The statistical side of the Grand Final

As you all would know, the path taken to glory has only been accomplished once before. That is, the Qualifying Final loser going on to claim the flag.

Sturt in 1976
now
Eagles in 2011

That's 38 Final 5 finals series for just two premierships.

An interesting pattern (which is hopefully broken next year) has occurred with Michael Godden as coach of a side.

In his first season (2007) as Glenelg reserves coach, he took the Tigers to the flag over South.
The following year, the Reserves lost by one point in the Preliminary (to us)
The year after, his side claimed the flag (against us, and as we all remember, he had already been announced as our coach for next year)
Last year, we lost the Preliminary by five points.
And this year, we salute in the big dance.

So that's GF win, PF loss, GF win, PF loss, GF win!

Regarding our Stanley H. Lewis finish (fifth), only North in 1991 (6th) have finished lower in that competition and ended up winning the League flag. But also, Sturt in 1967, West in 1983 and Central last year have also finished fifth and claimed the main prize.

In our first few seasons as the Woodville/West Torrens Eagles, we finished 4th, 3rd and 1st. Over the last few seasons, we have finished 4th, 3rd and now 1st. Once again, another pattern we definitely need to break next year, (by going back to back!)

With three goals yesterday, Adam Grocke has now kicked the most goals in a final by an Eagles player - 25. Leigh Treeby equalled the previous number of goals that was the record (24), which Mark Passador kicked.

Justin Cicolella is close to two milestones - 250 games and 100 behinds (one in the last quarter yesterday). Currently only two and one away respectively.

Matthew Goldsworthy has worn the no.29 guernsey for 48 matches, surpassing Paul Prymke who wore it for 47.

We are the best defence on average this season. An average of 68.71 points conceded per match beats Norwoods' 70.74. This is the sixth time we have been the best defensive team in the competition, after 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2006.

And, also, we can start a record that North fans love to boast about regarding the 20th century - winning a premiership in every decade!

No one else can say they have won a flag in the 90s, 00s and 10s! Whichever way you look at the "when does the decade start and end" debate, we have won one in each of the decades. Central did not win one in the 90s, and if one would say "but 2000 is part of the 90s, then the 2010 premiership is part of the 00s and not the 10s!"

At the very least we can claim this record using that logic for one year! However, my take on the decades 90s, 00s etc. is that while it is recognised that there was no year 0, how can you say for example, the year 1990 is part of the '80s? That is nineteen-ninety, - no eighty in it!

Therefore, in my mind we are the only club to have won a premiership in the three decades we have been a part of!

Another thing, the win also equals our best winning streak in finals matches - 3. The other time we have done this was in the 2nd Semi and Grand Final of 1993 and the 2nd Semi of 1994.

On the subject of the number three, the margin equals our lowest winning margin against Central - in our first encounter in 1991, the score was 11.14 to 11.11 in Round 3 at Elizabeth.

Only two Grand Finals since 1931 have been decided by less than three points - the 1958 Grand Final when Port won over West by two - 14.10 to 14.8 and the 1978 Grand Final - Norwood 16.15 to Sturt 14.26.

There have also been a further four Grand Finals decided by three points, the 1936, 1954, 1962 and 1965 Grand Finals. Making this year the closest Grand Final since 1978.

With Central finishing second, it is the first time that all clubs have finished in different positions than the year before since 1999-00.

Also, both us and Central have finished 2nd and 3rd five times each:

Central: 2nd - 1995, 1996, 2002, 2006, 2011
Eagles: 2nd - 1994, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005

Central: 3rd - 1971, 1972, 1979, 1994, 1997
Eagles: 3rd - 1992, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2010

Another thing I have noticed is that the winning team for three years in a row now, had led by 18 points at quarter time.

Spelly you are an absolute legend !

Thanks! I must say, I'd prefer to give out info like that on here now than anywhere else.

Such as the spacing of the flags, we now have 56 premiership players to have played for the club. Central only have 6 more. But of course 46 out of 62 are multiples; we have six.

Amazing stuff Spelly.

That is just sensational Spelly - got your donation too for the POTY.

Col D wrote:That is just sensational Spelly - got your donation too for the POTY.

Ah excellent, knew I could trust Phil.

great stuff

Spelly, you are a wiz kid

Reddeer wrote:Spelly, you are a wiz kid

Well, to borrow a phrase from the show Monk: "It's a gift, and a curse"

Although not the Grand Final, the Preliminary Final was the 200th final to be played at Football Park. The Grand Final was the 201st.

From 1898, the number of finals matches at each venue is:

Adelaide: 287 (299 if you include the 1942-1944 finals series)
Alberton: 1
Football Park: 201
Jubilee: 3
Norwood: 2
Unley: 1
Total: 495 (507)

Sturt were in 2nd place after the 1976 minor round, so; the Qualifying Final loser that finished in 3rd spot has won the flag from that position for the first time.

I take it that's League finals, if you include finals of the Reserves and juniors, other grounds would be included.

Yes, ME, just League finals only.

One thing I have forgot to mention is this:

Scott Lewis becomes only the second known player to have played a premiership in all four grades i.e. League, Reserves, Under 19s and Under 17s

He played in the 2003 West Under 17s Premiership under Peter Simmons
Then the following year, for West Under 19s champion side, which Godden was a coach of.
In 2007, he was a part of (and leading possession getter) the Glenelg Reserves premiership; this was Goddens' first season as Glenelg Reserves coach
And of course, the master coach lured him over to Oval Avenue, and therefore completed the quadrella this year.

Hayden Skipworth is the other player known to have achieved this, in order of the grades (1999, 2000, 2001, 2006)

How do you do it!! Amazing!!

I had no idea about Skipworth until Peter Argent with that book published after 2006 mentioned that he played in all four grades premiership sides.

And Steven Barretts' article in the Budget near the end of the minor round is where I got Lewis' premierships from. I wouldn't have known otherwise. For the record, Ben Grieger was captain of the 2004 West Under 19s side.