Essendon, Sydney under pressure after winless starts as they look to put season back on track

The heat was on five of the top six pre-season premiership fancies heading into Round 2, with history against Essendon and Sydney after they failed to rebound after poor season-openers.

Collingwood will be under pressure to bounce back after its loss to Geelong. Picture: Dylan Burns.

The heat was on a host of highly-fancied sides heading into Round 2, as history shows teams that lose their first two games rarely make finals.

Since 2010, 49 teams have made 0-2 starts to the season.

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Only three of those — or a measly 6.5 per cent — have finished in the top-eight at season’s end, being Collingwood (2018) and Sydney (2017 and 2014).

The history adds to the intrigue around some bumper Round 2 matches.

Collingwood downed Richmond on Thursday night, bouncing back from a seven-point Round 1 defeat to Geelong to move to 1-1.

But it does not get any easier for Nathan Buckley’s men next week, either, with a Grand Final rematch scheduled against West Coast in Round 3.

Many experts had Adelaide in their top-eight — or even top-four — predictions pre-season and the Crows responded from a Round 1 stinker against Hawthorn by defeating Sydney on Friday night.

Bombers players trudge off after their loss to St Kilda on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Pockett.

The Swans have slumped to 0-2, dropping games against the Bulldogs and Crows to open their campaign in forgettable fashion.

Sydney has played finals 15 of the past 16 years and defied the odds in 2017 to make a semi-final after recording a 0-6 start to that season.

The much-hyped Essendon fell to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, unable to respond after a listless Round 1 effort against GWS.

The Bombers made a 2-6 start last season and consequently missed finals by one game and percentage despite a strong second half of the year.

Melbourne similarly in the gun after a lacklustre performance against Port Adelaide on Saturday before it faced Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.

Essendon is feeling the heat after poor showings against GWS and St Kilda Picture: Getty Images.

The Demons had won in Geelong just once from eight attempts since 2008.

Then there was reigning premier West Coast, which needed to beat a sharp-looking GWS side at Optus Stadium on Saturday night to also avoid a 0-2 start to the season.

It’s only Round 2, but the pressure is already high for five of the top six pre-season premiership favourites.

THE LIMITED SUCCESS OF 0-2 SIDES

2018 — 4 teams, Collingwood finished 3rd

2017 — 8 teams, Sydney finished 6th

2016 — 4 teams, 0 made finals

2015 — 5 teams, 0 made finals

2014 — 6 teams, Sydney finished first

2013 — 7 teams, 0 made finals

2012 — 5 teams, 0 made finals

2011 — 4 teams, 0 made finals

2010 — 6 teams, 0 made finals

THE ROUND 2 CRUNCH GAMES

Richmond (1-0) v Collingwood (0-1)

Sydney (0-1) v Adelaide (0-1)

Essendon (0-1) v St Kilda (1-0)

Geelong (1-0) v Melbourne (0-1)

West Coast (0-1) v GWS (1-0)