Magellan wrote:Interceptor wrote:Wedgie wrote:No mockers intended, but if the Bays lost next week was there ever a time a club went the entire season virtually unbeaten and didn't make the GF?
I'm seriously struggling to remember one.
Probably not many, but Port went 17-2-1 in 1970 and were out in straight sets.
Sturt were 17-3 and defeated Glenelg (11-9) in the GF.
Yes, reckon Port in 1970 is the best example. Obviously, there are instances of minor premiers bombing out in straight sets (other post-war examples - South 1991, Centrals 1979, Port 1982, Torrens 1963, North 1958), but not having dominated the season with a win-loss ratio like the Bays had.
North in 1958 and Torrens in 1963 both suffered an horrendous run of injuries coming into the finals and in both cases there was no real shock when they went out in straight sets. Torrens were particularly unlucky not to win the Preliminary Final when North were saved by a technical umpiring decision.
Port in 1982 was a shock. They were the victims of the original 19th man saga in the Second Semi Final and then lost the Preliminary Final by a point when Granger should have been paid a free but given his antics that day it was justice that he wasn't.
Central in 1979 were too immature to win the flag and South 1991 were Minor Premier but hardly a scribe expected them to win the Second Semi and then they met a rampant West in the Preliminary Final. Because of the quirk of the draw in a 9 team competition, North had to virtually forfeit any chance of being Minor Premier in 1991.
In 1970, Sturt were 17-3, but they had been 17-0. Jack Oatey gave them a Bart Cummings preparation.