2005 QF v 2009 PF

[SydneySainter]

Which was the better finals win?

[skeptic]

2005 QF was one of the best wins of all time

Big underdog win, A vocal minority crowd, led by Great Sir Robert himself

[Bowey Boy]

2005 by quite a stretch.

[samuraisaint]

For those of us St. Kilda barrackers over 40 I think that the 97 preliminary final is the best match we have ever seen. North, with Carey and McKernan, were the best side of the 1990s, and were the raging favourites in that match. It put us in a Grand Final for the first time in over a quarter of a century. North were THE Friday Night Side, and we played them on THEIR home turf and we beat them pointless. I think that's the key actually, we were far enough ahead in the last quarter to just kick back and enjoy the feeling that WE, the perennial underdog were going to the Big Dance!!!!!!!!!!!

1997 by the Bass Strait for mine.

PS - Love your avatar Bowey Boy - The Saint was my favourite TV show when I was a kid - after Shintaro (of course).

[Bowey Boy]

For those of us St. Kilda barrackers over 40 I think that the 97 preliminary final is the best match we have ever seen. North, with Carey and McKernan, were the best side of the 1990s, and were the raging favourites in that match. It put us in a Grand Final for the first time in over a quarter of a century. North were THE Friday Night Side, and we played them on THEIR home turf and we beat them pointless. I think that's the key actually, we were far enough ahead in the last quarter to just kick back and enjoy the feeling that WE, the perennial underdog were going to the Big Dance!!!!!!!!!!!

1997 by the Bass Strait for mine.

PS - Love your avatar Bowey Boy - The Saint was my favourite TV show when I was a kid - after Shintaro (of course).

Thank you (lip sync goes all out of whack), most noble one.

I agree 1997 was ace. I seem to remember Mr McKernan left the ground early after a double body slam - most excellent. 1992 win against the filth was ace too - Timmy Pekin running out of defence along the back flank to a massive cheer cos the game was won. First finals win since 73 I think. Thought Devonport was going to be a champion then.

[ripplug66]

Anything that gets you into a GF has the others covered by a long way.

[SaintPav]

Both were excellent but 2009 win was more of a relief given our form during the year and that we were a better team.

2005 QF was out of the box so probably a better win.

Agree with Samuraisaint about 97 Prelim. It was the best win I have seen as a Saint supporter.

[sMarty_saints]

Yeah '97 was the best and been there was even better, but also we were the complete underdogs and the tackle by Burke (and not sure who else) on McKernan was a game changer. I think I actually shed a tear because the Saints finally got into a grand final. I agree '09 was more of relief and '05 whilst a great game, I remember watching that on TV and it was one of those can't watch but had to watch games and it was a great win. I agree any win to get into a grand final is more satisfying....now if we can just go one step further!

[magnifisaint]

Brett Cooke

[Moods]

Both were excellent but 2009 win was more of a relief given our form during the year and that we were a better team.

2005 QF was out of the box so probably a better win.

Agree with Samuraisaint about 97 Prelim. It was the best win I have seen as a Saint supporter.

I agree with this. the 09 prelim was a struggle all night. But the realisation at the end that we were finally into a GF was an unforgettable feeling.
The 05 Qualifying Final win was pure jubilation, against all odds. I was absolutely gutted that I didn't have the courage to fly over and be there after watching live the disappointment of the 04 Prelim the year before.
The 2010 Qualifying Final is up there for me as well. Most expected it to be a pies v Cats GF in 2010 and we came out firing. Roo was back to vintage form after being injured all year, Milney was everywhere after the press saying during the week that he couldn't play in big finals at the G and Lenny was sensational. That bump on Chappy will forever live in my memory. The drama at the end just added to it with the Ling goal being disallowed because of Mooney pushing Gwilt in the back in the tackle.

The 97 Prelim wasn't as big a deal for me. Probably because that was my first year following the Saints after the demise of my beloved Roy boys. However I recall expecting the Saints to win. The Kangas had been carrying injuries and suspensions to key players and were no where near as formidable as the year before. We had finished on top of the ladder that year. I recall sitting with my best mate who had been influential in me becoming a sainter, and he was very emotional - a lot like I was in 09 I guess.

If I had to choose, I would say the best game live I've seen is 2010 Qualifying final. Any finals win is a bloody good night though..........

[kosifantutti]

The 97 Prelim wasn't as big a deal for me. Probably because that was my first year following the Saints after the demise of my beloved Roy boys. However I recall expecting the Saints to win. The Kangas had been carrying injuries and suspensions to key players and were no where near as formidable as the year before. We had finished on top of the ladder that year. I recall sitting with my best mate who had been influential in me becoming a sainter, and he was very emotional - a lot like I was in 09 I guess.

I don't know why others are saying we were massive underdogs in this game. 8 wins in a row and finished on top. Had a week off. North had finished seventh. And we'd beaten them by 9 goals just a couple of months before. Schwass and Archer were both suspended. I know Everitt and Smith were out as well but I'd be very surprised if we weren't favourites.

[lewdogs]

05 was wonderful, but soured by the fact that we blew the prelim so badly.

[degruch]

The 97 Prelim wasn't as big a deal for me. Probably because that was my first year following the Saints after the demise of my beloved Roy boys. However I recall expecting the Saints to win. The Kangas had been carrying injuries and suspensions to key players and were no where near as formidable as the year before. We had finished on top of the ladder that year. I recall sitting with my best mate who had been influential in me becoming a sainter, and he was very emotional - a lot like I was in 09 I guess.

I don't know why others are saying we were massive underdogs in this game. 8 wins in a row and finished on top. Had a week off. North had finished seventh. And we'd beaten them by 9 goals just a couple of months before. Schwass and Archer were both suspended. I know Everitt and Smith were out as well but I'd be very surprised if we weren't favourites.

Without a doubt, we were massive underdogs...reigning premiers versus, well, St Kilda. We've seen our team produce AFL record breaking winning streaks and still no-one is convinced, this was absolutely the case in 1997 also. Unfortunately, the doubters were right again, as our PF against an extremely strong and battled hardened North was our GF. Barely even turned up the next week.

[kosifantutti]

If the doubters were right, we should have lost the prelim.

[ripplug66]

The 97 Prelim wasn't as big a deal for me. Probably because that was my first year following the Saints after the demise of my beloved Roy boys. However I recall expecting the Saints to win. The Kangas had been carrying injuries and suspensions to key players and were no where near as formidable as the year before. We had finished on top of the ladder that year. I recall sitting with my best mate who had been influential in me becoming a sainter, and he was very emotional - a lot like I was in 09 I guess.

I don't know why others are saying we were massive underdogs in this game. 8 wins in a row and finished on top. Had a week off. North had finished seventh. And we'd beaten them by 9 goals just a couple of months before. Schwass and Archer were both suspended. I know Everitt and Smith were out as well but I'd be very surprised if we weren't favourites.

Without a doubt, we were massive underdogs...reigning premiers versus, well, St Kilda. We've seen our team produce AFL record breaking winning streaks and still no-one is convinced, this was absolutely the case in 1997 also. Unfortunately, the doubters were right again, as our PF against an extremely strong and battled hardened North was our GF. Barely even turned up the next week.

I don't believe either statement is true. We were clear favourites and the next week we lead by 13 points at half time in the GF. I'm unsure how that isn't turning up. We were still only 10 points down at three quarter time.

[#gosaintas]

That 97 GF loss was a shocker. Just stopped to a walk with 5 mins to go before half time. They were all over us at the end of the 2nd qtr and we didn't fire a shot in the second half. Just pathetic it was.

[degruch]

Well, gosaintas nailed my thoughts on the GF. Aside from a few flashes of brilliance early on we barely raised a canter, rolled by a team that was expected to beat by 30-odd points.

[ripplug66]

Well, gosaintas nailed my thoughts on the GF. Aside from a few flashes of brilliance early on we barely raised a canter, rolled by a team that was expected to beat by 30-odd points.

So leading a GF by more than 2 goals at HT isn't turning up? You must have been very disappointed in 2010 in the first GF?

[Moods]

IN fairness, we did have our share of issues on and off the field as well. The form ruckman of the competition in Everitt was missing. Our aggressive intimidating back up in Vidovic was missing. Winmar's dad died during the week and he was a shadow of the player we all know he could be, and Loewey obviously had almost as big a tragedy the night before the game with his sister. They are 4 massive key players that were missing. Having said that Modra and Riccutto were both missing for the Crows, but not having a genuine ruckman for a GF is almost unheard of.

Having said all that - I reckon we all expected to take care of the Crows, who let's face it, were lucky to even be there.

[SaintPav]

Well, gosaintas nailed my thoughts on the GF. Aside from a few flashes of brilliance early on we barely raised a canter, rolled by a team that was expected to beat by 30-odd points.

Adelaide were well coached but everyone except Stan could see what Blight was going to do. Stan coached a stinker and he had no plan B.

They killed us in the midfield and across half back. We relied too much on Harves who the Crows relentlessly targeted.

[degruch]

Well, gosaintas nailed my thoughts on the GF. Aside from a few flashes of brilliance early on we barely raised a canter, rolled by a team that was expected to beat by 30-odd points.

So leading a GF by more than 2 goals at HT isn't turning up? You must have been very disappointed in 2010 in the first GF?

Yes, and hell yes.

[degruch]

Well, gosaintas nailed my thoughts on the GF. Aside from a few flashes of brilliance early on we barely raised a canter, rolled by a team that was expected to beat by 30-odd points.

Adelaide were well coached but everyone except Stan could see what Blight was going to do. Stan coached a stinker and he had no plan B.

They killed us in the midfield and across half back. We relied too much on Harves who the Crows relentlessly targeted.

Agreed, but we also had little left in the tank from the week before IMO. In response to the OP, sadly, history shows we were a flash in the pan and North were a beast of a team that ended up with 2 premierships and a runner-up over a short period...the PF was a stunning win, the GF was another opportunity lost. But, it's all history.

[ripplug66]

Well, gosaintas nailed my thoughts on the GF. Aside from a few flashes of brilliance early on we barely raised a canter, rolled by a team that was expected to beat by 30-odd points.

So leading a GF by more than 2 goals at HT isn't turning up? You must have been very disappointed in 2010 in the first GF?

Yes, and hell yes.

So to turn up in a GF you say you expect to win by 30 points and you are nearly half way there at HT isn't turning up? That truly makes no sense at all. As for the 2010 GF what do you call it when you are 20 points down at HT. Playing dead? Luckily you were to young to watch the only flag we won. We were a point down at HT. Obviously they didn't turn up.

We were beaten in 1997 because of injuries, poor coaching and some pre match stuff that most humans couldn't handle but not because we didn't turn up.

[SaintPav]

Well, gosaintas nailed my thoughts on the GF. Aside from a few flashes of brilliance early on we barely raised a canter, rolled by a team that was expected to beat by 30-odd points.

So leading a GF by more than 2 goals at HT isn't turning up? You must have been very disappointed in 2010 in the first GF?

Yes, and hell yes.

We turned up but we were outcoached and had a poor second half.

Our key outs hurt us more and completely screwed up our structure which was a key advantage that surprised many teams during the season. It meant that the Crows had us covered.

[degruch]

You guys are welcome to your opinions, I'll stick with general consensus. We certainly had the capabilities, what we lacked the killer instinct...just like 2010.