Quote Originally Posted by Mr Magoo View Post
I dont like the comparisons to 1996
In its own way, 1996 was a very special season.
1. We made the finals for the first time in nine years.
2. We finished on top of the ladder for the first time in 51 years.
3. We won a final for the first time in 51 years.
4. We made the Grand Final for the first time in 51 years. (Yes, 1945 does crop up in a few comparisons.)

and, most important of all,

5. It was the first year of a streak of success that continues to this day. Since that groundbreaking season, we've missed the finals only three times (2000, 2002 and 2009), finished the year with a percentage below 100% only once (2009), finished no lower than 12th since 1995, played in two more Grand Finals after 1996 and won a premiership. This is a record that few sides can match.

Lets channel 2005/2006 instead where we were a top four team but one or two always were pushed out as the better team (ie west coast and adelaide) and we proved them wrong (well once anyway).
Every season is different. I wouldn't mind channelling 1918 myself, although at the moment this season is more like 1933 than 1996 or 2005. In 1933 we were 4-5 after nine rounds but then won the last nine home and away games in the 18-round season and then won two finals to claim the flag. The 12-game winning streak did not end until round 2, 1934. At the moment we are on a winning streak that also started with a first win in round 10.