AFL Premiers Losing In The Opening Round Of A New Season

[BenBronx]

AFL Premiers opening the following season have lost in 14 of the previous 34 occasions. It's not that uncommon so I'm not too concerned despite the poor performance at the weekend. For anyone interested here is the complete list...

1991 - Collingwood defeated Footscray
1992 - Hawthorn defeated Geelong
1993 - West Coast defeated Essendon
1994 - Essendon defeated West Coast
1995 - West Coast defeated St Kilda
1996 - Carlton defeated Collingwood
1997 - North Melbourne defeated by Melbourne
1998 - Adelaide defeated by Carlton
1999 - Adelaide defeated by Western Bulldogs
2000 - Kangaroos defeated by West Coast
2001 - Essendon defeated Kangaroos
2002 - Brisbane Lions defeated Sydney
2003 - Brisbane Lions defeated Essendon
2004 - Brisbane Lions defeated Sydney
2005 - Port Adelaide defeated by Fremantle
2006 - Sydney defeated by Essendon
2007 - West Coast defeated Sydney
2008 - Geelong defeated Port Adelaide
2009 - Hawthorn defeated by Geelong
2010 - Geelong defeated Essendon
2011 - Collingwood defeated Port Adelaide
2012 - Geelong defeated by Fremantle
2013 - Sydney defeated GWS Giants
2014 - Hawthorn defeated Brisbane Lions
2015 - Hawthorn defeated Geelong
2016 - Hawthorn defeated by Geelong
2017 - Western Bulldogs defeated Collingwood
2018 - Richmond defeated Carlton
2019 - West Coast defeated by Brisbane Lions
2020 - Richmond defeated Carlton
2021 - Richmond defeated Carlton
2022 - Melbourne defeated Western Bulldogs
2023 - Geelong defeated by Collingwood
2024 - Collingwood defeated by GWS Giants

[Jezza]

The final ladder position (after finals) for the reigning premiership sides that lost their opening round match.

1998 = Adelaide (1st)
2006 = Sydney (2nd)
1997 = North Melbourne (4th)
2000 = North Melbourne (4th)
2016 = Hawthorn (5th)
2005 = Port Adelaide (6th)
2019 = West Coast (6th)
2012 = Geelong (7th)
2009 = Hawthorn (9th)
2023 = Geelong (12th)
1999 = Adelaide (13th)

2024 = Collingwood (?)

The average ladder position is approximately 6th position, so that's a little concerning.

[BenBronx]

Very interesting post Jezza. Hopefully we can buck the trend.

[What'sinaname]

Not surprising. I would expect the premiership team to not have the same hunger. It would be interesting to see where the PF losers end up the following year.

[Mr Miyagi]

Could be two-zip this Friday

[Skids]

And it all means absolutely nothing.
What was that stat going into the finals series last year?.... no one had lost 2 of their last 4 and gone on to win a flag?

[Mr Miyagi]

And it all means absolutely nothing.
What was that stat going into the finals series last year?.... no one had lost 2 of their last 4 and gone on to win a flag?

Don’t walk under ladders. Don’t let a black cat look at you. All superstition.

[K]

[quote="Mr Miyagi"]Could be two-zip this Friday

[Pies4shaw]

Or 0-23, if things go really bad.