Scars from a Grand Final smashing are real, and this stat proves it
It could be a long year for GWS and their fans. History shows teams who get flogged like that in a Grand Final rarely bounce back.
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The scars of an 89-point belting in the 2019 AFL Grand Final will hurt Greater Western Sydney next year, based on history.
The Giants copped the third-biggest margin in the history of VFL/AFL flag deciders on Saturday at the hands of a ruthless Richmond.
It makes them the ninth team to lose a Grand Final since 2000 by 40 points or more — and history tells us when that happens, it hurts the year after.
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Only three of the other eight teams to cop a Grand Final belting ended up even making the top eight in the next season, and none of them won a final.
Sydney (2015) finished fourth and went out in straight sets the year after their 63-point loss to Hawthorn, while West Coast (2016) finished sixth and lost its elimination final and St Kilda (2011) did the same from seventh.
The biggest ever loss in a Grand Final belongs to Port Adelaide in 2007. The year after their 119-point embarrassment at the hands of Geelong, the Power finished 13th.
Adelaide finished 12th in 2018 after being beaten by Richmond by 48 points in the 2017 Grand Final, while Brisbane (2005), Collingwood (2004) and Melbourne (2001) followed up big Grand Final losses by finishing 11th, 13th and 11th, respectively.
The last team to overcome a big Grand Final loss was Geelong in 1995, who lost to West Coast by 80 points in the 1994 flag decider and then made it back there a year later.
GRAND FINAL SMASHING SCARS ARE REAL
2017 — Adelaide — lost by 48 points — 12th the year after
2015 — West Coast — lost by 46 points — 6th the year after (lost Elimination Final)
2014 — Sydney — lost by 63 points — 4th the year after (out in straight sets)
2010 Replay — St Kilda — lost by 56 points — 7th the year after (lost Elimination Final)
2007 — Port Adelaide — lost by 119 points — 13th the year after
2004 — Brisbane — lost by 40 points — 11th the year after
2003 — Collingwood — lost by 50 points — 13th the year after
2000 — Melbourne — lost by 60 points — 11th the year after
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