12 years of consistency

[top40]

I read an article in today's Australian by George Megalogenis, (usually a political columnist), about the "True National Competition Ladder since 1997".

The purpose the article is to highlight how disappointing Fremantle and Richmond have been among the current 16 teams, since season 1997, when Port Adelaide came into the competition and the merged Brisbane Lions first appeared.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that in terms of percentage, Sydney was ranked first with 111.3%. The ranking in order was:

1. Sydney 111.3%
2. Adelaide 110.8%
3. Brisbane 110.3%
4. Geelong 109.8%
5. Port Adelaide 104.9%
6. Essendon 104.6%
7. St Kilda 101.4%
8. North Melbourne 100.7%
9. Collingwood 99.9%
10. W.Bulldogs 99.6%
11. West Coast 99.4%
12. Hawthorn 95.5%
13. Carlton 90.1%
14. Fremantle 89.6%
15. Melbourne 89.45
16. Richmond 88.6%

A few other points:

A. Sydney tops the percentage list notwithstanding that their Minor Premiership year of 1996 is just left out; and their reputation over the past 12 years is being that of a dour defensive team.

B. In terms of win:ratio, Sydney is third (55.8%), behind Geelong (58%) and Port Adelaide (55.9%).

[goswannie14]

I read an article in today's Australian by George Megalogenis, (usually a political columnist), about the "True National Competition Ladder since 1997".

The purpose the article is to highlight how disappointing Fremantle and Richmond have been among the current 16 teams, since season 1997, when Port Adelaide came into the competition and the merged Brisbane Lions first appeared.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that in terms of percentage, Sydney was ranked first with 111.3%. The ranking in order was:

1. Sydney 111.3%
2. Adelaide 110.8%
3. Brisbane 110.3%
4. Geelong 109.8%
5. Port Adelaide 104.9%
6. Essendon 104.6%
7. St Kilda 101.4%
8. North Melbourne 100.7%
9. Collingwood 99.9%
10. W.Bulldogs 99.6%
11. West Coast 99.4%
12. Hawthorn 95.5%
13. Carlton 90.1%
14. Fremantle 89.6%
15. Melbourne 89.45
16. Richmond 88.6%

A few other points:

A. Sydney tops the percentage list notwithstanding that their Minor Premiership year of 1996 is just left out; and their reputation over the past 12 years is being that of a dour defensive team.

B. In terms of win:ratio, Sydney is third (55.8%), behind Geelong (58%) and Port Adelaide (55.9%).
Who would have thought that given the amount of "everyone is going to die from swine flu" type threads on here lately?

[573v30]

We've certainly been a good side since the current 16 sides was finalised in 1997, pity we couldn't have more than 1 premiership... :(

[ROK Lobster]

Poor old Brisbane. A whole 1% behind us with only 2 additional premierships...

[SimonH]

That is an unbelievably even ladder. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that it would kick the crap out of any given 12 year period in the VFL's history, for the miniscule size of the spread between best and worst sides. Quelle surprise: drafts and salary caps really do work.

The fact that Sydney top the charts, when for much or most of the time they've been, at best, a lower-reaches-of-the-top-4 side, just confirms the initial impression.

Presumably Brisbane would have topped the charts if not for their spoon in 1998, i.e. if they'd just performed at a mediocre just-missing-the-finals level that year. They should have been bloody swabbed after that year-- they had the bulk of their triple-flag winning squad assembled by then. Most criminal underperformance by a quality list in the AFL age.

[Cheer Squad]

It's a different story if you look at Sydney's percentages since the move north in 1982 - we slide down the ladder to 12th with a scoring percentage of 98.72, and a winning percentage of 47.61.

If you look at the wooden spoon years in the early 90's, we're dead last, with a scoring percentage of 71.51, and a winning percentage of 13.28! :eek:

[top40]

It's a different story if you look at Sydney's percentages since the move north in 1982 - we slide down the ladder to 12th with a scoring percentage of 98.72, and a winning percentage of 47.61.

If you look at the wooden spoon years in the early 90's, we're dead last, with a scoring percentage of 71.51, and a winning percentage of 13.28! :eek:


The point of the table drawn in the Australian newspaper was to present the longest possible period of seasons where all of the current 16 teams were relevant.

[satchmopugdog]

Why do youpeople do this to me???

All those numbers when you can get the same result just with the vibe and a sense of je ne sais pas.

mumble mumble numbers stats smats mumble mumble.

[Bloods05]

We've certainly been a good side since the current 16 sides was finalised in 1997, pity we couldn't have more than 1 premiership... :(

One premiership in 12 years is a hell of a lot better than 72 years without one, take it from one who knows.

[laughingnome]

One premiership in 12 years is a hell of a lot better than 72 years without one, take it from one who knows.

Since 1997 only 9 teams have won the flag. Not too shabby indeed. As long as we don't have to wait another 72 years :p

1997 - Adelaide
1998 - Adelaide
1999 - North Melbourne
2000 - Essendon
2001 - Brisbane
2002 - Brisbane
2003 - Brisbane
2004 - Port Adelaide
2005 - Sydney
2006 - West Coast
2007 - Geelong
2008 - Hawthorn