Our winningest H&A seasons

[LostDoggy]

Despite the amount of energy we all tend to expend on our weaknesses/shortcomings, I think most of us would agree that, overall, this year has been very successful in terms of results and player development, given the youth in our list and the horror run with injuries.

For a bit of perspective, I thought it'd be interesting to see where this season ranks in our all time H&A list, ranked by games won (as a percentage of games played).

Prior to this year, we have had 7 (VFL/AFL) seasons where our winning percentage exceeded 70%, ranked as follows:

1. 1992: 16-6-0 (72.7% Winning Percentage). Score Percentage - 129.9%. Finished 2nd. Lost Prelim Final.
2. 1985: 16-6-0 (72.7% WP). SP - 120.9%. Finished 2nd. Lost Prelim Final.
3. 1953: 13-5-0 (72% WP). SP - 136.5%. Finished 3rd. Lost 1st final.
4. 1938: 13-5-0 (72% WP). SP - 124.3%. Finished 3rd. Lost 1st final.
5. 1942: 10-4-0 (71.4% WP). SP: 125.9%. Finished 4th. Lost 1st final.
6. 2008: 15-6-1 (70.5% WP). SP - 118.7%. Finished 3rd. Lost Prelim Final.
7. 1999: 15-6-1 (70.5% WP). SP - 118.6%. Finished 4th. Lost both finals to be knocked out 2nd week.

If we win this week, 2016 will go down amongst our 3 most productive h&a seasons ever on the above criteria. A big win could see this year rank 2nd on the all time table.

A pretty great performance under the circumstances, which hopefully proves to be a stepping stone to a great era.

[Axe Man]

It's crazy that with 16 wins, the equal most in our history, we could finish as low as seventh.

Great summary Peanuts, but you also need to add 1938 in there - 13 wins from 18 games.

[LostDoggy]

It's crazy that with 16 wins, the equal most in our history, we could finish as low as seventh.

Great summary Peanuts, but you also need to add 1938 in there - 13 wins from 18 games.

Thanks Axe, missed that one. OP duly corrected.

[LostDoggy]

It's crazy that with 16 wins, the equal most in our history, we could finish as low as seventh.

Great summary Peanuts, but you also need to add 1938 in there - 13 wins from 18 games.

Also a great point regarding games won versus finishing position. This year has been quite freakish in that regard. Gives me an idea for another thread....

[westdog54]

Isn't it weird that the year we won the flag doesn't feature in that list in terms of winning percentage.

[bornadog]

I bet this year is the youngest team to win so many games in our history.

[KT31]

I bet this year is the youngest team to win so many games in our history.

Would be right up there in anyones history.

[ledge]

Only lost to one side out of the 8 .. St kilda

[1eyedog]

It's crazy that with 16 wins, the equal most in our history, we could finish as low as seventh.

Great summary Peanuts, but you also need to add 1938 in there - 13 wins from 18 games.

Tells me its a very even top 7 and anyone's flag. Also the bottom 4 teams are really terrible.

[Remi Moses]

Great thread peanuts . In 97 we were 14 and 8 and finished 3rd!

[LostDoggy]

Isn't it weird that the year we won the flag doesn't feature in that list in terms of winning percentage.

The stars really aligned for us in '54. Our H&A was 11-6-1 from 18 games but that was enough to secure 2nd on percentage. We were 4th with 2 games to go and both Collingwood and Essendon lost both of their last 2 games for us to get up and grab the double chance.

Our other grand final appearance in 1961 came after a fairly modest 11-7 season. That year we beat Geelong in the last round to knock them out of the 4 and grab 4th.

[Sedat]

The stars really aligned for us in '54. Our H&A was 11-6-1 from 18 games but that was enough to secure 2nd on percentage. We were 4th with 2 games to go and both Collingwood and Essendon lost both of their last 2 games for us to get up and grab the double chance.
We had a better W/L year in 1955 and missed the finals by 0.6%. Our percentage of 130.0% that year was the highest ever recorded by a team missing the finals - only the Dogs could come up with a stat like that!

[LostDoggy]

We had a better W/L year in 1955 and missed the finals by 0.6%. Our percentage of 130.0% that year was the highest ever recorded by a team missing the finals - only the Dogs could come up with a stat like that!

That's true. In the 1953-55 era, the 54 year was our worst H&A season, in terms of both wins and percentage.

Essendon really took revenge on us in 1955. We were 4th with 2 rounds to go and won our last 2 games by a combined 78 points, however Essendon won it's last 2 games by a combined 115 points to knock us out by 0.6%!

[Twodogs]

I bet this year is the youngest team to win so many games in our history.

Some of those Melbourne sides in the 1950s were mostly teenagers and guys in their young 20s. Norm Smith kept turning the lists over ruthlessly even in years they won flags.


Only lost to one side out of the 8 .. St kilda

And hasn't that loss cost us?

[bulldogtragic]

Interesting that we've never had a really high percentage in these successful seasons. I wonder why, considering they cover a 60 year timespan.

[Bulldog4life]

Interesting that we've never had a really high percentage in these successful seasons. I wonder why, considering they cover a 60 year timespan.

We had a terrific percentage early this year until we start getting injuries.

[Eastdog]

Isn't it weird that the year we won the flag doesn't feature in that list in terms of winning percentage.

Reading about the 1954 season we certainly weren't the best team of the year I think Geelong finished top and were the favourites to win that year but we shocked them in the 54 semi final making it to the Grand Final and won it comfortably in the end.

Thanks PP great insight.

[Smads57]

Thanks PP really enjoyed reading this thread and seeing, even more so, how we may still make something of this year.

[Twodogs]

Interesting that we've never had a really high percentage in these successful seasons. I wonder why, considering they cover a 60 year timespan.

Because we lose our shit and get thumped at least twice a year no matter how good our teams are.

One thing that stands out to me about this bulldog team is how hard it is to score against. If we play badly for a quarter or a half we aren't completely out of the game. So when we start to play good footy we aren't coming from ten goals behind looking to add a bit of respectability to the score board but are close enough to give ourselves a chance of still winning the game. It's a different type of vibe for us. Our good teams have always been based around attack in the past.

[merantau]

It's crazy that with 16 wins, the equal most in our history, we could finish as low as seventh.

Great summary Peanuts, but you also need to add 1938 in there - 13 wins from 18 games.

My gut feeling is we can thank Essendon for that. I suspect must of the teams above us played them twice and thus were gifted 8 points to our 4.

[merantau]

My gut feeling is we can thank Essendon for that. I suspect must of the teams above us played them twice and thus were gifted 8 points to our 4.

My suspicions incorrect but, once again Geelong feature in our orbit. They are the only team above us to have played Essendon twice.

[Bulldog4life]

My suspicions incorrect but, once again Geelong feature in our orbit. They are the only team above us to have played Essendon twice.

Geelong finished out of the 8 last year so their draw was easier this year.

[Eastdog]

Geelong finished out of the 8 last year so their draw was easier this year.

Yes I believe you get an easier draw if you finish lower and more challenging draw if you finish higher. Finishing higher will give you better timeslots which will get again next season. 1 or 2 Friday night home games next year would be nice against Victorian clubs.

[Twodogs]

As a matter of interest are we including VFA years in winningest seasons? Because there are some doozies.

1899 or 1900 undefeated champions.

[Eastdog]

1954 VFL season (our premiership) we finished 2nd:

2 Footscray (P) P18 W11 L6 D1 F1423 A1095 %129.95 Pts 46


In the surprise result in the 1954 Second Semi we beat Geelong by 23 pts to advance straight into the GF and eventually win it.

[Eastdog]

As a matter of interest are we including VFA years in winningest seasons? Because there are some doozies.

1899 or 1900 undefeated champions.

A lot of VFA clubs went to the VFL after 1897 so probably not strong competition but nonetheless we were a very strong VFA club in those years winning a number of VFA flags.

[Eastdog]

As a matter of interest are we including VFA years in winningest seasons? Because there are some doozies.

1899 or 1900 undefeated champions.

All our premiership success is in BAD avatar :)

[Twodogs]

1900 VFA Ladder

TEAM P W L D PF PA PTS
1 Footscray (P) 16 15 1 0 847 357 60

A winning percentage of 93.75.

[Eastdog]

1900 VFA Ladder

TEAM P W L D PF PA PTS
1 Footscray (P) 16 15 1 0 847 357 60

A winning percentage of 93.75.

Great year for us back in 1900. Only 1 loss all season and eventual VFA premiers.

[LostDoggy]

1900 VFA Ladder

TEAM P W L D PF PA PTS
1 Footscray (P) 16 15 1 0 847 357 60

A winning percentage of 93.75.

Only kicked 53 points a game though. The 1900 version of WOOF would've been tearing it's collective hair out at our dysfunctional forward line (mind you a 22 points conceded per game average is fair going).

[Sedat]

As a matter of interest are we including VFA years in winningest seasons? Because there are some doozies.

1899 or 1900 undefeated champions.
One day VFA premiership will count to the overall team's number of premierships which would take us to 10 flags - St Kilda's flag count would remain at 1 ;)

[Twodogs]

One day VFA premiership will count to the overall team's number of premierships which would take us to 10 flags - St Kilda's flag count would remain at 1 ;)

I think it will take us to 11 counting 1954 and 2014.

[Eastdog]

I think it will take us to 11 counting 1954 and 2014.

Glad I saw us win something - 2014 VFL premiership. It may not be the big one but still it was a great day out at the footy and something to celebrate as the that year our senior team did not do well. Would be cool to go back in time to experience the 1954 premiership.

[Eastdog]

Only kicked 53 points a game though. The 1900 version of WOOF would've been tearing it's collective hair out at our dysfunctional forward line (mind you a 22 points conceded per game average is fair going).

Looking at the GF scores from the early 20th century they were very low. Different era and style of play so for people then it probably wouldn't have been a surprise.

[Eastdog]

VFL/AFL (1): 1954
VFA/VFL (10): 1898, 1899, 1900, 1908, 1913, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 2014

Championship of Victoria (1): 1924

Including 2014 we have won 7 VFL reserves premierships

5 Night premierships ( Pre season)

[bornadog]

I think it will take us to 11 counting 1954 and 2014.
Correct

[Bulldog4life]

Great year for us back in 1900. Only 1 loss all season and eventual VFA premiers.

I think the team in those days that finished on top were declared premiers

[Eastdog]

I think the team in those days that finished on top were declared premiers

You might be right B4L. Not sure. Was there a final system in the VFA competition back in the late 1890s early 1900s.

[SonofScray]

You might be right B4L. Not sure. Was there a final system in the VFA competition back in the late 1890s early 1900s.
First past the post in that iteration of the competition.

[comrade]

Only kicked 53 points a game though. The 1900 version of WOOF would've been tearing it's collective hair out at our dysfunctional forward line (mind you a 22 points conceded per game average is fair going).

Clearly the great, great grandfather of Dale Morris was our backline general.

[Twodogs]

First past the post in that iteration of the competition.

Yep. A proper premiership.

With the finals series producing the ultimate champion the AFL premiership is actually a championship. The team on top of the ladder at the end of the season are the premiers.

[Eastdog]

First past the post in that iteration of the competition.

Pretty much how the Premier League works.

[Bulldog4life]

First past the post in that iteration of the competition.

I think the finals in the VFA back then started sometime between 1902-1904. I remember reading it once. Too tired to look it up now.

[Eastdog]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VFA/VFL_premiers

This should help

[LostDoggy]

The early VFL also had some unusual championship/premiership systems. In 1897, the 8 teams played each other twice for a 14 game h&a season. The top 4 at the end of that played each other once for a 3 game final series, which produced a separate ladder, whoever was on top of that was declared premier - there was no grand final.

In 1898, after the 14 game h&a season (a largely pointless exercise used to rank the entire competition) all 8 teams entered the sectionals (2 groups of 4 where everyone played each other once). The winner of each sectional played off in a semi final. The winner of the semi final then played the team which finished 2nd in it's sectional in the grand final.

There were various other weird and wonderful finals systems. In 1916, Fitzroy ended the h&a season as wooden spooners (winning 2 from 12), yet with all teams entering the finals, it ended up as Premiers (somehow it beat table toppers Carlton in the Prelim and then met them again in the GF - dunno how that worked).