2011: Looking good

[Griff]

Well, here we are, round 11, firmly anchored to the bottom. It's not where I expected us to be.

But should we despair?

With nothing better to do, I thought I'd see how teams at the bottom have fared in subsequent years. And astonishingly, I found that from 1993-2000, every team on the bottom of the ladder after 11 games of the season, was playing in a Grand Final just a few years later--usually 2-4 years. I didn't go back beyond 1993 (I got to the bottom of my scrap of paper!)

Here's the list

1993 and 1994: Sydney (0-11 and 2-9)--1996 play Kangaroos in GF and lose
1995: St Kilda (2-9)--1997 play Adelaide in the GF and lose
1996: Fitzroy (1-10) merge with Brisbane, see 1998
1997: Melbourne (2-9 and a % of just 60.9)--2000 play Essendon in GF and lose
1998: Brisbane (2-9)--2001 play Essendon in GF and win; and win again in 2002 and 2003
1999: Collingwood (1-10)--2002 play Brisbane in GF and lose (and again in 2003)
2000: Port (1-9-1)--2004 play Brisbane in GF and win

So what's happened to the bottom teams since then? These are the teams who were bottom at round 11:

2001: Freo (0-11: even worse than us), top 4 by 2006, slumped this year.
2002: Carlton (1-10), back on bottom, round 11 2005
2003: Dogs (1-9-1), top 6 in 2006, but slumped this year.
2004: Hawks (2-9), flying in 2007
2005: Carlton (2-8-1), on the way in 2007
2006: Essendon (1-10), up the ladder, but unsure of where to.

Of course we can all argue about why some teams won their grand finals, and others didn't. But getting there was some achievement after being bottom.

 

[Griff]

Just to add to the fun...

After 11 rounds of 2001, West Coast was 15th...

After 11 rounds of 2002, Sydney were 14th...

Roll on 2010-2011

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Interesting facts there Griff. If we do things properly there's every reason to be hopeful for the future, whilst keeping in mind it's not a fait accompli that we'll return to the top.

 

[nwonash]

how Richmond go come 2010 - 2011 will all depend on who is recruited in the next 2-3 year and who decides to step up.

I've noticed that most recruits seem to come of age once they have been in the system for 3 - 4 years. The likes of Judd, Nick Riewoldt are expections.

Remember by 2010/11 the likes of Richo, Brown, Bowden, Simmonds will probably have retired. We need someone the step up quickly.

 

[tigerjoe]

Thanks for making me feel a little bit better Griff! :-\ . ZGood post.

As pointed out by nwonash it won't just happen, it has to be made to happen.

I have faith in our kids they have shown the way all year.
Once Polak, Lids, Newman etc become our leaders (and who is to say they aren't already), we will come good and if that is in 3-4 years then lets keep our fingers crossed.

 

[Bill James]

I'm thinking about 3 years down the track. And I'm reasonably happy about what I'm beginning to see despite getting beaten by the top 3 or 4 sides which, if you were a realist, would not have expected to have won anyway at the start of the season.
Still.

What happens to wooden spooners

1997 Spoon Melbourne 2000 Runners Up
1998 Spoon Brisbane 2001 Premiers
1999 Spoon Collingwood 2002 Runners Up
2000 Spoon St Kilda 2004 Preliminary Final

2004 Richmond 2007-8 Back to Back

Hmmm .......... don't get your hopes up too high

 

[Turbo Tiger]

What happens to wooden spooners

1997 Spoon Melbourne 2000 Runners Up
1998 Spoon Brisbane 2001 Premiers
1999 Spoon Collingwood 2002 Runners Up
2000 Spoon St Kilda 2004 Preliminary Final

2004 Richmond 2007-8 Back to Back

We are different to those other clubs. We make long losing streaks look like walks in the park.

This is my question in reply to this very upbeat post. What is different today than 2004 or any other time since 1982 that we have struggled?

The answer is that we are all older and more frustrated...

 

[Tiger74]

What is different today than 2004 or any other time since 1982 that we have struggled?

1) We are not broke
2) We are not planning only for tomorrow and running for the band-aids
3) We are prepared to endure several years of pain to build a platform to have longer term stability

 

[blaisee]

What happens to wooden spooners

1997 Spoon Melbourne 2000 Runners Up
1998 Spoon Brisbane 2001 Premiers
1999 Spoon Collingwood 2002 Runners Up
2000 Spoon St Kilda 2004 Preliminary Final

2004 Richmond 2007-8 Back to Back

We are different to those other clubs. We make long losing streaks look like walks in the park.

This is my question in reply to this very upbeat post. What is different today than 2004 or any other time since 1982 that we have struggled?

The answer is that we are all older and more frustrated...

the difference is that today in 2007, hawthorn has relocated to tasmania because it realised it cannot compete with the big 4 in melbourne