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After a breakout season in 2018 culminating in an agonisingly close grand final loss, plus some notable additions to its already stellar midfield depth, Collingwood appear to be one of the early season favourites in 2019.
Listening to the hype surrounding the Magpies’ 2019 premiership credentials had me thinking about what had come of other runners-up in recent times.
As a West Australian and through and through West Coast supporter, my mind immediately turned to 2013 when my Fremantle supporting colleagues had their day in the sun and went down to the all-conquering Hawks in a hard fought and engaging grand final.
I recall Freo’s follow up season in 2014 was very Freo-like (disappointing). But a quick wiki check confirmed I was only half right – Freo did okay in 2014 by finishing fourth on the home-and-away ladder. But alas, they were bundled out of the finals in the second week, being beaten two weeks in a row by the Swans and surging Power in Perth.
That little bit of nostalgia caused me to rely on trusty Google and do as anyone with too much time on their hands would do; search the next few seasons to see how the runners up faired up until 2018.
In 2014, the Swans finished runners up to the Hawks (again). The following year, the swans repeated Freo’s efforts by finishing the home-and-away season in fourth and also going out of the finals in straight sets (ironically, a first up qualifying finals loss to Freo and a home loss to the Kangaroos).
In 2015, the Eagles were disappointing in their loss in the grand final to the Hawks (again – we get it the Hawks were good). The following year, the Eagles failed to live up to pre-season favouritism and finished the home-and-away season in sixth. They were bundled out in a home elimination final by the rampaging and eventual premier Bulldogs.
In 2016, the Swans lost to the aforementioned Doggies. The Swans were slightly less disappointing than West Coast’s previous effort in backing up. They too finished the home-and-away season in sixth, but walloped Essendon in an elimination final before losing a semi-final to the Cats.
In 2017, the Crows made the big dance as a realistic chance to win as the first non-Victorian premier since Sydney in 2012. Unfortunately, they hit a red-hot Richmond who broke their 37-year premiership drought. The following season was Adelaide’s annus horribilis, failing to make the finals and finishing 12th.
So, in short, since Freo’s runners up finish in 2013, the subsequent runners up have combined for one solitary finals win. That was the Swans winning an elimination final in 2017 – hardly a ringing endorsement for runners up taking the next season by storm.
I’m sure there are many theories from armchair critics like myself as to why it is so difficult to back up as the grand final loser. It could be that other teams have planned specifically against the beaten team’s strategy.
Maybe the players as a group hit their peak potential in their grand final year and, given their near success, the coach is willing to give them another crack despite the group being on the wrong side of its optimum peak playing abilities?
Regardless of the reason for recent sub-par follow up efforts by the runner up it is hard to not be impressed by the Pies. They have an enviable depth in their midfield which is only improved by Dayne Beams’ return and you would have to think they a due a break on the injury front.
So, you can understand the hype surrounding their chances, but a solitary elimination final win by defeated grand finalists since 2013 isn’t a great record, but it is one Buckley and his team will be confident of overcoming.
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