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.
Lroy
Guest
Ha ha..I had to read that twice as I didnt quite get it the first time!! Well played that man.
Lroy
Guest
Well the Pies have been playing finals pretty much every year from the time I have been watching footy going back to the late 1970's. I remember Ron Weiderman, Rene Kink, Phil Manasa... a tribe of guys named ''Shaw'' and they always seem to be in the finals. They've had a few bad years but never a sustained run of mediocrity like some perennial cellar dwellers, So the gods of footy no doubt will shine on the black and white eventually and they will win back to back or do a three peat... just hope its not the year my mob are playing against them ;-)
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
You have a point with the Eagles. They got a decent workout from their first final though whereas the Tigers had a pretty easy hit out against a disappointing Hawthorn and then went back to sleep for a couple of weeks.
dbjm
Guest
Yeah but even that is a nothing excuse PTS. Eagles had the same issue but smashed Melbourne. Ultimately Collingwood was too good in the Prelim, regardless of the 2 games in a month for Richmond
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I think the Blues will improve Chris but only with around 5-7 wins.
Chris
Guest
Peter, I will go a step further and say that either Carlton or Brisbane will put a few of the fancied teams to shame! Watch out for the Blue baggers...They have done some hard work in the backroom with their recruiting staff.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Melbourne or the Bombers will be the fairytale team for 2019 if they can get there. The Demons because of the monkey on their backs and the Dons because of the Dank legacy.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Personally I believe saying a team "didn't show up" is a nothing statement that fails to acknowledge when a side happens to play very well. Players come ready to play. The Tigers had played two games in 35 days when they met the Pies is more the point with the prefinals bye.
Chris
Guest
I tend to agree with your comment.If that were the case then Collingwood will definitely lose to the sentimental favourite Melbourne who always get the rub of the green from the men in white. This has been going on since time immemorial. No wonder our great game is an antipodean phenomenon. It won't get any better any time soon!
JamesH
Roar Guru
Oh come on, that was funny! ????
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Fair enough Matti. Just pointing out you havent played it yet. A bit hard to rate something you havent yet seen, let alone played against.
User
Roar Rookie
Premiership is ours Pete and I don't rate Collingwood defence.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
and who do you follow James? The Bombers? I'd be keeping a low profile if so.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
That's because our defence was ravaged last year Matti. You havent faced our actual defence yet. This season we get back Dunn, Scharenberg, Reid and add Moore as a rebounding CHB. You haven't seen the best of our defence as yet and we still got very close to beating you in both finals.
Lukey Miller
Guest
I am not a Magpies or Dees fan, but I am thinking that it will be a Collingwood v Melbourne GF this year. Both teams have a dominant tap ruckman accompanied by elite midfields with depth. With much less congestion at centre bounces that combination could be lethal this season. I hope that I am wrong.
User
Roar Rookie
Long-term finals presence is built on defence and I don't rate Collingwood defence, sorry James.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I think the Pies are young enough and talented enough to buck the recent trend and lose the grand final again.
JamesH
Roar Guru
They weren't a top 4 side last year either, until they went and made the top 4. Ditto for your mob.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Seems a weird stat to pull anything from.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Hoodoos are hogwash Bell. Most who criticise the Pies in Grand Finals follow sides who participate in AFL as a spectator sport. Only Hawks fans have it better than us and Cats, Swans and Eagles have been pretty good lately too. Life is not a spectator sport. I'd rather make the next five grand finals and lose them all then spend time from round 14 focussing on draft picks and 7 year plans.