Demons and Saints fans hoping to follow in footsteps of Tigers and Bulldogs
It’s a new year with fresh hope for football fans – maybe this will be the season that brings AFL glory. So how long has it been for your team, and what are their chances this year?
AFL Teams
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL Teams. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- The roaring twenties in football - 100 years on
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
A new year brings fresh hope for most football fans, perhaps this could be the year for their team to climb onto the podium and lift the AFL premiership trophy.
For some lucky fans it is an experience their team has given them in the recent past. Other long-suffering ones may never have seen their team claim the prize, or must rely on footage taken before their birth.
For some fans, success is generational – the luck of the year in which they were born.
A Melbourne fan born before the 1939 decider would have been alive for nine VFL premierships before their 25th birthday. A Dees supporter born after the 1964 flag has never seen their team win.
Watch over 50 sports LIVE on Kayo! Stream to your TV, mobile, tablet or computer. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Carlton is the equal-most successful VFL/AFL club with 16 premierships. A 52 year old Blues fan has been alive for eight of those – but a 24-year-old has never seen one live.
The 2010s saw two of the longest premiership droughts broken, with the Western Bulldogs (Footscray) ending 62 years in the wilderness in 2016 and Richmond claiming a first flag in 37 years in 2017.
So what are the current premiership “droughts” and, according to the bookies, which team’s fans have the best chance of seeing their heroes on the victory dais in 2020?
Here’s the number of years since your team took the ultimate prize (if ever), calculated from the time of the 2020 decider.
RICHMOND – 1 year
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2019
Richmond 17.12 (114) d GWS 3.7 (25)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 12
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $4.50
WEST COAST EAGLES – 2 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2018
West Coast 11.13 (79) d Collingwood 11.8 (74)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 4
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $6.50
WESTERN BULLDOGS – 4 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2016
Western Bulldogs 13.11 (108) d Sydney 10.7 (67)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 2
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $13
HAWTHORN – 5 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2015
Hawthorn 16.11 (89) d West Coast 8.13 (61)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 13
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $21
SYDNEY SWANS – 8 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2012
Sydney 14.7 (91) d Hawthorn 11.15 (81)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 5
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $34
GEELONG – 9 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2011
Geelong 18.11 (119) d Collingwood 12.9 (81)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 9
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $10
COLLINGWOOD – 10 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2010
Collingwood 16.12 (108) d St Kilda 7.10 (52) in replay
Total AFL/VFL premierships 15
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $7.50
PORT ADELAIDE – 16 years
Last AFL premiership 2004
Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) d Brisbane 10.13 (73)
Total AFL premierships 1
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $26
BRISBANE LIONS – 17 years
Last AFL premiership 2003
Brisbane 20.14 (134) d Collingwood 12.12 (84)
Total AFL premierships 3
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $9
ESSENDON – 20 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 2000
Essendon 19.21 (135) d Melbourne 11.9 (75)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 16
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $26
NORTH MELBOURNE – 21 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 1999
North Melbourne 19.10 (124) d Carlton 12.17 (89)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 4
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $41
ADELAIDE – 22 years
Last AFL premiership 1998
Adelaide 15.15 (105) d North Melbourne 8.22 (70)
Total AFL premierships 2
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $34
CARLTON – 25 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 1995
Carlton 21.15 (141) d Geelong 11.14 (80)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 16
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $34
ST KILDA – 54 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 1966
St Kilda 10.14 (74) d Collingwood 10.13 (73)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 1
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $29
MELBOURNE – 56 years
Last AFL/VFL premiership 1964
Melbourne 8.16 (64) d Collingwood 8.12 (60)
Total AFL/VFL premierships 12
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $21
TEAMS THAT HAVE NEVER WON AN AFL/VFL PREMIERSHIP
FREMANTLE – 25 years in the league
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $41
GOLD COAST SUNS – 9 years in the league
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $251
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY – 8 years in the league
2020 Ladbrokes AFL premiership betting $7.50
Originally published as Demons and Saints fans hoping to follow in footsteps of Tigers and Bulldogs
Harry who Dees need: Who is the kid central to Lions’ trade plans?
Two fringe Lions loom as the key to Brisbane pulling off a bumper trade and draft combination. CALLUM DICK looks at why Harry Sharp’s request to join Melbourne will benefit the premiers.
AFL star’s comment raises eyebrows
Bailey Smith has poured fuel on his burning trade drama with fans up in arms over a comment shared on Instagram.