Dees have had some of the most heartbreaking and embarrassing losses

The 1987 loss in the preliminary final v Hawks … buckenara after the siren

The 186 points flogging by the Cats in 2011

The 190 points flogging by the FITZROY Lions in 1979

The 96 point flogging by the Hawks in the 1988 GF

The Bombers comeback from 47 points, after 4 minutes of the last quarter (1992)

Now…

THE SAINTS COMEBACK FROM 46 POINTS DOWN AT 3/4 TIME TO BEAT THE DEES INCLUDING TWO GOALS IN THE LAST 40 SECONDS, INCLUDING A 6-6-6 BREACH WITH 8 SECONDS TO GO AND NO ONE NEAR THE SAINTS BEST PLAYER STANDING 25 METRES AWAY FROM GOAL (2025)

I can say that I have been at all of these games … all except for the Cats ANNILIATION at Kardinia Park

Edited July 27Jul 27 by spirit of norm smith
Lol

[censored] the bed against the pies in the last round in 2017. pies with nothing to play for

missed the finals by the smallest percentage margin ever

3 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Top 5 most heartbreaking and embarrassing losses

1. The 186 points flogging by the Cats in 2011

2. The 190 points flogging by the FITZROY Lions in 1979

3. The 96 point flogging by the Hawks in the 1988 GF

4. THE SAINTS COMEBACK FROM 46 POINTS DOWN AT 3/4 TIME TO BEAT THE DEES INCLUDING TWO GOALS IN THE LAST 40 SECONDS, INCLUDING A 6-6-6 BREACH WITH 8 SECONDS TO GO AND NO ONE NEAR THE SAINTS BEST PLAYER STANDING 25 METRES AWAY FROM GOAL (2025)

5. The Bombers comeback from 47 points, after 4 minutes of the last quarter (1992)

I can say that I have been at 4 out of 5 of these games … all except for the Cats ANNILIATION at Kardinia Park

Three for me, 186, 96 and today’s 46!

In heartbreakers I would include the 2023 first final loss to Collingwood as well. Managed to lose that one by 7 points despite an Inside 50 differential of +32! Someone on Demonland later posted the statistic that a team had only lost 3 times with such a plus I50 differential since they started measuring that stat back in 2000. And we did it twice out of the 3! That’s 2200 odd games of AFL and we managed the almost impossible to lose and with it a very good shot at the flag that year.

25 minutes ago, BDA said:

[censored] the bed against the pies in the last round in 2017. pies with nothing to play for

missed the finals by the smallest percentage margin ever

The weirdest thing about that was the points for and against. FOR: 1858 (our foundation year AGAINS: 1964 (our last flag, at that time)

Just more MFC ridiculousness.

AND of course SHERMUCK COACH

1 We are gutted

2 We will work "INCREDIBLY" hard

3 RINSE REPEAT YADDA YADDA

PLEASE REPLACE... PRONTO

I'm just waiting for some nub to say that they are going to put on the 2021 Grand Final replay.

Edited July 27Jul 27 by layzie

I find all loses heartbreaking. Some more than others.

Today not so much. A win would have allowed the club to hang its hat on ‘we are not that bad’. Our learnings are coming to fruition.

At least this loss informs the world, and more importantly the club, that we are in dire straits. In fact we have been free falling for 2 years.

I hope the club gathers itself and makes the required changes that are needed.

2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

The 190 points flogging by the FITZROY Lions in 1979

The 96 point flogging by the Hawks in the 1988 GF

Had the pleasure of being at both those games.

I was that traumatised by the 88 GF that when waiting in the MCC line at the 2000 GF I made the decision at about 7am to go home. I knew EFC would smash us and couldn't bare being there.

• I travelled to Darwin in 2019. Dees were up by 22 points in the last qtr. Lost by 2 points. They kicked 1.8 in the last qtr.

• In 2018, I took the train to Geelong. Dees were up by 30 points in the last qtr. Cats won by 2 points with a goal after the siren. Worst train ride home ever. Ill never go to that hell hole again.

• Semi Final in 2023 against Carlton.

I'm sure I could find others. But don't forget other teams have these moments too. Even IF we're the worst it may well be only slightly. (We only concentrate on our team.)

5 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Dees have had some of the most heartbreaking and embarrassing losses

The 1987 loss in the preliminary final v Hawks … buckenara after the siren

The 186 points flogging by the Cats in 2011

The 190 points flogging by the FITZROY Lions in 1979

The 96 point flogging by the Hawks in the 1988 GF

The Bombers comeback from 47 points, after 4 minutes of the last quarter (1992)

Now…

THE SAINTS COMEBACK FROM 46 POINTS DOWN AT 3/4 TIME TO BEAT THE DEES INCLUDING TWO GOALS IN THE LAST 40 SECONDS, INCLUDING A 6-6-6 BREACH WITH 8 SECONDS TO GO AND NO ONE NEAR THE SAINTS BEST PLAYER STANDING 25 METRES AWAY FROM GOAL (2025)

I can say that I have been at all of these games … all except for the Cats ANNILIATION at Kardinia Park

I was at all of them bar the Fitzroy one when I wasn't born. I can kind of forgive the GF against Essendon with the thuggery that played out that day, everyone remembers the Michael Long incident but Dean Wallace took out Brad Green too. Whelan missed that game as well. Whelan and Green go on to be 2 of the best players in the next decade.

I can only kind of remember the GF v the Hawks and cried after Jim Stynes ran over the mark but that Geelong one is tattooed into my memory. I couldn't leave because I was with Geelong supporters

I was behind the goals and there was a punch on in the crowd and the Melbourne supporters were completely at fault. Was a terrible day

this is really rubbing salt into the wound. 🤮🤮🤮

10 hours ago, BDA said:

[censored] the bed against the pies in the last round in 2017. pies with nothing to play for

missed the finals by the smallest percentage margin ever

We didn't lay a tackle in the first 20 minutes

10 hours ago, BDA said:

[censored] the bed against the pies in the last round in 2017. pies with nothing to play for

missed the finals by the smallest percentage margin ever

The 'we're back in finals' brochures the club prematurely sent out still haunt me

24 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

this is really rubbing salt into the wound. 🤮🤮🤮

We’re in self flagellation mode. It’s just part of the process of coming to terms with where we’re at again

13 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

The Bombers comeback from 47 points, after 4 minutes of the last quarter (1992)

Of all of those this 92 loss feels the most similar to yesterday. I remember the shock and the recognition that our mini time near the top was done. Also recognising that something was wrong at the club and that Northeys time was done at the Dees.

We did bounce back under Balme and were right up there again soon. Hopefully this is similar…. and not a return to a Neeld era. Hard to know which way the club is headed this morning.

It was a fun ride being relevant for a few years, but there's something bizarrely comforting about being back to the dark days.

No expectations, no disappointments.

Because it's so raw, this feels like the most humiliating loss of the lot.

However, when the dust settles, the Carlton 2023 semi final loss was surely more heart-breaking than some dead rubber in round 20 where both clubs are going nowhere.

I also like the nomination of the Geelong's 2018 loss where we lost after the siren. That was torture.

2 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

However, when the dust settles, the Carlton 2023 semi final loss was surely more heart-breaking than some dead rubber in round 20 where both clubs are going nowhere.

To me yesterday was embarrassing, not heartbreaking. We lost so we'll finish 14th or so instead of 12th. Maybe a little soul-crushing but nothing on the 2023 semi final for example.

Anyone comparing a particularly bad quarter of footy yesterday against 186 has rocks in their head.

11 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

Anyone comparing a particularly bad quarter of footy yesterday against 186 has rocks in their head.

The keyword for me is 'embarrassing' losses. I'm not heartbroken at all, in fact it's entirely predictable. This is the most embarrassed and on the verge of head explosion I've felt since 186.