AFL ladder

Geelong recorded its 71st week sitting atop the AFL ladder since 2000 last weekend, but is being the best team during the season a recipe for disaster when ...

And in the club's three premiership years, they sat in second just once out of 64 rounds. It means whatever you want it to mean. In 2008 they were in pole position 18 times before losing to Hawthorn in the grand final. Or is it better to sneak into finals under the cover of darkness wearing one's snazziest camouflage? Go in with low expectations, and leave having them comfortably met. Secondly, you probably don't want to be right up the top for most of the year, with only Essendon (2000), Brisbane (2002), Geelong (2007), Hawthorn (2013) and Melbourne (2021) winning the flag with a median of top spot.