Fair point, had forgotten just how easily they rolled Collingwood. Suppose you could argue that the semi would be one of Collingwood’s worst losses of the last 25 years as well.
We beat grand finalist St Kilda twice, the Bulldogs (top four for the third year in a row, and we led by 40 points in the last quarter), Carlton and Hawthorn (by about seven goals). We lost to the Swans (also a finalist) at the SCG by 9 points and in the second game against Hawthorn we were in front with six minutes to go. We also dropped the game against Port, by 3 points, in what was one of the most frustrating losses I’ve ever witnessed.
And then…we lost to the wooden spooner twice, got embarrassed on Anzac Day and got belted by Geelong, Adelaide, Carlton and Collingwood (again).
I’ve been watching replays of a bunch of those 2010 games, and I went to a lot of games that season. When you see what we were capable of, it is seriously bizarre that we only won seven games.
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As a rough top 5
2018 GF
2003 GF
2011 GF
2019 PF
2022 PF
A top 5 for each team would be interesting, wonder how often we’d feature in?
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Well, we wouldn’t be featuring in many other teams’ stinging finals losses, so that doesn’t help. Freo losing to us in 2003 was pretty bad for them, I guess, but they’re Freo so they’d have a lot of competition.
First games that come to mind are Melbourne losing to us in both Round 2 2013 (the 100+ pt thrashing) and Round 2 2016 (against the top-ups). Then again, it’s Melbourne, so they too have had some shockers which might bump us out.
You could probably make a case that our Round 22 clash in 2009 sneaks into Hawthorn’s top five worst losses. That one really stung them. Glorious memories.
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Good shout! Their huge loss to GC a few years ago would be up there too.
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Hawthorns top 5 would just be all Kennent curse games.
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I think that comfortably makes Melbourne’s top 5
Maybe even as high as #2 that 30 goal loss to the hillbillies is an Easy 1.
The loss to the top ups maybe slips into 5th
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Nothing bad ever happens to Hawthorn. I’m convinced they have a pact with the dark forces.
2012 GF would be Hawthorn’s number 1
If we’re taking 25 years, their '01 Prelim loss to us would have to be a top 5 contender. They ■■■■■ about Goldspink to this day.
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St Kilda’s 09 GF would be the biggest margin 1 to 2. They ■■■■■■ away a flag that day.
The day we broke their huge winning streak sneaks into St Kildas top 5.
After that I don’t see us popping up much more anywhere else.
There was a good one in about 05 I think against FCFC. We won by 99 and their expensive new boom recruit Nick Stevens got embarrassed by a kid called Ricky Dyson who kicked 3 on him. False dawns for us, but at least it made FCFC feel bad…
The win against Melbourne in 2016 after the March to the G when we were widely expected to have a winless season would be up there too.
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Collingwood 2011 GF would be their worst. Absolutely dominated the H&A season (20W, 2L), won a thriller (and an all-time game) in the prelim, lose the GF getting completely romped in the final quarter.
All the good of the season thrown away in a single quarter.
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I was there. Was nice to finally have a good day against Carlton but you knew deep down that Carlton weren’t bothered by losing.
They were clearly the best team all season, and they were the better team on GF day. And they didn’t win the flag. That would be burn so bad, especially for a supporter base that has seen so little success.
In 2011 Geelong were the better team for 45 mins, in 2009 they were the better team for 5 mins.
They won both of those flags
I think sort of losses go in to a different category. Those hurt differently as it is a GF. They didnt play poorly, they just hurt because it was a final. Our bad losses are usually games we should have won but didnt.
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Yes but they were also excellent throughout the whole year. Think in 2009 both them and Saints were undefeated to round 13 when they played each other. 2011 they were undefeated until they played us in round 14. They were still excellent teams
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This is how I see it too. Some losses are heartbreaking but the team actually performed ok and tried hard on the day. I can usually accept those more than the ones where the team barely tries or gives up.