Brisbane Lions v Geelong v....Sydney?

[Baron Greenback]

There's been a lot of talk about which era is greater - the Lions 1999-2004 or the Cats 2004-2011.
But what about Sydney 1996-2011?
Yes, the team has constantly changed in that time, but the heirarchy at Sydney must be doing something right.
Only 3 coaches in that time: Rodney Eade, Paul Roos and John Longmire.
The Swans have only missed the finals 3 times during that period - an amazing effort.
They've also won a flag, played in two other GFs in that time too.

1996 2nd
1997 7th
1998 5th
1999 8th
2000 10th
2001 7th
2002 11th
2003 4th
2004 5th
2005 1st
2006 2nd
2007 7th
2008 5th
2009 12th
2010 5th
2011 6th

[Bum Crack]

The didn't come 1st in 96. That would be North Melbourne me thinks.

[Bum Crack]

Also, how can you even put Sydney in the same sentence when comparing them with Geelong and Brisbane.

[mighty_tiger_79]

the swans probly need another flag or 2 in there to be considered with brisbane and cats

[whufc]

Yep for me the order goes.

1. Brisbane (3 in a row speak for itself very unlikely to be achieved again in the AFL set up)
2. Geelong (3 in 5 years great effort, slightly behing 3 in a row imho BUT 4/6 would probably have them equal or above Brisbane)














Sydney- (Meh, consistant but meh.)

[valleys07]

Yeah agreed, unfortunately successive finals campaigns doesnt stack up against multiple flags.

I ran some numbers when i was recovering from my GF hangover and 16 players from brisbane played in all 3 flags compared with 12 from the cats, and 28(ish) players are premiership players at brisbane compared with 31(ish) from the cats.

When you are discussing era's of dominance, is there other factors beside 3 in a row or 3 in 5 years.....surely the cats squad management has to be heralded as better than brisbanes, maybe they learnt from the slide brisbane has experienced since 04.

[Wedgie]

Geelong 2007-2011
Played 125
Won 105
Lost 20
Draw 0
Winning 84%
3 premierships

Brisbane 2001-2004
Played 101
Won 75
Draw 1
Winning 74.8%
3 premierships

Daylight

Few other teams

Daylight

Sydney

[valleys07]

Yep for me the order goes.

1. Brisbane (3 in a row speak for itself very unlikely to be achieved again in the AFL set up)
2. Geelong (3 in 5 years great effort, slightly behing 3 in a row imho BUT 4/6 would probably have them equal or above Brisbane)














Sydney- (Meh, consistant but meh.)

You have to wonder where this geelong side would rank of all time had they won 08....

[Wedgie]

Saw some great stats on TV that shows since 1989 Geelong was no 1 in wins n the league, no 1 in GFs played and equal no 1 in premierships.
We just don't consistently bottom out like other teams and get the easy draft picks, lowest we've come in that time is 12th.

[Baron Greenback]

The didn't come 1st in 96. That would be North Melbourne me thinks.

Correct

[Bum Crack]

Yep for me the order goes.

1. Brisbane (3 in a row speak for itself very unlikely to be achieved again in the AFL set up)
2. Geelong (3 in 5 years great effort, slightly behing 3 in a row imho BUT 4/6 would probably have them equal or above Brisbane)














Sydney- (Meh, consistant but meh.)

You have to wonder where this geelong side would rank of all time had they won 08....

If they win it next year, will go down as the greatest team ever.

[whufc]

Yeah Geelongs winning record is incredible and clearly better than Brisbanes. As an overall Geelong have been more consistent and had a larger stretch of domination than Brisbane also adding Geelongs 'window' is not closed yet.

But for me Brisbane's 3 in a row is a greater achievement than Geelong's 3 in 5 years!

In a similar vein i think the current Central streak of 4 in a row is more impressive than their 4 premierships in 5 year stretch.

[Baron Greenback]

All valid replies.
Just thought I'd put it out there.

I do rate Sydney's consistency over that time though, they just haven't bottomed out (similar to Geelong Wedgie).

[Wedgie]

The way the AFL is structured winning a flag 4 years after another (and with one in between) is absolutely phenomenal.
It'll probably never happen again but 3 in a row wouldn't surprise me.
Plus Brisbane lost a GF to Port, how freaking bad were they? At least we lost to the Hawks who have a bit of respect!

[whufc]

All valid replies.
Just thought I'd put it out there.

I do rate Sydney's consistency over that time though, they just haven't bottomed out (similar to Geelong Wedgie).

Yep and i think thats why alot of people respect Sydney.

Adelaide were similar to Sydney as well in the same period except they didnt make the GF or win a flag that would have turned that period of time into a great one.

[valleys07]

Yep for me the order goes.

1. Brisbane (3 in a row speak for itself very unlikely to be achieved again in the AFL set up)
2. Geelong (3 in 5 years great effort, slightly behing 3 in a row imho BUT 4/6 would probably have them equal or above Brisbane)














Sydney- (Meh, consistant but meh.)

You have to wonder where this geelong side would rank of all time had they won 08....

If they win it next year, will go down as the greatest team ever.

Hawks 83-91? Surely 5 flags in 8 grand finals is up there also.....

IMO that period plus melbourne of 54-64 (6 flags and 2 runners up) deserve the greatest ever.

[whufc]

The way the AFL is structured winning a flag 4 years after another (and with one in between) is absolutely phenomenal.
It'll probably never happen again but 3 in a row wouldn't surprise me.
Plus Brisbane lost a GF to Port, how freaking bad were they? At least we lost to the Hawks who have a bit of respect!

The AFL is designed so that teams rise and fall but take a look at teams like Collingwood, Hawthorn, West Coast even Port Adelaide to an exent and they have all played in GF's or being very close 4 years after winning won.

[Wedgie]

Actually when you look at win percentages over periods of years when flags are one from memory the only team that stacked up to the Cats was Collingwood from 27-30. They would be the greatest team of all time IMHO and also went on to win flags in 35 and 36.
Hard to compare though as much easier to put together eras of dominance pre the 90s with the way the game is structured these days.

[whufc]

Yep for me the order goes.

1. Brisbane (3 in a row speak for itself very unlikely to be achieved again in the AFL set up)
2. Geelong (3 in 5 years great effort, slightly behing 3 in a row imho BUT 4/6 would probably have them equal or above Brisbane)













Sydney- (Meh, consistant but meh.)

You have to wonder where this geelong side would rank of all time had they won 08....

If they win it next year, will go down as the greatest team ever.

Hawks 83-91? Surely 5 flags in 8 grand finals is up there also.....

IMO that period plus melbourne of 54-64 (6 flags and 2 runners up) deserve the greatest ever.

Yeah would be but very hard to compare VFL and AFL achivements considering the structure of the current day AFL where it is designed for teams to go through cycles.

[best on hill]

talking of dominating eras what about the hawks of 1980's to early 90's played in the 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, and 91 grand final and winning 5 flags in that period they would have to rate up there