Opinion Rank the 5 most heartbreaking finals losses you can recall (from a neutral perspective)

[rapidfire7]

1. 1997 Preliminary Final - Adelaide Vs Western Bulldogs

2. 1997 Grand Final - Adelaide Vs St Kilda

3. 2009 Grand Final - Geelong Vs St Kilda

4. 1999 Preliminary final - Carlton Vs Essendon

5. 2018 Grand Final - West Coast Vs Collingwood

 

[justlookingaround]

Not gonna rank them, but some off the top of my head:

2010 Grand Final - Pies vs Saints: obviously it was a draw, but it was really where the Grand Final was lost. Saints couldn't cap off their best ever era in the AFL with a flag, using everything they had left on this game. Perennially considered 'the one that got away' - just about everyone agrees that if there had been extra time, which nowadays there would be, the Saints would've come out on top.

2017 Elimination Final - PAFC vs WCE: kick after the siren in extra time after a ducked high free kick saw 5th lose a final to 8th.

2013 Elimination Final - Richmond vs Carlton: 5th placed Richmond, at the time often referred to as 'Ninthmond' due to their habit of just missing finals, collapsed in the 4th quarter to lose to Carlton, the team that finished 9th, having taken Essendon's suspended spot in the finals.

2017 Grand Final - Adelaide vs Richmond: Crows were the best team all year and went into the match as favourites, what ensued
pretty much tore the entire club apart.

Round 23 2022 - Collingwood vs Carlton: Blues blow a 4th quarter lead to lose their spot in the finals

Round 19 2011 - Geelong vs Melbourne: Cats beat Dees by 186 points, no one could see any way forward for Melbourne at that point

2015 Preliminary Final - Fremantle vs Hawthorn: Freo were the minor premiers, but no one really thought they were the best in the comp. They hosted the reigning premiers in the Hawks with the opportunity to set up the first Derby GF in AFL history, but couldn't match it with the Hawks who went on to cap their 3peat.

2016 Grand Final - Sydney vs WB: it seems that everyone except the Swans saw the writing on the wall that this one was going to go to the Doggies. The Swans players have spoken of their certainty that they were going to win this one, and now publicly question the umpiring on the day.

Round 4 2024 - Fremantle vs Carlton: recency bias, but Freo supporters rightfully felt they had this one stolen off them after a dubious mark was paid to give Carlton the lead in the last minute of the game, then a dissent free kick right after to seal it.

 

[kickazz]

1987 Prelim Haw v Melb. Stynes walks across the mark giving a 15m penalty away, Buckenra goals after the siren. Robert Flower's last game, misses out on ever playing a GF.


1997 Prelim Adel v Footscray

Dogs thought they were home, famously picked up Libba after what they thought was a goal. Vic folk missed out on the perennially unsuccessful match up of Stk and Foots, only two flags between them in league history.

2014 PF Port v Hawks.

Hawks a dominant team that year, Port probably the better side that night/day but kicked themselves out of.

2018 GF Pies WCE

A pies mate of mine said "there's never a GF won with a winning goal, so to speak. Was pretty stiff to lose that the pies. Poor Bucks.


Essendon Adelaide 1993 PF

Crows up by 40 odd, should have been in a GF. Great comeback by the bombers that day.


Maybe there's others, that's off the top of my head

 

[joe444]

(not including GFs, but 70, 79, 89, 09 and 18 are up there)

1987 Prelim wins by a mile. Couldn't make it up.

1994 Prelim (NM v Geel). "There is no justice in football. That was the look on the face of Michael Martyn

Michael Martyn

Age

55

Ht

190cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

0.7

3star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.8

3star

T

0.6

3star

"

1997 Prelim (WB v Ade)

1991 EF (Gee v StK). The result that changed singlehandedly a finals system. Saints could have won the flag that year (Cats, too)

1999 Prelim (Ess v Carl)

 

[Tarkyn_24]

2002 Grand Final far more heartbreaking than the 2018 Grand Final. In fact I’d suggest there’s a number more heartbreaking finals purely from a Collingwood perspective alone than that Grand Final.

 

[worbod]

1987 preliminary (Hawthorn d Melbourne) Those extra 15 metres for Buckenara
2009 grand (Geelong d St Kilda) That Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

35

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

goal which thundered off the goal post
1983 qualifying (Hawthorn d Fitzroy)
2004 1st preliminary (Port d St Kilda)
2005 2nd semi (Sydney d Geelong) Nick Davis! Nick Davis!!

 

[jpmelb7]

Anyone want to have a go at rating the most heartbreaking loss for each club?

 

[marcus1232]

Anyone want to have a go at rating the most heartbreaking loss for each club?

Where do I start as a saints supporter from what I've seen.

Round 9 2000 vs Western Bulldogs
1997 Grand Final vs Adelaide
2004 Prelim Final vs. Port Adelaide
2005 Prelim Final vs. Sydney
2009 Grand Final vs. Geelong

HM
2010 Grand Final Draw as good as a loss even worse than the week later for the heart

 

[ioppolo]

Anyone want to have a go at rating the most heartbreaking loss for each club?

I'll give everyone the Eagles one. 2007 semi vs Collingwood. Marked the end of that era.

It eclipses 2005 as we ended up winning 06. Even as a kid 2007 ruined me more than the gf.

 

[justlookingaround]

2002 Grand Final far more heartbreaking than the 2018 Grand Final. In fact I’d suggest there’s a number more heartbreaking finals purely from a Collingwood perspective alone than that Grand Final.

What made it so much more heartbreaking?

 

[Tarkyn_24]

What made it so much more heartbreaking?

The 2002 side played well above themselves and thoroughly deserved it (as did the Lions who were also immense). The Lions were also an all time great side, 2018 they played below themselves and the standard of the previous week. Definitely more gutting to bring your absolute best and it still not be enough.

2007 Prelim outranks 2018 Grand Final too. Far better performance by the Pies and just edged out by an all time team.