Next time we finish on top of the ladder ...

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  • Thunder Shaker
    Aut vincere aut mori
    • Apr 2004
    • 4222

    Next time we finish on top of the ladder ...

    ... can we PLEASE win the Grand Final for a change?

    It's been 99 years since South Melbourne won the 1918 Premiership after finishing on top of the ladder. Since then, South Melbourne or Sydney have finished on top of the ladder six times. Each time, we have made the Grand Final only to lose it. We seem to find new and creative ways of losing the Grand Final in those years.

    1935 - Finish on top with a 16-2 record. Bob Pratt gets hit by a truck the day before the match. South Melbourne loses the Grand Final to Collingwood by 20 points.
    1936 - Finish on top with a 16-2 record. South Melbourne loses the Grand Final to Collingwood by 11 points.
    1945 - Finish on top with a 16-4 record. South Melbourne becomes the first side to lose to the fourth-placed team in the Page-McIntyre finals system, to Carlton by 28 points. We also lost the fights by having more players suspended for longer.
    1996 - Finish on top with a 16-5-1 record. Lost the only Grand Final in history contested for a solid gold premiership cup, to North Melbourne by 43 points.
    2014 - Finish on top with a 17-5 record. Set a new record for largest losing margin by a minor Premier in the Grand Final, by 63 points.
    2016 - Finish on top with a 17-5 record. Became the first side to lose a Grand Final under the current finals system to a side from outside the top four.

    Grand Finals won after finishing on top: 1909, 1918 (under the Argus finals system where the Minor Premier had a right of challenge). South Melbourne also lost one Grand Final after finishing on top under the Argus system, in 1912.

    Seasons in which we finished on top but did not make the Grand Final: Nil. Before 1931, the minor premier always made a Grand Final after the right of challenge became unrestricted in 1907.
    "Unbelievable!" -- Nick Davis leaves his mark on the 2005 semi final
  • liz
    Veteran
    Site Admin
    • Jan 2003
    • 16786

    #2
    Well we're probably not going to finish on top of the ladder in season 2017...

    Comment

    • Billericay
      Regular in the Side
      • May 2013
      • 712

      #3
      Originally posted by liz
      Well we're probably not going to finish on top of the ladder in season 2017...
      It's obvious to me that our post-mortem of 2016 revealed we were out-fairytaled by the Doggies last year. We chucked the first 6 games to make sure there's no way that can happen this year. When we scrape into the eight and then make the GF everyone, even the umpires will be rooting for us. WE CANNOT LOSE

      Comment

      • Mug Punter
        On the Rookie List
        • Nov 2009
        • 3325

        #4
        Originally posted by Billericay
        It's obvious to me that our post-mortem of 2016 revealed we were out-fairytaled by the Doggies last year. We chucked the first 6 games to make sure there's no way that can happen this year. When we scrape into the eight and then make the GF everyone, even the umpires will be rooting for us. WE CANNOT LOSE
        Ha ha, love the optimism

        I'm keeping a huge lid on it, and it is a big IF, but IF we can go in 4-6 at the break I will be feeling quietly confident of a good run home. 8-4 after the break is absolutely doable and 12 wins usually gets a top 8 slot. IF we made the finals we'd be coming home with huge momentum and the week off has taken away a lot of the advantage going into the top 4.

        We'll learn a lot about the playing group over the next two weeks, momentum is a great thing in sport and it can build as quickly as it is lost

        Comment

        • stevoswan
          Veterans List
          • Sep 2014
          • 8570

          #5
          If we're still in the finals race by then and come out and win first game after the hated bye, then I'll be more confident.....

          Comment

          • top40
            Regular in the Side
            • May 2007
            • 933

            #6
            Also, won the flag when we DIDNT finish on top of the ladder:

            1933, 2005, 2012.

            To win the minor premiership/flag double appears impossible.


            Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

            Comment

            • KTigers
              Senior Player
              • Apr 2012
              • 2499

              #7
              Longmire thinks we can still the flag. Except for Tom Mitchell and a couple lesser lights, it's basically the same group that
              won the minor premiership and wiped out Adelaide & Geelong in the finals last year. GWS will likely cause a problem, but then
              as they were saying on OTC last night, the Ferrari has quite a few dings in it right now. And we can beat any of the others when
              everyone shows up. I got on us at $34 in 2012, and we are $31 now, so I'll be making a stop at the TAB on the way home.

              Comment

              • Flying South
                Regular in the Side
                • Sep 2013
                • 585

                #8
                Originally posted by KTigers
                Longmire thinks we can still the flag. Except for Tom Mitchell and a couple lesser lights, it's basically the same group that
                won the minor premiership and wiped out Adelaide & Geelong in the finals last year. GWS will likely cause a problem, but then
                as they were saying on OTC last night, the Ferrari has quite a few dings in it right now. And we can beat any of the others when
                everyone shows up. I got on us at $34 in 2012, and we are $31 now, so I'll be making a stop at the TAB on the way home.
                You must have had a big plunge on them as we are only $26 now. But i had a piece of that.

                Comment

                • royboy42
                  Senior Player
                  • Apr 2006
                  • 2078

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Mug Punter
                  Ha ha, love the optimism

                  I'm keeping a huge lid on it, and it is a big IF, but IF we can go in 4-6 at the break I will be feeling quietly confident of a good run home. 8-4 after the break is absolutely doable and 12 wins usually gets a top 8 slot. IF we made the finals we'd be coming home with huge momentum and the week off has taken away a lot of the advantage going into the top 4.

                  We'll learn a lot about the playing group over the next two weeks, momentum is a great thing in sport and it can build as quickly as it is lost
                  If , perchance. we did make the finals this year, it means we have had a cracker of a second half of the season.

                  We would be going into September with a full head of steam, and i would be feeling quite confident.

                  Oh, and every other side would be looking over therir shoulders.

                  May be wishful thinking, but if that scenario eventuates, what fun we're gonna have.

                  Comment

                  • Hotpotato
                    Senior Player
                    • Jun 2014
                    • 2283

                    #10
                    Prior to the Lions game , the Swans were
                    100/1 (for the flag).
                    Prior to the Norf game they were 50/1

                    Comment

                    • Thunder Shaker
                      Aut vincere aut mori
                      • Apr 2004
                      • 4222

                      #11
                      Originally posted by liz
                      Well we're probably not going to finish on top of the ladder in season 2017...
                      It's still possible mathematically, and the top sides are helping out by losing games.

                      Since round 5: (1) Adelaide 1 win 2 losses, (2) Geelong 3 losses, (3) Richmond 3 losses, (4) GWS 2 wins 1 loss, (5) WB 1 win 2 losses ...

                      Seasons when we ended on top:
                      2016: spent the whole season in the top 8, lowest 5th (after round 17)
                      2014: started 0-2, ended 17-5
                      1996: started 0-2, ended 16-1-5

                      oh .. and in 2005 we started 2-3 ...

                      So we do have form in turning around poor starts.

                      We probably won't end on top, but finals are still a possibility if we can string some wins together.

                      - - - Updated - - -

                      Originally posted by royboy42
                      If , perchance. we did make the finals this year, it means we have had a cracker of a second half of the season.

                      We would be going into September with a full head of steam, and i would be feeling quite confident.

                      Oh, and every other side would be looking over therir shoulders.

                      May be wishful thinking, but if that scenario eventuates, what fun we're gonna have.
                      And a season that looks like a Jaws movie ... climbing from the depths to the Jaws theme...
                      "Unbelievable!" -- Nick Davis leaves his mark on the 2005 semi final

                      Comment

                      • Flying South
                        Regular in the Side
                        • Sep 2013
                        • 585

                        #12
                        Originally posted by royboy42
                        If , perchance. we did make the finals this year, it means we have had a cracker of a second half of the season.

                        We would be going into September with a full head of steam, and i would be feeling quite confident.

                        Oh, and every other side would be looking over therir shoulders.

                        May be wishful thinking, but if that scenario eventuates, what fun we're gonna have.
                        Is gonna happen. I have complete faith. They already are looking over their shoulders.

                        Comment

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