Saw this article in the Age about the race is on between the Bombers & the scum to reach outright leadership in the premiership race. I hate these bastards. Saw first hand as a young boy how they defeated us by 3 points in 1968, then the "99 prelim by 1 point, plus many a skirmish over the years.
My dad talks how the scum beat us in '47 by 1 point after the bombers having 30 scoring shots to 21, then they fixed up Coleman contributing to us losing the GF in 1951 by 11 points to geelong. Actually in that period from 1946 to 1951 we played in 7 consecutive grand finals (including the 1948 draw with melbourne when had 34 scoring shots to 19 ). From those GFs we won 3 premierships & could have/should have won at least 2 more. This would have made us outright leaders in the premiers table.
However to the present, Bring It On. I hope we trample these c@#&s in the dust every time we play...
[A great stirring is occurring.
After many years in a state of suspended animation, the race to become the single most successful club in VFL/AFL history is experiencing its first meaningful twitches.
Having enjoyed bumper trade periods this post-season, Essendon's and Carlton's road maps towards their next premierships have become as vivid as they have been at any time this century.
The Bombers and Blues each boast 16 flags and have shared top spot on the premiership ladder for a long time.
But it has been slim pickings for the weakened superpowers of yesteryear with Carlton having not tasted the ultimate success since 1995. Next season their premiership drought will balloon to a club record-equalling 23 years.
In 2018, Essendon will not have won a flag for 18 years, which will equal the second longest drought in their history.
The Bombers have now gone the longest of any club without winning a final (13 years) after Richmond's incredible September this year.
What was once one of the league's fiercest rivalries has become a shadow of its former self.
Sure, the two clubs and their supporters maintain a healthy dislike for each other, but it has become largely irrelevant in the context of the AFL.
In recent years, Essendon and Carlton have resembled a couple of hobos fighting each other in the corner of a dingy bar room with none of the other patrons paying any attention to them.
Their past six meetings have failed to attract a crowd of more than 60,000. Eleven of their previous 16 did.
But is all of that about to change?
Having returned to the finals this year for the first time since the doping scandal crippled them for four seasons, Essendon's transformation from pariah to destination club has been dramatic.
Already boasting one of the most exciting young lists in the competition, the Bombers have now added to the mix talented trio Devon Smith, Adam Saad and Jake Stringer.
Given the Bombers already have a swag of senior regulars who are 24 or under in Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Andrew McGrath, Darcy Parish, Conor McKenna, James Stewart and Marty Gleeson, the additions of Smith, Saad and Stringer to that age bracket are daring the Essendon faithful to dream.
Add established stars Michael Hurley, Cale Hooker, David Zaharakis, Dyson Heppell and Brendon Goddard and the Bombers could be quite formidable for the next few years.
While Essendon have aggressively attacked the trade period to fast-track their development, Carlton have taken a more long-term approach with the national draft their major avenue to potential success.
The Bombers have also drafted well in recent years, but the Blues have made the draft their number one priority, which is a far cry from how they behaved historically in their pursuit of premierships. It has taken a very long time, but Carlton have finally come to terms with 21st century list management.
Patrick Cripps (pick 13), Charlie Curnow (12), Jacob Weitering (one), Sam Petrevski-Seton (six), Jack Silvagni (53), Zac Fisher (27), Tom Williamson (61), David Cunningham (23) and Harry McKay (10) form the basis of what the Blues hope will usher in their next golden era.
After shrewd trading this last week, with veteran Bryce Gibbs joining Adelaide, Carlton also have picks three, 10 and 30 at this year's draft as well as two second-round picks in what is deemed to be a "super draft" next year.
The recruitment of young stars Sam Docherty (Brisbane Lions), Lachie Plowman (GWS), Caleb Marchbank (GWS), Matt Kennedy (GWS), Darcy Lang (Geelong) and Jarrod Pickett (GWS) from other clubs in recent years has further bolstered their youth policy.
It has been a long time since the Essendon-Carlton rivalry captured the wider public's imagination, but it appears things are going to heat up significantly in the next few years as both clubs gradually improve to the point where the coveted, and unprecedented, 17th premiership is back in reach for both of them.
I pity them where once I begrudgingly respected them. They talk about their youth policy but they have no forward line, and no prospect of one. A bunch of soft outside and joe average midfielders Cripps aside.
Let's just concentrate one winning one f****** final before talking about flags. It's been 13 years since winning our last final - by 5 points v Melbourne. We now hold the honour of the biggest drought in the comp in regards to a finals win. And of course, the pitiful Blues smashed us in 2011.
"In recent years, Essendon and Carlton have resembled a couple of hobos fighting each other in the corner of a dingy bar room with none of the other patrons paying any attention to them."
BenDoolan wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:14 pm
Let's just concentrate one winning one f****** final before talking about flags. It's been 13 years since winning our last final - by 5 points v Melbourne. We now hold the honour of the biggest drought in the comp in regards to a finals win. And of course, the pitiful Blues smashed us in 2011.
I guess at least Westies Won a Flag 32 years after 1983,so that's something in recent times,.......sorta.Won a few Wooden Spoons since.
2 of my other Teams in Amateurs lost Grand Finals last year in Armadale and Wembley,after Winning their 2nd Semi's.
Not counting Aussie Rules,there's always Liverpool,the Wildcats and San Francisco 49ers to keep me happy.The 9ers haven't Won a Super Bowl since '94,but have Won Play - Off games here or there,since then.
So it's not all doom and gloom on the other Winter type codes,though NBL is played in Summer.
