Remember 1997

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  • alwaysadog
    Senior Player
    • Dec 2006
    • 1436
    #1

    Remember 1997

    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?

    Last edited by alwaysadog; 05-02-2007, 09:37 PM.
    [I]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]
    Tags: None
    • Dry Rot
      Bulldog Team of the Century
      • Jan 2007
      • 6444
      #2
      Re: Remember 1997

      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.
      The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.

        Comment

        • bulldogtragic
          The List Manager
          • Jan 2007
          • 34289
          #3
          Re: Remember 1997

          That list seems pretty accurate. 1997 - Mark West NO goals.
          Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

            Comment

            • Hard Ball Get
              #4
              Re: Remember 1997

              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?

                Comment

                • Twodogs
                  Moderator
                  • Nov 2006
                  • 27654
                  #5
                  Re: Remember 1997

                  Originally posted by 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.


                  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.
                  They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.

                    Comment

                    • alwaysadog
                      Senior Player
                      • Dec 2006
                      • 1436
                      #6
                      Re: Remember 1997

                      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?
                      [I]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]

                        Comment

                        • Sockeye Salmon
                          Bulldog Team of the Century
                          • Jan 2007
                          • 6365
                          #7
                          Re: Remember 1997

                          Originally posted by 42-C-3
                          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.

                            Comment

                            • Twodogs
                              Moderator
                              • Nov 2006
                              • 27654
                              #8
                              Re: Remember 1997

                              Originally posted by alwaysadog
                              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.
                              They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.

                                Comment

                                • alwaysadog
                                  Senior Player
                                  • Dec 2006
                                  • 1436
                                  #9
                                  Re: Remember 1997

                                  Originally posted by Twodogs
                                  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.
                                  [I]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]

                                    Comment

                                    • alwaysadog
                                      Senior Player
                                      • Dec 2006
                                      • 1436
                                      #10
                                      Re: Remember 1997

                                      Originally posted by 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.
                                      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]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]

                                        Comment

                                        • Dry Rot
                                          Bulldog Team of the Century
                                          • Jan 2007
                                          • 6444
                                          #11
                                          Re: Remember 1997

                                          Originally posted by alwaysadog
                                          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.
                                          The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride.

                                            Comment

                                            • bulldogtragic
                                              The List Manager
                                              • Jan 2007
                                              • 34289
                                              #12
                                              Re: Remember 1997

                                              Originally posted by Sockeye Salmon
                                              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.
                                              Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

                                                Comment

                                                • alwaysadog
                                                  Senior Player
                                                  • Dec 2006
                                                  • 1436
                                                  #13
                                                  Re: Remember 1997

                                                  Originally posted by Dry Rot
                                                  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.
                                                  [I]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]

                                                    Comment

                                                    • southerncross
                                                      Technical Admin
                                                      • Nov 2006
                                                      • 590
                                                      #14
                                                      Re: Remember 1997

                                                      Originally posted by alwaysadog
                                                      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
                                                      Bulldog Pride will never die

                                                        Comment

                                                        • alwaysadog
                                                          Senior Player
                                                          • Dec 2006
                                                          • 1436
                                                          #15
                                                          Re: Remember 1997

                                                          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.
                                                          [I]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]

                                                            Comment

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