Has the past 60 years been a success or failure for Collingwood and Geelong?
An analysis of the past 60 years suggest Collingwood and Geelong have been consistently successful but ultimate failures. Jon Anderson reveals how this is possible.
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It comes down to an individual’s estimation of success to determine if Collingwood and Geelong have been spectacular winners or remarkable losers over the past 60 years.
“Winners” given they have combined for a remarkable 53 top-four finishes in the period from 1960-2019, and losers when you consider those finals appearances have resulted in just six premierships.
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Then there is the conventional AFL supporter “wisdom” that suggests winning is everything, meaning the Magpies and Cats sadly fit into the loser category despite their ability to continually contend, while a team such as the Western Bulldogs have regularly struggled to go deep into September.
In stark contrast to Collingwood and Geelong are the high-flying Hawks.
Hawthorn had just one finals appearance in its first 35 years before building an imposing record that sees the club on average play in a Grand Final every third year.
It’s no wonder so many of their supporters enter season after season expecting and demanding success, rather than hoping for it.
The Hawks boast 19 Grand Finals for 13 wins since 1960.
The Pies have just two trophies from 14 GFs in the same time-span.
For Collingwood the pain was at its worst in the 1964-81 period, although six Grand Finals (including one draw) for just one premiership in the 2000s suggests the life of a Magpie supporter remains an interesting one.
Geelong on the other hand has become the master of making preliminary finals without going on, including four from the last seven years.
It comes down to whether you want your team to consistently make the finals without often winning, or not get there at all.
The former at least prolongs hope, and in the case of Collingwood and Geelong serious credit should be given for consistently putting themselves in the picture.
Originally published as Has the past 60 years been a success or failure for Collingwood and Geelong?