It’s rare for any team to play consistently at the same level throughout a season and we’ve seen most clubs experience their highs and lows this year.

But, I’m not sure that there have been many stories similar to the Carlton experience of recent times. They started the season off winning 3½ out of the first 4. Then they lost 8 out of 9 (the win was against WCE by over 100 points) during which time they were dreadful in a few of their games. Then, out of the blue, they start a winning streak (currently 6 on end) where they are crushing their opponents by big margins. Is there any explanation for this phenomenon?

6 minutes ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

It’s rare for any team to play consistently at the same level throughout a season and we’ve seen most clubs experience their highs and lows this year.

But, I’m not sure that there have been many stories similar to the Carlton experience of recent times. They started the season off winning 3½ out of the first 4. Then they lost 8 out of 9 (the win was against WCE by over 100 points) during which time they were dreadful in a few of their games. Then, out of the blue, they start a winning streak (currently 6 on end) where they are crushing their opponents by big margins. Is there any explanation for this phenomenon?

The brown paper bags have arrived.

13 minutes ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

It’s rare for any team to play consistently at the same level throughout a season and we’ve seen most clubs experience their highs and lows this year.

But, I’m not sure that there have been many stories similar to the Carlton experience of recent times. They started the season off winning 3½ out of the first 4. Then they lost 8 out of 9 (the win was against WCE by over 100 points) during which time they were dreadful in a few of their games. Then, out of the blue, they start a winning streak (currently 6 on end) where they are crushing their opponents by big margins. Is there any explanation for this phenomenon?

Nothing that involves humans is predictable.  They have always confused me.

In 1987, Melbourne had a 6 - 10 record after 16 matches and were considered as having no hope of making the finals.

We then won the next six matches to fall into the final five by half a game ahead of Geelong and Footscray. That was the year that we beat the Bulldogs at the Whitten Oval and the Hawks beat the Cats in Round 22 which enabled us to compete in the finals for the first time since 1964. 

Our run continued into the finals with a 118-point win over North Melbourne in the Elimination Final (hoping for an encore today) and a 76 point win over Sydney in the Semi Final. It took Gary Buckenara’s goal after the siren (courtesy of that controversial 15m penalty against Jimmy) to end our run in the Preliminary Final. 

I think our form swing in 1987 was equivalent to Carlton’s this year.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

In 1987, Melbourne had a 6 - 10 record after 16 matches and were considered as having no hope of making the finals.

We then won the next six matches to fall into the final five by half a game ahead of Geelong and Footscray. That was the year that we beat the Bulldogs at the Whitten Oval and the Hawks beat the Cats in Round 22 which enabled us to compete in the finals for the first time since 1964. 

Our run continued into the finals with a 118-point win over North Melbourne in the Elimination Final (hoping for an encore today) and a 76 point win over Sydney in the Semi Final. It took Gary Buckenara’s goal after the siren (courtesy of that controversial 15m penalty against Jimmy) to end our run in the Preliminary Final. 

I think our form swing in 1987 was equivalent to Carlton’s this year.

Indeed. By a fixturing quirk our last 4 games this year are against the same clubs who made up the 1987 final 5 along with us.  Perhaps the greatest final round in the history of the game was 1987.  

7 hours ago, Palace Dees said:

Nothing that involves humans is predictable.  They have always confused me.

In that case you could explain things about Collingwood Richmond Port and Eagles.