I've done an analysis of the Swans' finishing positions over the last 16 seasons (1990 to 2005). It shows that the Swans have been right on average.
After home and away season:
1 - 4: 4 (1996, 1998, 2003, 2005)
5 - 8: 4 (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004)
9 -12: 4 (1991, 1995, 2000, 2002)
13+: 4 (1990, 1992, 1993, 1994)
Time in Finals:
1 week: 3 (1997, 1999, 2001)
2 weeks: 2 (1998, 2004)
3 weeks: 1 (2003)
4 weeks (Grand Final): 2 (1996, 2005)
Premierships: 1 (2005)
So we are an average side, very average. But "average" in the true mathematical sense. We've made the finals an average number of times (8/16), we've made the Grand Final an average number of times (2), and ... we've won an average number of premierships (1)!
One note: This analysis includes seasons with less than 16 teams and seasons with less than 8 teams in the finals. The analysis was also done over 16 seasons because it shows the Swans finishing in each block of 4 places 4 times.
The analysis gets better when the first six seasons are excluded (1990 to 1995), because the Swans did not play in the finals during that time. I hope to be able to do another analysis six years from now that shows the Swans being the best side over that time. (We're already doing okay over the last 10 years, making the finals 8 times).
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