Most UNLIKELY Premiership in AFL History

This is the story of the 2016 finals series, where one team miraculously won a premiership, despite the huge odds against them.

[@christiansrensen8330]

This season is greatly overstated and highly misunderstood. The dogs were 12-4 and 3rd placed. They were the 3rd best team behind Geelong and Sydney. Then a catastrophic series of injuries (e.g. Wallis broken leg in rd18 vs saints, which started the collapse) led to an artificial deflation of their ladder position behind WCE, Crows and GWS (all teams they beat once or twice). The pre-finals bye then artificially allowed them to recover and realistically be the 3rd best team in the race again. Sydney upsetting Geelong meant they played a team they had beaten (instead of one they lost to twice). They beat 3 teams they were far better than and had a better game on GF day which is not that rare e.g. hawks upset cats, cats upset saints and pies, swans upset hawks. This is a story of a 3rd best team winning which is common, Hawks 2015, Tigers 2017,19,20. It is not a story of a mediocre team going a random run from nowhere, that is the '97 and (in particular) '98 crows.

[@jagobbin2]

And they were aided by a series of horrendous umpiring decisions in the GF because the AFL wanted its Cinderella story

[@qppd7890]

⁠@@jagobbin2 don’t think some “horrendous umpiring decisions” which didn’t happen in the first place was the reason for the swans losing by 22. Lol

[@shannonpincombe8485]

The fact Luke Bereridge came out and said "if the umps aren't going to call 'incorrect disposal'...we'll keep doing it." Says volumes. The next season Richmond adopted this mantra and their coach Damien Hardwick said "The Bulldogs won a premiership playing a style of football where their disposal was questionable....we'll do the same and see what happens." They won three flags in four years essentially dropping the ball whenever pressured. 'The so-called 'Tiger Tap On'. And now the AFL landscape is riddled with incorrect disposals predominantly during tackles. The AFL allowed a club to win a flag playing this brand of awful football and many clubs took note and copied them. The AFL stuffed up Aussie Rules football.

[@Glicks_3000]

@@shannonpincombe8485 quit yappin bud

[@rqL1022]

I haven't watched AFL for a number of years but I remember watching this game and rooting for the dogs. Thanks for the nostalgia

[@Kaleen_YT]

No problem

[@christopherharvie8716]

From the first score Kieran Jack should’ve got a 50 after being plowed into after marking. I said to myself: The fix is in here.

[@maxshiraz3447]

Credit where it's due. As complete under-DOGS they won four finals, including two finals interstate and the GF. Must be one of the greatest finals campaigns

[@gwilkes5325]

Weren’t underdogs, 3rd best team in the comp, only placed 7th because of their injuries, played teams they were better than and got favoured by the umps in the granny. Overrated

[@stevemurrell6167]

Credit? For a totally Vic biased one sided umpiring display. Give me a break.

[@brandensimmons653]

The bulldogs vs. giants semifinals was unbelievable I was screaming the whole time at 4am in new York City

[@stevemurrell6167]

Ah yes, the other final we're a NSW team got totally screwed.

[@cauliflowerconnoisseur2710]

Not even a swans fan. but this was the most horrifically officiated game i have ever seen. it was clear from the outset who the AFL wanted to win.

[@StrangeLittlePoet123]

Lol ok

[@cockheadbiter]

@@StrangeLittlePoet123 Yep. Just like 2023 GF.

[@jackhudson2237]

It wasn't just that game, it was the whole finals series for the Bulldogs. I think they genuinely beat Eagles in week 1. But Hawks, Giants then Sydney was just disgusting from the umpires, it couldn't be more obvious.

[@TPX551]

@@cockheadbiter lol? 2023 wasn't bad at all.

[@naf1566]

Your just salty the underdoggies got a flag! 😊

[@davejohnstone5314]

go the fuckin doggies

[@bdh15]

UP THE PUPS!! Winners are grinners, greatest premiership ever ❤️🤍💙

[@stevemurrell6167]

Go 'delusion'.

[@Gus.MonFries]

LMAOOO The most tainted premiership in the history of the game. All the dogs players need ​to hand back their medals for match fixing and cheating @@bdh15

[@sliat1981]

@@bdh154 grand finals and never finishing first in 100 years. Yeah I guess that they deserved it

[@LachlanCalder06]

I was at the West Coast v Bulldogs Elimination Final And 10 year old me at the time burst into tears after the game

[@Zakariyyahyland2007]

Bro 9 year old me burst into tears when we lost the granny😂

[@cheesezus]

I still remember all of these games going to them with my dad and brother when i was 10 years old and going to the grand-final game, i still remember to this day seeing my dad cry when that siren rang crowning us as afl premiers for 2016. Go doggies 🐶

[@stevemurrell6167]

Enjoy your delusion....you know you got a free ride that day.

[@gouanis]

1916 Fitzroy won the wooden spoon and the flag in the same year - look it up

[@P_Poyda]

Just wanna say - recently stumbled across your channel! Well done on the awesome content! Thoroughly enjoying the in analysis of footy. Keep it up!

[@Kaleen_YT]

Much appreciated

[@Code_breaker_]

Swans only got 8 free kicks in the 2016 grand final. Bulldogs got 20 free kicks. A very infamous and controversial grand final. 21 03 2024

[@Chezz377-mb7dh]

And???… are teams supposed to have even free kicks? The pies and saints game tonight was very one sided, doesn’t mean it was poorly umpired.

[@roryo2040]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWSUkoqsisZ0o8Usi=R8SFahI59avItS5c​@@Chezz377-mb7dh

[@christopherryan7780]

In a game with 192 total tackles the swans got 2 free kicks a quarter… not to mention the below the knees attempts that just somehow got missed. Hannerbury was never the same after that game

[@samuelstevens3438]

Na dogs wanted it more in the end swans took the foot off in the last qtr

[@ramp0649]

@@christopherryan7780 hanneburys incidentwas nothing that could be a free wood got the ball brought it in hannebury still went for it and it didnt work out for him

[@merkx403]

I am a Pies fan but I was super happy that the Bulldogs won that premiership with the circumstances going into it

[@11Eighty6]

I am a Swans fan but I was super happy that the Eagles won that premiership in 2018 with the circumstances going into it

[@jackwaite4035]

That was the single most rigged game of afl football I have ever seen, neutral fan, couldn't believe what I was watching.

[@StreetWizardCasper]

Lin Jong was such a great player

[@AFLDerby]

Great vid man keep up the work !! I enjoy your content heaps it’s elite !!

[@Kaleen_YT]

Thanks, will do.

[@dylan6480]

Before injuries got em, dogs were 2nd on the ladder and doing awesome That bye week between the last round d of the home And away to finals they got like 7 of their 22 back. It was hardly surprising if you consider that

[@TakeTwoTwins]

GREAT Video can you please do "Best Season Ever?" Based on collingwood ar geelong in their modern premiership win! Your the best!

[@Kaleen_YT]

I'll see

[@papleylivesrentfreeinurhead]

good vid for the engagement, one of the more controversial ones for the fans and ppl love to argue. very well recorded tho

[@reversedizzythebackwardsth7800]

Me who barely cares that the team I support got 16th that year

[@andrewkraz7868]

As a Hawks supporter, I still think of this flag by the Dogs as my favourite. 👍😊

[@stevemurrell6167]

Whose surprised this comes from a stupid Swans hating Hawk fan....as deluded as Bulldog fans.

[@ninjaskeleton6140]

Essendon’s grand final win in 1993 was better. Half the team was aged between 17 and 21.

[@Repomidnight]

And then it somehow became all about Bob Murphy, which made even less sense. I think this was all a conspiracy concocted by Gerard Wheatley.

[@2kislife12]

Ling jong became a teacher at my primary school for a few months

[@OddAutoAnalysis]

I don’t go for Sydney nor bulldogs but this is definitely one of the most rigged Grandfinals ever.

[@StrangeLittlePoet123]

How?

[@Code_breaker_]

Yep...Swans only got 8 free kicks in the 2016 grand final. 21 03 2024

[@Code_breaker_]

Yep...Swans only got 8 free kicks in the 2016 grand final. 21 03 2024

[@OddAutoAnalysis]

@@StrangeLittlePoet123 the free kick count was 20-8 in favour of the dogs and they only lost by 22, if the free kick count was even they probably would’ve won

[@roryo2040]

​@@StrangeLittlePoet123 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWSUkoqsisZ0o8Usi=R8SFahI59avItS5c

[@TheCharcoalchicken]

Greatest finals campaign of all time In modern day AFL anyway

[@77nahnah]

Downright match fixing and cheating the entire 2016 finals series. Can’t wait for the day that it all comes out and those responsible are outed

[@shux422]

You'll be waiting a while ROFL 😂

[@77nahnah]

@@shux422 hahaha no shit. Afl will continue to cover it up and act like they never get a decision wrong

[@MrAtosAyyyy]

Thought they came out and apologised for it? ​@@77nahnah

[@Dylan-bc2po]

So the whole reason the dogs got through the 2016 finals series was because of the umps?

[@77nahnah]

@@Dylan-bc2po. West coast win was 100 a fair game dogs were just the better team on the night. The last 3 games however where the afl saw a chance for a money grab and good story. You can possibly sit there even as a bulldogs supporter and think it was fair. The gws prelim was just as bad if not worse then the grand final. There’s a reason the dogs finish on top of the free kick tall every single year. Sure the umpires and afl made plenty betting on that series

[@HorizonOfHope]

It was a beautiful moment when Bob Murphy was brought on stage. Even if the Doggies chucked the ball. A lot. All finals.

[@FlynnM6]

I caught myself craning my neck to the left for Jakes Stringers goal.

[@jamesmitchell774]

I actually put money on the dogs to win from round 3 I can see into the future 😂

[@Zakariyyahyland2007]

Umpires won the 2016 Grand Final not the Bulldogs 😂

[@Gary-vv5gt]

Man that would be a flip if gws won…. That would have ended up the first interstate derby grand final… actually that almost happened some years ago with freo and eagles…

[@matt-parkers-evil-twin]

as a bulldogs fan, bevo was great then, sucks now. get rid of him. great to see us miss finals the year after lol

[@kovaci0000007]

LOLLLLLL literally the most rigged grand final in history, the AFL had to come out and apologize how bad it was. From the first minute it was obvious who was going to win that game and it wasn't going to be the Swans. I was there as a neutral that day and it was even more obvious at the ground just how much the dogs threw and dropped their way to that premiership. Will forever have an *

[@kayethomas7863]

My brother was there too and said the same thing.

[@MaxWynhoven]

Great stuff👍

[@Kaleen_YT]

Cheers

[@Dubslain]

Fantastic video! 👍🏼

[@Kaleen_YT]

Glad you liked it

[@Repomidnight]

I still don’t believe the Dogs won in 2016. It’d be like St.Kilda winning in 2024. I’m typing this after Round 2, who knows???

[@LucUltraRWB]

The vid grindddd ❤❤❤

[@tomktomk5366]

Great campaign and did it without their champion captain Robert Murphy.

[@tommyandrewd]

If you read The Boys Club, the Swans were on the nose with the AFL for ruining their plan to have Buddy at GWS. Makes you think they bent the rules a bit and told the umps to give the Bulldogs any half free and let the ones against them slide. Luckily the Swans have one of the more tame supporter bases and neutrals got caught up in the Bulldogs fairytale.

[@Spotter_Loader]

Personally I have Essington 93 & Dawks 08 as more “unlikely” than Dogs in 16. Mostly on the back of their opposition.

[@BBButters]

I'm sure this narrator has been watching afl his entire life.....

[@Kaleen_YT]

you don't think so?

[@ayhanoguzhan5330]

Most Unlikey Premiership in years

[@dhenderson1810]

If I was Tom Boyd, I would have told Damian Barrett to suck it.

[@JaydenLomeda519]

Sons of the West! Bulldogs are the underdogs! Just like Canterbury from 1995 (they finished 6th)

[@gdbssa]

Getting to the Grand Final was miraculous. The AFL basically gift wrapped them the flag once they were there. Still probably the worst umpired game Ive ever watched.

[@timothyokane766]

Collingwood flags are predicable

[@WhyForWhatNow]

Footy is hard to watch in slow mo 1:40

[@naf1566]

To everyone who said it’s rigged. Your just salty we did something you guys all couldn’t

[@11Eighty6]

No, every other team in the comp did something you couldn't between 1955 and 2015. WIN A FLAG!

[@gwilkes5325]

A top 4 team playing 5th-8th sides, you’d expect the better team to win. No? 3rd playing (effectively) 7th, 5th and 4th isn’t as impressive.

[@naf1566]

@@11Eighty6lowest ranked team ever to win a flag. That’s what’s impressive and yes we didn’t win one for 60 years but WE did win one then. And that’s all that matters

[@11Eighty6]

@@naf1566 and it'll be at least another 60 years the way they are playing before they are even in the conversation again

[@duggadugga2420]

AFl literally admitted it was badly umpired, you got gifted a flag, and everyone that isn't a dogs fan agrees

[@shux422]

2012 Grand Final free kick tally - Hawthorn 21 Sydney 10. Virtually identical and yet we never hear boo about it. Why? Oh yeah it's only a problem when you lose. Dogs were clearly the better team and ran away with it when the game was up for grabs in the last ten minutes. Only a complete idiot would think the Swans were superior on the day.

[@papleylivesrentfreeinurhead]

same hawthorn team that is notoriously known as free kick hawthorn? people complain bc it allowed them to win, im sure there were complaints but once sydney won the game wat is the point of crying when youve won, unless u really care that much. truth is there were plenty of missed frees for the swans, some for bulldogs, but it wouldve evened out in a perfect world, which we dont live in. but ofc people wont complain when theyve won, u think that 11 free kick defecit didnt help the hawks? ofc it did

[@claytonhanson2970]

shux422😊 I couldn't have said it better myself

[@Datdoggyofficial.]

Crows were 8th and won bro

[@Demon.yt87]

W 🔥

[@timothyokane766]

Dogs and Melbourne for mine and tigers of 2020

[@VictorYong36]

Most rigged grand final ever

[@someoneee947]

can’t see how it was rigged ppl js salty honestly

[@RBD_SPORT]

first

[@Zelmazam1]

You are forgetting about freo in 24 25 26 and 27

[@Felix-sn4km]

No

[@tomlong9613]

Who?

[@naf1566]

Your mean the dogs 😏

[@mikewazowski8368]

Saved by the bye, they got half a list back. I'm a Hawthorn supporter and I was kind of glad the doggies beat us tbh because we would have lost to the Giants with all the outs we had and I really didn't want GWS to win at the time. Dogs were my only hope.

[@nathanwillis5489]

It breaks my heart as a Bulldogs supporter to see so much hate instead of respect for what they were able to achieve the bulldogs didn't cheat or break any rules to win the flag I don't understand why everyone is so jealous and salty they had an injury wridden side and would've won by significantly more if they had those boys back come finals they took advantage of the 666 rule and were harder at the contest that's it. There shouldn't be any other argument that's just what it is.

[@kovaci0000007]

Noone is jealous or salty :D the AFL literally had to come out and apologise for the state of the umpiring that game. The most rigged game in AFL history

[@alborzajeli768]

When you win it clean and fair you get the respect you deserve, and unfortunately there was nothing clean about that run or GF... oh well, maybe when they win their next one in 52 years time they'll get the respect they so badly crave.

[@nathanwillis5489]

@@alborzajeli768 Holy shit mate have a fucking cry

[@Dj-iv3gb]

Nobody’s jealous, the afl knew who they wanted to win that day. I mean if my team won the Gf the way the dogs did that day it would feel hollow. I know it’s not entirely the bulldogs fault, my love of the sport has never been the same after this game.

[@lachieeet]

The most rigged Premiership in history.

[@SirChappie10]

I swear a Nuffie or Swans fan comments calling this final Rigged or Bad umpiring. Quicker than Bactria getting on food when it hits the floor.

[@davidcollins8574]

Dont go for either side, but Jeebus, the umps should be sacked for their performance in this GF.

[@CaptainKarma8]

Went to the Prelim final vs Giants with an old mate on the doggies bus to Sydney from Melbourne and as a pies fan it’s the game that sticks in my mind the most besides the ‘23 granny. The crowd was as loud as the G packed, never forget it.

[@jorel128]

Just here for the salty swans fans

[@sliat1981]

The only way bulldogs can get a flag. 4 grand finals since 1925. 100 years and never finished first

[@papaproduction]

I like the content but ur voice is a bit weird g 😂

[@Kaleen_YT]

what should I do to fix it?

[@papaproduction]

prob turn 21@@Kaleen_YT

[@naf1566]

10:17 advantage was called actually

[@Kaleen_YT]

oh yep

[@Muffin-vp9jl]

Is was the craziest final series I have ever seen dogs finished 7 and able to win against the big teams 1st 2nd and 3rd I did not know how bevo Planned this out. And able to nail there way to a premiership

[@ryderspeedie8163]

keep the content up kaleen, doing great stuff

[@Kaleen_YT]

thanks

[@morsrom156]

I hate the "won from 7th" rhetoric. It's so bullshit lol The difference between 1st and 7th in 2016 was 8 points. *Two* wins. Check any other year recently and I doubt it'd be as close as that. In fact, the closest in recent years was three wins back in 2012, with some years having differences of up to 5 wins. Now if a team won from 7th when there is that big a difference in quality, then I'd be calling it a miracle unlikely underdog story. But unfortunately for the doggies, it isn't. People like to imagine that the doggies were complete and utter underdogs and just had the run of their lives in finals, but they were effectively on equal grounds with each team they faced. The only difficulty they faced was having to play four games, not three. They didn't do anything special

[@Kaleen_YT]

I understand, but they still had to beat some really tough teams who had the home ground advantage.

[@shatogirl]

Where were they on the ladder (7th)

[@davidkeel8376]

Doesn't matter how many wins they had, it matters where they finished on the ladder. Finishing 7th meant they had to travel to West Coast, back to Melbourne, up to Sydney and then back to Melbourne again. It was the best finals run of the AFL era mate, don't be salty.

[@gwilkes5325]

@@davidkeel8376 When you’re the 3rd best team in the comp, beating lower teams like the others is not as hard to do

[@naf1566]

@JaydenLoader-lz8jbyour salty. We deserved it fully

[@Dj-iv3gb]

The 2016 GF was when I lost my true love for this sport, the umpiring in this game was atrocious, I know it the swans and it’s expected but 20-8 free kicks in what was a really tight game, really turned me off the sport.

[@xaviermurray5270]

The Bulldogs had already beaten Sydney in Sydney that season. Beating Sydney again, this time in Melbourne, was no upset.

[@dylanm00re]

the swans fans in this comment section are making my day and making the 2016 flag even better ☺️

[@duggadugga2420]

Love how dogs fans try their best to say the gf wasn't rigged when most neutrals agree it was BS. will forever hate the dogs for that travesty

[@timothyokane766]

Dogs nerve should have won that 2016 flag

[@shadzyalex15]

I gotta feel bad for Ling jong after his career was over

[@huwdavies4194]

Horrible umpiring biggest robbery ever

[@Thatt17guy]

The amount of times I heard with a snap is too many times

[@Kaleen_YT]

what else should I say?

[@Thatt17guy]

@@Kaleen_YT No I’m just saying they must of kicked a lot of important snaps

[@AFLGOD5]

He is very happy about ur reply 😂

[@bennybot5739]

I guess they weren't good eough to win it

[@hotkeyafl]

Great analysis. You should do some older games from 90s, 2000s as well.

[@Kaleen_YT]

potentially. and thankyou.

[@Swclips14]

you are a legend

[@WillGibson-vy4eu]

Up the doggies woof woof all the bloody way

[@tommyandrewd]

Is this a Matt Stevic burner account?

[@WillGibson-vy4eu]

@@tommyandrewd nope just a simple doggies fan