HOODOOS are the hardest thing in footy to break, and they get tougher as they get longer.
Surprisingly, there are 38 of these hoodoos across the VFL and former NEAFL where one team has had it over another for at least five matches.
Some of those have stretched out longer than a decade, and even longer than a century (notwithstanding the fact the teams were in different leagues for more than 100 years!)
Given three of these hoodoos were extended at the weekend – two where the losing team was in a strong position to get the gorilla off its back – and another four come up this weekend, it’s a perfect time to have a look at the clubs who simply have the wood on their rivals.
Let’s start with the biggest ones of all.
WILLIAMSTOWN v FRANKSTON – 19½ WINS
The Dolphins were undefeated heading into this game at the weekend but were once again blown off the park by a powerful Seagulls outfit. Frankston has not beaten Williamstown in its past 20 meetings dating back to August 7, 2005, although there was a draw in 2012. The Seagulls enjoy an average winning margin of 54 points in that time, and have won 24½ out of their past 26.
BOX HILL HAWKS v FRANKSTON – 15½ WINS
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, their recent woes mean they feature heavily in this list, although they must be confident of breaking some of them this season. It has been 16 matches since they knocked off the Hawks, way back on June 24, 2007, with an average loss of 44 points. They drew the first of the run in August 2007. Frankston gets its next chance in Round 16.
SYDNEY/SOUTH MELBOURNE v WILLIAMSTOWN – 14½ WINS
These teams obviously haven’t met since 1896, but they locked horns 15 times from 1884 until that date and the Southerners, as they were known back then, never lost to Williamstown. The boys from Hobsons Bay have only a draw (under the scoring system of the day) in their second meeting in 1884 to show for those 13 seasons of football. They do not meet in 2021.
WILLIAMSTOWN v COBURG – 14 WINS
The Seagulls are back on the positive side of the ledger here, having dominated the Lions in their past 14 meetings dating back to July 20, 2008. In that time, Williamstown has averaged 51 points to the good, although Coburg will think it can finally turn the tables in Round 17.
BOX HILL HAWKS v SANDRINGHAM – 12½ WINS
The Zebras must have thought their time had come when they kicked nine goals in the second quarter to lead the Hawks by 39 points at half-time in round three, but that monkey just wouldn’t let go and the Hawks charged home to extend their unbeaten streak to 13. Sandringham had a draw in 2014, but hasn’t saluted over Box Hill since March 25, 2012, losing by an average of 31 points.
GEELONG v COBURG – 12 WINS
Like Frankston, Coburg has had a rough trot in recent years, meaning it is presently on a few losing runs it hopes to break this season. The Lions have lost 12 in a row to the Cats by an average of 41 points and haven’t sung the song in this clash since April 18, 2009. Could Thursday Night Footy at the Cattery in Round 6 finally be the day?
GEELONG v FRANKSTON – 11 WINS
The Cats have also run roughshod over the Dolphins in recent times, clocking up 11 wins in a row since August 30, 2008. And most of those have not been pretty – the average winning margin sits at 72 points. They don’t meet this year, so it will stretch a bit longer.
BOX HILL HAWKS v COBURG – 11 WINS
The Lions are another good opponent for the Hawks, with their contrasting fortunes in the past decade translating to on-field results. The last time the Lions beat Box Hill was on April 28, 2012, losing 11 matches by an average of 48 points. They are scheduled to meet in Round 13.
WERRIBEE v FRANKSTON – 10 WINS
This is Frankston’s fourth unfortunate appearance in the top 10, and the Tigers have taken full toll of the Dolphins’ battles. They have won 10 in a row since July 19, 2009, by an average of 51 points. They do battle again in Round 19 this year.
ESSENDON v NORTHERN BULLANTS/NORTHERN BLUES – 9 WINS
It has been a long time since the Bullants were able to shoot down the Bombers – 19 years in fact. Essendon has only lost once in 12 meetings with the Preston men, which came on April 14, 2002. The Bombers have won those past nine by an average of 53 points. They next run into each other in Round 10.
NEXT IN LINE
SYDNEY/SOUTH MELBOURNE v PORT MELBOURNE – 8
Last Loss – June 18, 1892. Average Margin – 18 points. Next Meeting – not in 2021
COLLINGWOOD v NORTH MELBOURNE – 7 (plus two draws)
Last Loss – July 9, 1892 (drew 1894 and 1895). Average Margin – 16 points. Next Meeting – not in 2021
COLLINGWOOD v COBURG – 8
Last Loss – June 24, 2012. Average Margin – 25 points. Next Meeting – not in 2021
GOLD COAST v SOUTHPORT – 8
Last Loss – July 5, 2014. Average Margin – 47 points. Next Meeting – Round 6, Friday, May 21, Fankhauser Reserve
CASEY DEMONS v COBURG – 8
Last Loss – August 24, 2014. Average Margin – 45 points. Next Meeting – not in 2021
BRISBANE LIONS v GOLD COAST – 8
Last Loss – August 12, 2017. Average Margin – 53 points. Next Meeting – Thursday Night, Metricon Stadium
ESSENDON v FRANKSTON – 7½
Last Loss – July 28, 2001 (drew 2014). Average Margin – 74 points. Next Meeting – Sunday, Windy Hill
PORT MELBOURNE v FRANKSTON – 7
Last Loss – April 14, 2013
GEELONG v WERRIBEE – 7
Last Loss – June 21, 2014
PORT MELBOURNE v COBURG – 7 (meet Saturday, ETU Stadium)
Last Loss – August 1, 2015
RICHMOND v SANDRINGHAM – 7
Last Loss – April 30, 2016
NORTHERN BULLANTS/NORTHERN BLUES v FRANKSTON – 7
Last Loss – August 8, 2016
SYDNEY/SOUTH MELBOURNE v CARLTON – 6
Last Loss – July 7, 1892
FOOTSCRAY v CARLTON – 6
Last Loss – August 13, 1892
BRISBANE LIONS v SYDNEY – 6
Last Loss – June 30, 2018
BRISBANE LIONS v GWS GIANTS – 5½
Last Loss – June 23, 2016 (drew 2018)
FOOTSCRAY v FRANKSTON – 5
Last Loss – Never
WILLIAMSTOWN v NORTH MELBOURNE – 5
Last Loss – June 30, 1923
NORTHERN BULLANTS/NORTHERN BLUES v COBURG – 5
Last Loss – June 6, 2015
CASEY DEMONS v SANDRINGHAM – 5
Last Loss – August 29, 2015
GOLD COAST v ASPLEY – 5
Last Loss – April 9, 2016
FOOTSCRAY v WERRIBEE – 5
Last Loss – April 30, 2016
BOX HILL HAWKS v NORTHERN BULLANTS/NORTHERN BLUES – 5
Last Loss – June 11, 2016
BOX HILL HAWKS v GEELONG – 5
Last Loss – June 19, 2016
WILLIAMSTOWN v FOOTSCRAY – 5
Last Loss – August 7, 2016
COLLINGWOOD v WERRIBEE – 5
Last Loss – May 13, 2017
WERRIBEE v BOX HILL HAWKS – 5
Last Loss – July 23, 2017
WHO YOUR CLUB HAS NEVER LOST TO*
* Does not include clubs who have never met
ASPLEY: Port Melbourne (played 1 game)
BOX HILL HAWKS: Carlton (4), Gold Coast (1)
BRISBANE LIONS: Essendon (1)
CARLTON: Northern Bullants (3)
CASEY DEMONS: North Melbourne (3), Gold Coast (2)
COBURG: Gold Coast (1), Brisbane Lions (1)
COLLINGWOOD: Gold Coast (3)
ESSENDON: Nil
FOOTSCRAY: Frankston (5)
FRANKSTON: Aspley (1)
GEELONG: Nil
GOLD COAST: Werribee (1½), Frankston (1), Sandringham (1)
GWS GIANTS: Nil (play Richmond for this first time this week)
NORTH MELBOURNE: Coburg (3), Sandringham (2), Box Hill Hawks (2 – meet Sunday, Box Hill City Oval)
NORTHERN BULLANTS/BLUES: Gold Coast (1)
PORT MELBOURNE: Gold Coast (1)
RICHMOND: Nil (plays GWS for this first time this week)
SANDRINGHAM: Nil
SOUTHPORT: North Melbourne (1), Carlton (1)
SYDNEY/SOUTH MELBOURNE: Williamstown 14½
WERRIBEE: North Melbourne (2)
WILLIAMSTOWN: Gold Coast (1)
