Super Flood: The Night the AFL Changed Forever

Not only were Essendon undefeated coming into their Round 21 match against the Western Bulldogs in 2000, they had been scoring at a phenomenal rate throughout the season.
To combat the Bombers firepower, Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace devised the now infamous 'Super Flood'. Not only did the tactic manage to end Essendon's perfect season, it also marked a transition point for the game of Australian Football, shaping AFL tactics into what they are today.
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[@OkayCesarini]

81 was Essendon's lowest score that season...those were the days

[@buzzcomber]

I agree. Now we’re barely getting to 81 points (this year an exception due to changes). Teams don’t seem to train or put a lot of emphasis on goal kicking either which is a shame.

[@AlonsoRules]

@@buzzcomber nobody practices goal kicking these days except Josh Kennedy

[@buzzcomber]

Anthony Kernich Proof is in the pudding too - 7 straight on the weekend!

[@icemanauz]

And now its their highest

[@lermberl]

Bring back Gus Monfries he’ll show them how to put it through the big sticks

[@HoodKombo]

AFL history delivered with a Tifo style presentation and analysis? I love you

[@samphelps856]

Amen!

[@Lol-mf9hv]

@J G who asked

[@ctathletics4862]

American here, new to AFL. No familiar sports this year led me to watch AFL. Now I’m hooked, trying to learn all I can. Just subscribed.

[@danielwatts7375]

I’m an American, been following and rooting for the Dockers since ‘11. It’s an awesome sport to watch, and I’m still learning the game. Got to watch in person two years ago. Put it on your bucket list.

[@ellwyn]

@@danielwatts7375 unlucky choice of team to follow, but great that people on the other side of the world are finally finding out about our sport!

[@cygil1]

Yeah, but this is an explanation of why the game is so fucking boring now. I guess you don't know enough to know what you're missing. (

[@Leehamism]

Difficult to shift soccer, NFL, rugby, etc but, having played AFL when I lived in the UK, finding a big enough space is certainly a problem. I love the run and athleticism of the modern game.

[@phillipfubar8869]

Watch old games from the 80s and 90s. They were WAY better. I don't even bother watching anymore.

[@timdavies3902]

We need more of this content from Australian you tubers it’s amazing

[@liammccullagh2685]

couldn't agree more, seen lots of this kinda stuff with nba and it really helps grow the game and educate people on the history of it

[@GoobyBean]

The bulldogs win lit a fire under Essendon for the finals, I reckon that lost was needed

[@winstonmac1209]

And the fact that their only danger copped injuries in the last couple of home and away games helped a lot too. Kouta did his knee against the bombers round 20 and then sos, ratten and Bradley all got injured in the last two rounds. Both teams had almost identical form going into the round 20 clash, winning all their previous games (since meeting earlier in the season) by an average of 10 goals. Except for the doggies who beat them both late in the season. Would’ve been one of the best Grand Finals if both teams had been fit and at their best. Especially after what happened in 99 😉

[@lunch2102]

I imagine losing to Carlton by 1 point in the prelim the year before, lit the fire, dont forget they also were beaten in the 1996 prelim by Sydney by a point after the siren. Two of the best games ever btw.

[@serjsidey7348]

@@winstonmac1209 I'm a Pies fan but strongly believe the Essendon-Carlton rivalry of 99-00 was a massively missed opportunity. 99 prelim was one of the greatest matches I've seen and 2000 really should've been the two of them in the GF.

[@DoggyZworlD07]

this must be the equivalent to parking the bus outside the goals in soccer lol

[@Adam-gd3bs]

Yep get that 2/0 lead n just kick the ball away 😂

[@Adroyo]

It’s exactly the same, just a different name for it

[@Magpie_Mark92]

Essendon fanatics at school the next day gave me the excuse they felt sorry for the bulldogs

[@FootyA2Z]

the cusp of an unbeaten year is a strange team to feel sorry...

[@jamesalexander1647]

@@FootyA2Z Premiership is all that matters in the end, well that has always been the Essendon motto.

[@simon_patterson]

That was the only game of the season that my Bombers-supporting brother attended.

[@gopies]

I was driving and listened to this game on the radio, Eddie McGuire went right off on MMM. One of those games that sticks in my mind.

[@telltellyn]

Amazing video! I'd love to see a video on the original rules of AFL back in 1859.

[@FootyA2Z]

thank you, this kind of video is definitely something we want to do in the future

[@joshuaking1584]

I'm a league fan but will give this a like purely for how interesting and well made it was, good shit mate!

[@Magooch86]

Have only just come across this series, nice work. Would love a visualisation of Collingwood's 2010 tactics - forward press, box formation, boundary hugging etc., and also the way Geelong got around them in 2011. Keep it up.

[@joshbouman1654]

That was the year I started watching AFL and I was baffled as to how the clear best team in the comp could be so excruciatingly boring to watch.

[@Magooch86]

@@joshbouman1654 I prefer "clinical". As a Pies fan there was nothing boring about winning every week! Now Sydney, that was a boring team to watch back then.

[@jeremybean-hodges6397]

We got through them by playing to particular strengths: 1) Better ruck division. In our three games vs Collingwood that year, we won the hitouts by 20, 18, and, in the Grand Final, 7 (as Collingwood made huge use of the third man up, taking a midfielder out of the ground contest). 2) Better aerial power. Travis Cloke was a contested marking monster, but we had a far better spread of excellent marks around the ground. 3) The right matchup for Collingwood's two main weapons - Cameron Ling for Dane Swan, and Tom Lonergan for Travis Cloke.

[@simon_patterson]

Great video. Story well told, and terrific drawings. You nailed Michael Long to a tee, that one really stood out to me.

[@موسى_7]

Every channel has such good subtitles nowadays.

[@maxtollis6428]

love the art style

[@bonsouthall960]

"Super Flood" and both teams had 7 goals AT HALF TIME! Plenty of teams struggling to kick 7 a match atm!!!

[@tomatkinson1519]

Another great and thorough video. I'd love to see a video on the perceived drop in quality of the AFL with goalkicking, skills etc. It seems to be a huge talking point but not many can agree on if and why this is happening and what to do about it. Wonder if you guys can help! Cheers lads great stuff.

[@FootyA2Z]

Cheers Tom. Perhaps a "what makes good football" kinda debate

[@nathangraves2237]

If skills have dropped it's likely because of the increase in pressure today compared to 20 years ago. As for goal kicking, maybe players are taking shots further out today or on more difficult angles. How often do you see marks taken straight out in front 30m out in today's game?

[@tomatkinson1519]

@@nathangraves2237 I'm pretty new to AFL so I don't remember the footy of yesteryear like others might, however one reason I pondered was the changing roles for all players. It seemed like Plugger Lockett would park up inside 50 and be the go-to man, where as the scoring options are diverse now amongst the team and most players fulfill multiple roles. Therefore the specialist goal kicker is not as prominent as it used to be. Just my theory.

[@stragglypie1038]

I think that kicking skills would be pretty similar but defensive skills are better

[@dudemcguy1]

If we're to look at goalkicking, despite what people will tell you about the big power forwards being so accurate and being better shots for goal, there's a few that do go under 50% efficiency, while the leading forwards in the modern game are basically just as accurate as the best from 20, 30, 40 years ago, albeit kicking less goals. There's a very good article from TheMongrelPunt that looks at the numbers and finds the leading goal kickers aren't worse, instead the 2000's and 2010's are the most accurate decades in 50 years. I personally believe that the wider spread of goalkickers is just exposing what has always existed in bad kickers, and the massively increased pressure from teams on the player in disposal of the ball leads to more players missing more often

[@ethanmason2001]

Very well researched and well said. Know that this was a AFL changing moment and you’ve captured it perfectly. Love the graphics as well

[@brettsmolski5402]

Keep them coming guys, these are brilliant!

[@bradantcliff2940]

Great video!!! I'm not normally a fan of sports videos without the game highlights, however this was exceptional! Fascinating that teams were given a blue print late in the season to at least try out and no one replicated it in the finals. I seem to recall Wallace and Sheedy clashing over tactics and styles of play when Wallace was at the Tigers, Sheedy called it "That basketball crap" referring to the full court press and zone style. Again, brilliant stuff. Fantastic comments section as well, great AFL fan community here guys let's keep it up.

[@andrewmilici1779]

Remember this game vividly, especially the vision of Brad Johnson giving Barnes a serve after the siren. Dont often see that (even these days,)

[@imqerial]

how did i only just find this channel? this is top notch quality ... binging all your vids asap!

[@ChcgBlls]

Great video. Remember the night vividly.

[@DM-hc3sb]

This is the KZbin channel I need. Thanks so much for this quality afl content

[@PTQ4Q4Q4Q4]

Not that into Afl, this video came up when I was exploring a section on KZbin about Australian content creators, I really enjoyed this, keep up the good work mate.

[@twerkpyzzle7739]

Love this channel. Great to learn a lot of history about a sport ive recently been addicted to.

[@carlrayson3104]

I was there that night. Bulldogs were always going to win after the fight caused by Barnes taking Brad Johnson out. The dogs were fired up.

[@FootyA2Z]

Amazing how an attempt to stop an in form player can backfire on a team like that!

[@carlrayson3104]

It was just about the last of the suburb v suburb football games I remember from the Windy Hill and Whitten/Western Oval days. The atmosphere in the crowd was supercharged. There were arguments all over the place. It was awesome fun.

[@JOSEPH-ck6st]

absolutely fantastic video keep it up please

[@latenightlogic]

A potent topic. A great game was taken down a peg forever with this tactic. A solution must be found.

[@warrenmars]

Yes, there are solutions to stop the flood. Sadly the AFL likes to pretend everything is fine and won't try them out. I suggested the following to the AFL but received no reply: 1 - Reduce the number of players on field to 16 per side. 2 - Institute a netball like system where each player wears an armband that restricts where they can go on the field. Backs/Forwards can't cross the 50m arc. Half back and half forwards can't cross the centreline. Infrigments result in a free kick down field. 3 - Reduce the interchange back to 2 or get rid of it entirely so that players run out of stamina chasing the ball all day. etc.

[@papaproduction]

Great video, I’ll never forget when this happened. I was 6

[@jjmu92]

This is the first video I came across on of you boys, liked and subscribed.

[@caydenshannon7454]

When Essendon got rid of Sheedy, we only went down from there

[@MrWhitmen1981]

Ahhhh the last seasons were not good. The loss is to Carlton where they 40points up at half time showed he ran out of ideas.

[@geofftottenperthcoys9944]

Sheedy's arrogance was always against him.

[@KandonKuuson]

I was really ok with that...I can’t stand the man!

[@Magpie_Mark92]

They were already struggling but they just didn't pick the right replacement

[@seanoreilly1832]

Great video man

[@alexander_tonkin]

Just found this channel - great content! Will be keen to see how the great lockdown is reflected on like the super flood. Go blues 💙

[@athan5019]

I've been craving a channel with this focus! Subbed! Pumped for more content! Carn the Tiges!

[@lachiemodica8283]

this is brilliant well done mate

[@GH-mk3vp]

There was a great insightful article next day in the Melbourne Age newspaper that went into great detail about the game strategy. It may have been a super flood but Terry Wallace took it to a new level by training the players in the weeks leading up to the match. The players flooding back were instructed to stand in precise positions to control an area of turf (now known as zones ) to halt opposition penetration. By standing in those spots they were able to control enough ground to stop leads and intercept the ball coming in. I believe the ground they trained on was marked out to exactly match the size of Docklands. A lot of work went into this victory and I think just calling it a super flood as Dermie did underplays the sheer brilliance of a one off tactic to get the team into the finals.

[@ALEXLAD94]

This channel is the best thing to happen to footy on KZbin ever 👏 Hope you keep pumping out videos mate because this will blow up

[@desiredrapfilms]

These videos are amazing bro

[@shaunwilson11]

These videos are so good, keep it up!

[@thetrainman548]

Banging video, well done!

[@stevespurlock713]

best footy channel on youtube

[@FootyA2Z]

You warm our hearts❤️

[@skullfist7885]

Great video and analysis. Very well done 👏

[@the_venomous_viper1234]

Man am I upset I was born 4 years after this - missed my clubs greatest era and arguably the greatest season of all time

[@nyrkyg2213]

Was born at the end 99 Same feeling

[@fearedjames]

Just gonna say, constant victory is boring as hell.

[@MaVeRiCk77]

The greatest ever AFL/VFL Team. Essendon 2000

[@bodhzv2770]

Great video. 10/10

[@thebontisback8971]

Very smart mate. Love your videos just subscribed

[@jimbobsslimpickins9801]

@Footy A2Z I always referred to that game as the 'Uber' flood, I'm pretty sure that 'Uber' was the word used by at least one reporter that I remember. Great upload, thanks for sharing mate 👍🏻

[@chugmah]

Great video. Thanks!

[@excapethematrix807]

Great video!

[@FootyA2Z]

Thank you!

[@DontLikeMondays]

Awesome summary, great video mate.

[@_Murky_]

Very interesting, love the series

[@SamsMovies]

So glad you chose this as the next topic for a video. Such a coincidence for me after I just watched the last 2 minutes of the game and the super flood last night. I'm honestly loving your channel and Jagger Salopeck's. :D Edit: Also, as a saints fan, I'm also not even salty that the saints missed their chance to have an even more dominant season than essendon in 2000, when we were 19-0 in 2009 and coincidentally lost to the bombers.

[@FootyA2Z]

AFL visual essays are on the rise! talk about great timing haha, glad you enjoyed

[@FootyA2Z]

@@SamsMovies i think not! more like destiny

[@leftovercrass5210]

good vid man. moredogs stuff pls, 2016 deserves a run as it changed the 3rd man up rule

[@HYP3R47]

almost every video you post is great! im loving this!

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks dude, trying to improve with upload :)

[@Haru_VII]

Great video!! Love the graphics.

[@bomberT1]

Back when players could kick straight.

[@Mhjeffrey027running]

Strange year for us that year in that we won 5/6 against the top 4 of Essendon, Carlton, Melbourne and North (earlier clash with Essendon being the loss, even knocked over Carlton at Carlton a fortnight earlier in a scrap), but struggled against teams in the lower half or just outside the 8. We fell in against Collingwood a week before the mega flood game, somehow beat St.Kilda on an FNF game when they led by about 5 goals late, and couldn't beat any of Geelong, Hawthorn or Brisbane, losses to the latter pair over the next fortnight ending the season.

[@lanceedwards3544]

Hope your channel grows. KZbinr Menke sent us here to check out your great work and I will be

[@alexmurrayholmes]

Keep up the great content!

[@extraverse]

Epic work guys, keep it up.

[@randomsam7648]

Great video!!! I subscribed.

[@sallytrengrove9015]

Just found your channel and I was instantly impressed. Love the visualisations. I would also love to see some match footage if that’s possible

[@MasterofMayhem1394]

Great primer for tonight!

[@TheDirge69]

Happy I found your channel, liked and subbed. go Tigers!

[@jamesanstey6688]

Love your stuff mate!! Keep up the great work

[@FootyA2Z]

Thanks James! Plenty more planned :)

[@lahmyaj]

Nice video mate. Subscribed 👍🏻

[@upsidedahead]

1:30 Terry Wallace had a hustle going here. He was on record in the media during the build up, that the Doggies would need to kick over 20 goals to win this game 😂 Also... 5:10 as the Bulldogs left the ground after the melee, there was a fan going absolutely HAM, right next to the race. He was screaming at the players coming off. One of the Doggies trainers even hosed him down with a drink bottle. Friendly fire, as it turned out 😂😂😂

[@KnicksIn6ix]

Bro u have grown a ton recently! Congrats

[@FootyA2Z]

Onwards and upwards! thank you

[@meyv04]

Amazing content!!!!

[@pepecinco88]

This was great. Gj m8.

[@joshuafraser3627]

Good video man. Being born in 1999 i wasnt even aware of the dominance of essendon in the year 2000. For me they have been a bottom half team for most of my life.

[@43scout74]

I really love these videos

[@masonpeatling5947]

Great videos! Reminds me of TIFO!!

[@ariazzopardi5659]

is it a coincidence that the dons play the dogs tonight

[@FootyA2Z]

AFL doing us a favour! we only realised how funny the timing was at the start of the week

[@chrismackie-wright768]

Ari Azzopardi Also, 11 days before the 20th anniversary of that game. Talk about perfect timing.

[@Forteonyoutube]

I’m trying to get in the afl uploaded two videos

[@georgestiller8286]

Fucking umpires were on the dogs side

[@Timbo6669]

@@georgestiller8286 As they should be....lol.. You should support the dogs as well.

[@deanlejeune5005]

this was a really well put together video, gettin a big ol sub from me mate

[@mattlamb4418]

Yo this is sick 😍 please more

[@hamishnicholls6585]

Stuffed our game, it’s like watching mini league now. One giant group of players around the ball with the odd goal.

[@matchewrav]

Would love to see one about the dogs 2016 campaign and the use of fast footy handballs

[@FootyA2Z]

Definitely on the list

[@thesupplantor]

Also the bulldogs genius tactic of taking the knees out illegally in Grand Finals. Don't forget to make a video on that one.

[@billba]

Wallace also did a possession game for Richmond against a powerful Adelaide.

[@billba]

Richmond won

[@Jazzah21034]

Was that the game Bowden had 45 disposals ?

[@anthonyd4771]

Love the drawings

[@russe19642]

1999 prelim always cracks me up when all year Essendon were touted favorites all year

[@QuickstanNickstan]

so good bro

[@islantis9806]

Great vid!! Hmmmm maybe my team Geelong should do this against the pies this Saturday in the prelim? We can’t afford to play slow

[@nicko2863]

I was playing 15s last week and we had everyone on the field in our defensive 50

[@dama301]

Yeah it probably did lead to the end of great footy to watch. But as a bulldogs fan it’s one of my favourite football memories we didn’t get much!

[@nunogomes4954]

I remember hearing on SEN a few years back there was an interview with some of the bulldogs coaching staff. And they were saying that they were in the states showing videos of essendon games to nfl coaches and to try get ideas how to stop essendon and the tactics used on this game were influenced by the denver broncos coaching staff.

[@seagerathletics7392]

Nice vid 👍

[@greasy_beefcake]

Hey boys, great stuff. Love your channel. Would love to see a video on the state of scoring at the moment. Notwithstanding the games being 20% shorter, it still feels like scores are getting lower and lower. Is there any way to get back to the shootout days?

[@bloodydamnbooseyo]

Great video mate! Well done 👍

[@_Inquisitor]

Dogs won the battle but the bombers won the war .... subscribed great vid

[@ksd3434]

Wallace actually got the idea for this from a meeting with and nfl team when he got them to come up with a strategy from a blank slate.

[@aflfan4291]

Terry Wallace’s son Brent who is also an umpire for the afl teaches PE at my school

[@Gormezzz]

Wow I almost forgot AFL was actually watchable when I was a kid!

[@dogbadger]

1:33 - I was expecting to learn that the Bulldogs solution was to field an extra player.

[@zoltanm8278]

Great video! Subscribed. Just out of curiosity, how do you make the graphics look so realistic?

[@FootyA2Z]

We make all of the graphics in either affinity designer or adobe illustrator using vector shapes. It’s just something we’ve practiced and improved over time :)

[@timmymorecroft8980]

good vid bro

[@ethanl4418]

very good video

[@FootyA2Z]

thank you!

[@Rob-lv3fc]

Ay Doggies fan here.

[@SuperDoggiebag]

The game that helped ruin footy. Great video. I'd love to see a video on another tactical change that I think has a big impact on the game since it started - Collingwood's use of interchange in the early 2000s