side missing it’s stars……
….and, horses for courses, they may be entering a One dayers without Katich and Clarke, but, they’ve got their short form specialist opener Warner (Aust rep), Hughes (Aust Rep), Jacques (Aust Rep), etc etc through Henriques, S.Smith and bowlers like S.Clark and Cockley and there’s far, far more Aust reps there than the WA side (S. Marsh, Voges and Ronchi)……so, which is the young inexperienced team?
btw – QLD did hold onto Bichel and Kaspa for an eternity, but, they’ve certainly started reloading now, as illustrated by Noffke heading to WA. WA is actually the oddity, with so many recycled/resettled bowlers in Knowles, Magoffin, Noffke and Hogan……to name a few.
AndyRoo said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
In regards to QLD the first name that came to mind was Martin Love as an example of the “Bulls for Life scheme”.
KB said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
It can only be one of the Australian National Teams… And the winner is … drum roll — bbbbrrrr — The Australian National Football Team (Sokkahroos, for those Melburnians who are not familiar with the Australian National Football Team) Any other club mention from Melburnian’s Jurassic Park would be an insult to most Australians who live north of the Murray…
Special mention for our ANZAC compatriots the “All Whites” across the ditch … as most of them now live on the Gold Coast…
~~~~~~~
KB
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
It says the poor Kanagaroos have -1%
That’s harsh
Alex said | November 25th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
what about the woeful wallabies .. they´re doin great this year!!!
I vote for them as my top sporting team
Gibbo said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
gotta be the Catters!! Timed their run to perfection, indicative of a brilliantly planned and executed season. Fully deserved their second premiership in three years, won by a hard slog in the wet and what should have been a B.O.G. performance by Harry Taylor.
They get the nod over the socceroos because they play their code (as the team song suggests) the way it should be played! Attacking, positive football, strong at the contests, fast through the middle. None of the dour, results first, Pim Verbeek methodology.
and yes i am biased.
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
full marks for operatic club songs – a touch of the yaartz!!
Brian said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
The problem with any AFL/NRL team is that half the country and the whole rest of the planet don’t care. So Storm & Cats were close but I guess not close enough seeing as neither won back to back. or their minor premierships. The Socceroos were too boring, what about Adelaide Utd run to the ACL Final? Was that 2009? I’m trying to think of others Rugby? we’re crap, Cricket? lost to England, Davis Cup? mmm, I guess its Qld RL team or Adelaide Utd. I would say maybe Qld RL team but as my first point I know nothing of RL or the SOO.
BigAl said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:46am | Report comment
??? – . . . what’s ‘ the whole rest of the planet ‘ got to do with this blog ??
Redb said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
What is stranger is RL SOO is NSW/QLD, smaller in scope than the NRL?
Brian said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Fair point although. All I meant was that an Austrlian team beating overseas competitors makes us proud. If Cats, Storm whoever hadn’t won their comps some other Aussie team would have, therefore there is minimal national pride in their achievements.
Redb said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
“2009 saw some remarkable team performances from Australia’s best: teams such as the Socceroos, Geelong Cats, St. Kilda Saints, Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory, Queensland Origin and the Melbourne Vixens. But which deserves to be Australian sporting team of the year?”
Considering this is the question, national pride is not singulary relevant.
BigAl said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Again . . . ??? – . . . what’s ‘ national pride‘ got to do with this blog ??
KB said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Urrrr, maybe you haven’t noticed but we have a few national team nominees on the blog…. That alone is a good enough reason … work the rest out for yourself…
Dan said | November 25th 2009 @ 6:00pm | Report comment
So your central point is that we should value a team’s achievement based on its ability to encourage nationalism? In any case, personally the 0-0 draw against the tiny nation of Oman didn’t exactly fill me with pride…
KB said | November 25th 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
Dan,
if you are an AFL supporter then that’s better than what you have at present…
Dan said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Actually I’m a Rugby Union fan. But I’m very much against the notion that “international = good” when it comes to team sports. You might as well go start a church of globalisation if you think that’s the case.
Robbos said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:42am | Report comment
But a strong rivalry against another tiny country, New Zealand, fills you with pride.
Crazy Dave said | November 26th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Beating any other country, no matter how big or small, always fills me with pride; mainly because you are only as good as your last game, and anything can happen once it is game on.
But beating NZ is always good…
Mainly because they are the little brother and need to be kept in their place.
KB said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
where do you live on the moon… ?
good call Brian…
~~~~~~
KB
rob hill said | November 25th 2009 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Wallabies,cause they got so close to that Grand Slam.And its everyone elses fault they didnt win all the games……
Fisher Price said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Victoria (cricket).
The Link said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
QLD Maroons. 4 series in a row in what is usually a pretty even contest.
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
Socceross for me. Eased into the WC. May not have been pretty, but results speak for themselves. One goal conceded in whole WC qualification is impressive.
Coops said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
What about the Canberra Capitals they have contiuned to perform after Lauren Jackson. An d they don’t just perform on the court they a great ambassadors off it as well!
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Yes – Capitals should have got a mention.
Robbos said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
The Qld Rugby league side. That backline is the best ever. Slater, Falou, Hodges, Inglis, Boyd, Lockyer & Thurston.
The Socceroos a close 2nd with the Cats up there as well.
Midfielder said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Socceroos … daylight … moonlight …. Cricket One day side
Redb said | November 25th 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Essendon. Beat Carlton and Hawthorn twice, Collingwood once. What else is there?
Robbos said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Sydney FC beating Melbourne victory 3-0. That’s even better.
KB said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
Oh yeah…
Redb said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Did they? Good luck to them.
Chris said | November 25th 2009 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
In front of three people, a players cousin and his pet dog.
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
Crowd was 30k Chris
Robbos said | November 25th 2009 @ 5:55pm | Report comment
Actually AndyRoo it was 30K, a players cousin & his pet dog. wink.
Onceinawhile said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
How is St Kilda rating so high, hat’s off to them, but they came second! It would have to be the Socceroos from that bunch, Whilst most of the players across the other teams give thier all, that’s thier job, that’s how they get paid, Apart from the Kangaroos, the soccer guys don’t really get paid for representing OZ, and the travel and the amount of games thier employer asks of them, I gotta give it to them, plus they do represent the country, rather than a couple of suburbs. Not that the other teams did’nt acheive anything,and as far as teams go there are some great ones there, I just feel the soccer guy’s did OK.
Just my take on it.
p.s what about SYD UNI, 5 titles in a row (comes back to that “suburbs” argument again though)
BigAl said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
I think you’ll find the Socceroos get paid heaps for representing OZ !
KB said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
I’m not sure what that has to do with the price of eggs..? Are you suggesting that Geelong are all amateurs..? The Australian National Football Team Players are paid a pittance for representing their nation compared to the match payments they receive from their respective clubs — not to mention risking career ending injuries… Yes indeed all for the glory of representing your nation on a world stage…
I can only think of one Australian who chose money over his nation and that’s Craig Johnston, the rest do it for the Green&Gold and the glory of representing the nation on the world stage.. Money is secondary let me be clear on that point… Just ask Timmy Cahill what it means to him to be an Australian Football hero … representing his nation of birth… He could have well chosen England as he was also eligible for that nation as well, his father being English…
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
Surely he is half Irish KB!
A half Irish half Samoan Australian….. can’t get a tougher combination of genes than that
KB said | November 25th 2009 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
Yep, he could have played for the Irish as well… I did read that story somewhere… However, his father is a Pommy who married a Samoan lass and that’s why he turned out for the Samoan under 14’s national team whilst he and his parents were in Samoa on holidays; with the assurance from the Samoans that it would not affect his Australian eligibility, so the story goes… After a hard long battle to get his case heard, through the assistance of the FFA; FIFA reinstated his eligibility and his love for the country he calls home, Australia… And rightly so, as you would all obviously know… Glad to have him as one of ours … one of our most cherished sons…
BigAl said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Timmy ! . . . what does it mean to you to be an Australian Football hero ?
True Tah said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:57pm | Report comment
Didnt he play for Samoa?
AndyRoo said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
Yep, which stopped him playing for Ireland (he appealed to Fifa about that) but now he is on board with Australia.
Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t love him though.
BigAl said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
ST Kilda are the sleeping giants of Australian sport – and have been for the last 120 years !
Brett McKay said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Nat Medhurst won’t be happy when she next Roars – Diamonds and Vixens both at 1%…
(my guess is Greg Russell voted for the Diamonds, and Pippinu for the Vixens
)
Marshall said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Vixens deserve some votes. Only losing one game, in a comp that involves some long away games in NZ is impressive.
Sandy B said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Sydney uni – 5 on the trot, plus strong right through the grades
GeneralAshnak said | November 25th 2009 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
OK, how the hell are the Central Districts from the SANFL not in this list? They have won 8 of the past 10 SANFL grand finals and contested the other 2 finals?
Stormin Red said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
Socceroos were impressive but they only had 9 games(incl. 3 friendlies) this year of which Japan were the only real opposition we faced in a competitive fixture. Yes they qualified for the WC, which is a big effort, but this is about how they performed this year, most of the qualifiers were last year.
Don’t know enough about AFL to vote for them but surely the team that came second can’t win. Qld Origin team really should have put the cleaners through the Blues for the last couple of years with that backline. Parramatta Eels should be change to Jarryd Hayne, with occassional appearances by teammates, but he still doesn’t deserve to win.
Storm are my pick. They didn’t dominate like previous years but “Bellyache” had the team peaking at just the right time. Still the best team in the comp for four years running despite the salary cap pressures.
I also agree with Midfielder, the Aussie One Day team should get a mention. They destroyed the poms (doesn’t make up for the Ashes but still nice to put them back in their place), then won the Champions Trophy and beat the Indians despite half the team breaking down.
Benjamin Conkey said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Harden Hawks in George Tooke Shield. Lost one match all season, and came back from the dead three times in the Grand Final!
But seriously, it’s pretty hard when you have Domestic teams compared with International. Socceroos would get my vote, considering they were one of the first few teams to qualify for the World Cup.
Midfielder said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
NSW University Old Boys over 50’s football team for their performance at the World Masters … especially the match against the Celtic greens … when the old boys where reduced to 10 players in the first fifteen mins… the right mid dropped back to right full back… Cleard a goal off the line and his defense at times in closing down space enared him the best on park award.. as the brave Old Boys held on for a draw…
Art Sapphire said | November 25th 2009 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
Central Coast Mariners for doing Victory over twice at Etihad – 2-0 and 4-0.
The trophy has already been despatched to Midfielder.
A gold painted plastic toilet seat which will take pride of place in the Mariners trophy cabinet
Stanley said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
The domestic team of the year is a no brainer.
The South Dragons created history by being the first team in Australian Sporting History to go from Wooden Spooners one season to Champions the next.
Surely thats about as good as it gets?
Brett McKay said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Stanley, didn’t Penrith do that in 2003??
GaryGnu said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
2002 was the year of the Bulldogs salary cap scandal. They were technically last but on football merrit Souths came last with 14 points, in their first year back. Penrith 12th or (13th on merit) with 18 points.
Crazy Dave said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
I voted for the Qld State of Origin Team, cause I put my state pride before my national pride…
However, the question is the which team is the team of the year…
Past glories do not count!!!! Which team has performed better this year, not cumulatively over the last two or three years…
In that respect… all votes have to be for the Socceroos, qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, as one of the Asian representatives, in the only truly global sport, and also putting themselves very close to qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup.
Pippinu said | November 25th 2009 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Just having a quick look, after a bit of a break, and noticed that the Sainters have come up from 0 votes to now be in 2nd place – someone has been doing some behind the scenes spruiking!!
davelee said | November 25th 2009 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
the cats did pretty well to fend off st kilda & WB to win the premiership again. gotta be the cats.
OldManEmu said | November 25th 2009 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
How does the Orange Emus RUFC Second Grade team not get a mention. Achievements of the season included having a second rower who did not shave or wash his hair all season and participated in a ceremonial Mad Monday “wash and shave” (maybe Mark Chisholm could take a leaf from his book) and undergoing and surviving a gruelling return trip from Dubbo after the elimination semi final via Guerie, Mumbil, Ironbark, Molong, and then OldManEmu’s back shed.
Billo said | November 25th 2009 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
It has to be the Kangaroos.
I travelled up to Leeds to see their Four Nations win, and they gave a great performance, combining clinical organization and great instinctive play to beat probably the best England league team they’ve had for a while.
League may not have many nations playing at that level, but if you judge on quality you would have to go with them.
I fervently hope the Wallabies can show something of the same quality against Wales on Saturday.
Michael said | November 26th 2009 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
How can we take this poll seriously when the South Dragons weren’t even mentioned?
They went from wooden spoon to champions in the space of just one season.
What more could they do?
Fairfax’s Sports Performer Awards made the same mistake of overlooking them. The profile and perception of basketball is irrelevant if you are trying to run a credible and worthwhile sports poll.
Neither the Storm nor the Cats were the best team in the comp for the majority of the season, they simply peaked on the day that mattered most. The Dragons did that, as well as dominating the regular season.
AndyRoo said | November 26th 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Aren’t they extinct though…. that would be abit morbid to give them the award.
Also I don’t think being crap the year before gets you extra points
Michael said | November 26th 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
They withdrew from the league for this season and there are efforts to revive them (see http://www.saveourdragons.com)
Even if they are extinct, that doesn’t mean their achievements never occurred.
Ever heard of a posthumous award? Do Heath Ledger or Michael Jackson ring a bell?
And of course their wooden spoon of the previous season should be considered. It gives context to their incredible efforts – context greater than any of the other teams listed.
Pieter said | December 1st 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
WTF there is no rugby union team on the list !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can this be a serious poll without it including some Union teams.
unnamed sauces said | December 1st 2009 @ 9:56am | Report comment
You spelt that wrong Pieter, I think you mean Yawnion