You know the word "stats" will bring out some nerd with the numbers, don't you
If my numbers are right: for seasons 2011-2020, 8 wins from 18 games versus Geelong, or 44.4%. Interestingly, we've done better at their ground over that period (W4 L4) than at the SCG (W2 L4).
Better than any other club? Well we are up there in the top 3. Collingwood have beaten Geelong in 8 out of 17 (47.1%) and West Coast in 6 out of 12 (50%).
I was surprised too. I think our memories have been deceived by memorable wins, like the 110 margin at the SCG in 2014, and the win "for Jarrad" at Kardinia in 2011.
Versus Hawthorn: 8 wins from 21 games, 38.1%. Which still puts us in the top 4 against them by percentage wins. Incredibly GWS have won 44.4% of games vs Hawthorn, but that's only 4 wins from 9 total games.
As to rivals, for me the mid-2000s West Coast was a big one. There was that classic period when 4 consecutive games were decided by something like a total of 13 points. I think teams go through interesting periods of time versus one another but I don't know that I'd call it rivalry as such, which seems to be deeper-seated with a long history and often geographical (neighbouring suburbs for example - does that make North rivals?) I do still like beating Hawthorn, due to that period when the Swans seemed to be at their mercy after the 2014 GF humiliation.
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