By the same token Norwood had won basically half their flags prior to 1907 in the time of Knickerbockers. Ports absolutely dominated the 20th century.But look at what the majority alive remember.
Choco 1-1
Stephen 3-1
Jack 10-1
Russell 0-1
That's 14-4
Yep we have lost 3 since Reunification in September 2013 SANFL, but that's the B's playing. How many remember and count our B grade premierships and grand finals. Yep Stephen was affectively coaching the B grade, but there were a lot of players playing who won us all those flags to justify we got into the AFL and could have been playing in the A grade if we planned for longer term AFL success rather than instant strength.
Go back further there are people alive who saw some or nearly all of these GF's.
Fos non playing 3-6
Fos the player 6-1
Motley 1-0
That's 10-7
6 of our 2nd's weren't lost GF's but finishing 2nd prior to 1898 when the league system was used. Also for 3 or 4 years in the 1920's the SANFL had some Mickey Mouse system that if you finished second and didn't make the GF you were still given 2nd place. We got 2 of these in 1920's.