Most Successful Crows Era?
What is the most successful period at the Adelaide Football Club? Most would agree that Blight’s reign as coach and, in particular 1997 and 1998, is the most successful period of the club’s history. And how can you argue? The club’s only two premierships, won back to back, at a time when many were suggesting that it was impossible in the newly professional AFL era. In a league where there is only one prize, this period must be considered the most successful for the Crows.
If we look at ladder position during the season, however, we might identify other periods of success that aren’t talked about quite as much as the premiership years. The image below shows the ladder position for the club after every game in its history up until the end of 2015 (2016 coming soon!) with a yellow line to help show the trends.
Looking at the club’s history this way reveals a few interesting points. Firstly, 1997 and 1998 suddenly don’t like quite so successful. In fact the club appears to have performed better in 1993 despite only just making the finals that year. Similarly, 2002 and 2003 appear successful with the club not dropping out of the top 8 at all during those two years.
Another pair of very good years can be seen in 2005 and 2006, years that could perhaps be considered the club’s most successful period. Let’s compare those years with 1997 and 1998.
In both 97 and 98, the Crows finished strongly, slowly climbing the ladder towards the end of the season. In 97 the club spent most of the last part of the season in the top 4 but five losses during that period stopped it truly dominating. In 98, the club is never higher than 3rd. Looking at 05 and 06, the club was rarely out of the top 8 with the Crows finishing top in 2005 and second in 2006 after the minor round. 2005 also includes the club’s longest ever winning streak of 10 wins and the club’s equal best ever win/loss ratio. That honour is shared with 2012, a year where the club spent only 1 week of the season lower than 5th position on the ladder.
But the question must be asked, what happened in September in those years? Of the five years mentioned, the club made a preliminary final on 3 occasions, only to lose every one. After finishing the minor round in the top 2 in three of those years, to not get into a grand final is very disappointing. After all, in this league, it is the record in September that counts most.
What do you think? What was the most successful period of the club's history? Leave your comments below.
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