Remember 1997

[alwaysadog]

In 1996 after playing in the finals for 3 of the previous years we finished last, all but for the never to be seen again Fitzroy. The Peter Gordon board faded away in the off season and a task force including David Smorgon and Rick Kennedy installed Terry Wallace as the new coach.

He oversaw the most rigorous preseason so far witnessed by an AFL club. The season began slowly with a loss to Freo at our new home at Princes Park, but soon gathered pace and we finished in the top four after the home and away season. In the first final we easily accounted for Sydney. And after a week's break took on Adelaide. We jumped out of the blocks and lead by 32 points at half time. At 3/4 time we were still well in front and looking comfortable. You all know the result.

As we approach a season so full of hope it may be instructive to look back ten years. I wonder if there are obvious similarities and differences between the list of1997 and the list of 2007. The 1997 list should appear below. What do you think?

[Dry Rot]

Wish I was following AFL that season.

During the H&A games how good were we? Who were the teams to beat? IIRC, the Swans, Dons and North were pretty good the year before.

Still don't understand how we fizzled out in '98.

[bulldogtragic]

That list seems pretty accurate. 1997 - Mark West NO goals.

[Hard Ball Get]

Great year after the horror of 96.
I was only about 11 or 12 so I was still a kid in 96 but I remember hurting a while lot and hating the footy. 97 was the complete opposite.

If I recall correctly we were flag favourites at one stage were we not?

[Twodogs]

Wish I was following AFL that season.

During the H&A games how good were we? Who were the teams to beat? IIRC, the Swans, Dons and North were pretty good the year before.

Still don't understand how we fizzled out in '98.

It was a weird year. It was all doom and gloom in the lead up despite a new administration, new coach and a hlaf decent playing list.

No team really took the year by the scruff of the neck and while we were pretty good for most of the season (after a rocky start) we lost four in a row late in the season-was it rounds 17-20? We got our form back in the last couple of rounds and sowed up a home final, won it to control our own destiny for the rest of the finals and fell at the next hurdle.

[alwaysadog]

Firstly we were flag favourites after we beat Sydney in the first final. St Kilda were a good side that year as well, and Adelaide had been good most of the time.

I borrowed this list and it's accurate to a point; I'm not sure Daniel Hargraves was still with us. What is evident IMO is the number of players who never even got a start and the number of fringe players. There is clearly some class and touighness there but I think overall the list is a bit thin. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, How will we view the current list in 2017?

[Sockeye Salmon]

That list seems pretty accurate. 1997 - Mark West NO goals.

It also says no games. I think these were the stats at the start of the year.

[Twodogs]

Firstly we were flag favourites after we beat Sydney in the first final. St Kilda were a good side that year as well.

I borrowed this list and it's accurate to a point; I'm not sure Daniel Hargraves was still with us. What is evident IMO is the number of players who never even got a start and the number of fringe players. There is clearly some class and touighness there but I think overall the list is a bit thin. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, How will we view the current list in 2017?

He was swapped for Brad Wira so he wouldnt have been.

[alwaysadog]

He was swapped for Brad Wira so he wouldnt have been.

Thanks Twodogs that was my thoughts. Wasn't it Wira and Reimers? I couldn't imagine Daniel and Wallywood would have got on.

Yes Sockeye they are supposed to be start of season stats, I got a set that replicates the time of year.

[alwaysadog]

Wish I was following AFL that season.

During the H&A games how good were we? Who were the teams to beat? IIRC, the Swans, Dons and North were pretty good the year before.

Still don't understand how we fizzled out in '98.

We were good in lots of games and quickly warmed to Optus oval, but 1998 was a better H&A season. It's only a narrow 5 point loss to North in the last game at the G that denied us top spot.

[Dry Rot]

We were good in lots of games and quickly warmed to Optus oval, but 1998 was a better H&A season. It's only a narrow 5 point loss to North in the last game at the G that denied us top spot.

That was a trmendous game (except for the result).

IIRC we went from second last in 1996 to a PF in 1997? That's an amzing turnaround.

[bulldogtragic]

It also says no games. I think these were the stats at the start of the year.

Was an attempt at sarcasm for him missing what would have been the match winner in the pre-lim.

[alwaysadog]

That was a trmendous game (except for the result).

IIRC we went from second last in 1996 to a PF in 1997? That's an amzing turnaround.

Yes, but we went from finalists in 92,94 and 95 to second last in 1996. Joycie had lost the plot and the players wren't listening and weren't fit enough IMO. Wallywood had a walk up start.

[southerncross]

We were good in lots of games and quickly warmed to Optus oval, but 1998 was a better H&A season. It's only a narrow 5 point loss to North in the last game at the G that denied us top spot.

I didn't mind us playing games there. Remember when we had the Dogs Barking over the siren after every goal? The AFL put a stop to that quickly

[alwaysadog]

Optus Oval wasn't designed for the average supporter it specialised in costly seats and corporate packages. That said we supporters managed to fit in. The football we played there was usually exciting and others didn't like facing us there. The Dog Barking just added to the atmosphere as there usually weren't too many spare seats. Except for the Legless stand.