8 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

I could make a case that it's all BS.

Brisbane: Merger Windfall and Father–Son Gold

The 1996 Fitzroy–Brisbane merger gave the Lions a once-only player infusion. While most of the Fitzroy list drifted away, Chris Johnson became a three-time premiership backman and Martin Pike, an ex-Fitzroy hard nut, was re-drafted to add grunt. More significantly, the father–son rules of the late 1990s and early 2000s handed Brisbane elite talent at minimal cost. Jonathan Brown was secured as a second-round father–son pick, Chris Scott and Brad Scott were recruited cheaply, and Alastair Lynch—brought in earlier under special concessions—rounded out the core. These concessions and bargains allowed Brisbane to stack its list around Michael Voss, Nigel Lappin, Simon Black, and Jason Akermanis, producing a dynasty that won three consecutive premierships (2001–2003) and appeared in four straight grand finals. In short, the AFL’s structures let Brisbane bank a generation of stars with little draft sacrifice.

Geelong: Father–Son Dynasty Builders

Over the same 30-year period, Geelong mastered the father–son rule. They plucked Matthew Scarlett (pick 45), Gary Ablett Jr (pick 40), and Tom Hawkins (pick 41) with late selections that would never yield such talent in a normal draft. Each became a cornerstone of their premiership sides in 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2022. Alongside them, Jed Bews, Nathan Ablett, and others added depth. The Cats did not pay in trades or high picks; they simply exploited the AFL’s rules at the time, when rival clubs couldn’t bid up father–sons. By the time the bidding system tightened in 2015, Geelong had already built a dynasty. They later doubled down with bold trades (Dangerfield, Cameron, Smith), but the foundation came free of charge.

Strategic Losing? The Draft Haul That Changed Hawthorn Forever

The incentive existed and Horeforn clearly benefited from priority picks in that window. In the 2004 draft, Hawthorn held a priority pick (No.2) for Jarryd Roughead, then also took Lance Franklin (5) and Jordan Lewis (7)– a haul enabled by finishing 15th in 2004 (4–18) under the old priority-pick rules; in 2005 they again qualified and used a priority selection on Xavier Ellis in the 2005 draft. Public chatter has long alleged deliberate late-season under performance to secure those picks, but it remains speculation, not adjudicated tanking.

Conclusion

Between Brisbane’s merger concessions and father–son coups, Geelong’s exploitation of the old father–son system and Horeforns 'strategic under performance, all three clubs assembled all-time lists at cut-rate prices. The result: four premierships each, built not just on good management but on systemic advantages few other clubs enjoyed.

Call any of them “the best” and you’re ignoring the fact that the 21st century’s been less about three empires and more about three mob bosses taking turns running the joint.

You mean a chat bot can make that argument.

Putting a prompt into a LLM does not an argument make.

Amd besides that doesn't rebutt the argument the winner of the GF could lay claims to being the best team of the 21st century.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by binman

This will be a really interesting grand final,

The Cats are probably in better form, and have had the rest but Stewart out is MASSIVE

The Lions clearly had a bad bad night vs the Cats last time and would feel they can put in a showing, but do you risk Neale, Berry or both given the question marks on them? Especially considering they just whacked the Pies without either essentially.

I'm tipping the Cats, but i am unsure how big the loss of Stewart will prove to be, especially if the Lions get some quality entries. Raynor could become a real headache for the Cats.

If Dangerfield plays anything like he did in the prelim i think the Cats win and win well, you can't tag Danger, Smith and Holmes and if you don't watch those guys closely they can tear you apart really quickly.

5 minutes ago, binman said:

You mean a chat bot can make that argument.

Putting a prompt into a LLM does not an argument make.

Amd besides that doesn't rebutt the argument the winner of the GF could lay claims to being the best team of the 21st century.

Um, actually I did the work myself Binman. It's far from the first time I've made these points on 'Land over the years.

I note your cheap shot is unable to rebuke my claims - each of which are broadly acknowledged as true by my possie that actual knows about footy and how Melbourne have been screwed by successive VFL/AFL regimes over decades.

14 hours ago, goodwindees said:

Great highlight Stiff Arm. For me it was the equal of the Elliott mark. I said to a mate when it happened that I don’t know if the Dees have a player on the list that could make that kick, particularly at the 25 minute mark of the last quarter. He’s an incredible player.

Melksham, Bowey, Salem....

3 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

This will be a really interesting grand final,

The Cats are probably in better form, and have had the rest but Stewart out is MASSIVE

The Lions clearly had a bad bad night vs the Cats last time and would feel they can put in a showing, but do you risk Neale, Berry or both given the question marks on them? Especially considering they just whacked the Pies without either essentially.

I'm tipping the Cats, but i am unsure how big the loss of Stewart will prove to be, especially if the Lions get some quality entries. Raynor could become a real headache for the Cats.

If Dangerfield plays anything like he did in the prelim i think the Cats win and win well, you can't tag Danger, Smith and Holmes and if you don't watch those guys closely they can tear you apart really quickly.

Neale said he had been given the tick by the Doctors after completing an over 7k run of sprints and distance and other testing.

Fagan then said if he gets through training this week, he should be good to go.

Based on that you would suspect he is playing.

Berry would have to be very unlikely with his shoulder going again from an innocuous tumble.

Could be Neale in Berry out.

To beat the Pies without Neale, Payne, Coleman, Answerth, Doedee who hasn’t played and Hipwood while losing Berry early was a great effort.

14 hours ago, DiscoStu17 said:

Thought it was Human Luggage 🧳

For some reason Mc Cluggage always reminded me of a suitcase full of Big Mac's!

31 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Um, actually I did the work myself Binman. It's far from the first time I've made these points on 'Land over the years.

I note your cheap shot is unable to rebuke my claims - each of which are broadly acknowledged as true by my possie that actual knows about footy and how Melbourne have been screwed by successive VFL/AFL regimes over decades.

All your own work. Cool cool. I like your new style, very formal with your neww found love of sub headers and conclusions. Welcome to the machine.

Why would I rebutt your claims?

They were made in response to my comment that the winner of the GF could have claims to be the best team of the 21st century.

And your argument doesn't change the fact that winner of this year's GF will have won 5 flags this century, more than other team.

And what is your argument?

That you could make a case that the Cats and Lion's success this century is all BS because of the leg ups they have enjoyed?

I agree they are big factors in both clubs success but that doesn't change their records.

And besides, since when is taking advantage of the rules created by the AFL a proble - isn't that what well run clubs should be doing?

It's not as if either club cheated.

Edited 51 minutes ago51 min by binman