Kane Cornes rates the last 26 AFL premiers (SEN)

[one-eyed]

Today was 22-26. Two of ours were in his bottom 5.

Cornes rates the last 26 AFL premiers

By SEN
21 Jan 2026

26 - Western Bulldogs (2016)

25 - Sydney (2005)

24 - Richmond (2017)

“They also broke a drought, 37 years, off the back of a 13th placed finish win 2016.

“They had two All-Australians (Alex Rance and Dustin Martin) that year and it was the emergence of one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen with one of the best individual years (Martin).

“Hosted a Qualifying Final when they didn’t deserve it and beat Geelong. They definitely had some fortune to have that game played in front of 70 per cent of your fans on your home deck.

“The year was built off swarming front-half pressure, almost revolutionised the game with that tactic and everyone tried to copy it.

“It’s remarkable that this group won. A different story as they went on to build this dynasty but when looking through the names - Astbury, Grimes turned out to be an excellent player but at that stage probably wasn’t, Ellis, Grigg, Lambert, Butler, Caddy, Edwards, Broad, Graham, McIntosh - a lot of role payers.

“A great story because it was a pivotal moment for the club. But in terms of superstars throughout the lineup at that stage in 2017, they weren’t there, other than the emergence of Dusty.”

23 - Richmond (2020)

“That was a strange year.

“At the Gabba in that Grand Final Dustin Martin turned it on again.

“But I don’t think they were the best team that year.”


22 - Collingwood (2010)

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/01/20/kane-cornes-afl-premiership-rankings-2000-to-2025

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I listened to this segment as I thought one of Bill Simmons better segments that he has plagiarised. The main issue that I had was that he used talent that resulted in flags and used role players almost as a byproduct of what it took to win a flag. So, I assume, a role player is part of a coaching strategy or tactic that gives less talented players something to do. I think he misses the point - particularly when those role players win multiple flags. Take David Astbury as one example. He was cited by Kornes as an example of a role player that diluted the talent pool of that premiership team but was given a role by the coach that helped win a flag. I think that is selling him a bit short. He also cited Shane Edwards who was a super star but Kornes had him as a rolw player.

When a side wins 3 flags, it’s hard for me to buy into the concept that 2 of those flags had less talent that another one in this century that just jagged the one. Collingwood (both flags), Swans (both flags), Eagles 2006 and 2018, Port (2004) all to me had less talent that was spread evenly across all lines if the ground.

I’ll finish with this from Lethal when previewing the 2017 GF - he said Adelaide had more stars in the team but Richmond has superstars across each line of the ground with the right balance of support to those stars.

That balance of our talent coupled with the game plan made those players the best 2 or 3 teams this century which I think highlights a flaw in Kaneo’s logic

[Andyy]

no doubt he'll have 2019 at #21 haha

[mightytiges]

23 - Richmond (2020)

“That was a strange year.

“At the Gabba in that Grand Final Dustin Martin turned it on again.

“But I don’t think they were the best team that year.”

Yeah right, Kane 

[Damo]

23 - Richmond (2020)

“That was a strange year.

“At the Gabba in that Grand Final Dustin Martin turned it on again.

“But I don’t think they were the best team that year.”

Yeah right, Kane 

It’s very debatable that we were
I can’t blame him for this opinion
In fact I don’t think we were

But let’s see what he has to say about 2018, when we were the best team and let one slip

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Damo, the main issue I have with this rating based on his criteria was that it was our third flag, was back to back and won away from the G.
Can’t fluke 3 flags.
These are all criteria he has used to evaluate the talent.

[camboon]

I agree, a fluke is one ,  like when this self obsessed professional baiter played as a tagger because couldn’t get his own ball.
History will show 3 premierships at Richmond as an era and a great team and Port as a very average team and Kane Cornes as a jealous little man who is a self entitled mass  to baiter.

[Damo]

Damo, the main issue I have with this rating based on his criteria was that it was our third flag, was back to back and won away from the G.
Can’t fluke 3 flags.
These are all criteria he has used to evaluate the talent.

All fair enough
But I still think we were the best team in 2018, 18w 4l and 136%, finishing two games clear on top. In 2020 we won 12 from 17 and finished third on the ladder. Then lost week one of the finals and scraped home in the prelim. 

By Kane’s assessment in 2020 and having us ranked low because he didn’t think we were the best , one would hope he assesses 2018 low because of the same reasoning.

[Tiger Khosh]

We were the best team in it all 3 years.

2017 and 2019 by the time finals rolled around we were demolishing opponents. The only game that was closish was the 19 prelim against the cats, even then comfortably out ran them in the second half.

2020 was actually the closest we were to the chasing pack, combination of playing outside of VIC, shortened quarters and just the glory days coming to an end I reckon. Lost qualifying final, comfortable win in semi final, very close prelim and then a similar story vs Geelong in the granny where we just overran them in the 2nd half.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Damo, the main issue I have with this rating based on his criteria was that it was our third flag, was back to back and won away from the G.
Can’t fluke 3 flags.
These are all criteria he has used to evaluate the talent.

All fair enough
But I still think we were the best team in 2018, 18w 4l and 136%, finishing two games clear on top. In 2020 we won 12 from 17 and finished third on the ladder. Then lost week one of the finals and scraped home in the prelim. 

By Kane’s assessment in 2020 and having us ranked low because he didn’t think we were the best , one would hope he assesses 2018 low because of the same reasoning.

On that logic alone, Eagles 2018 flag has to be behind our 2020 one. I would throw in Swans and Eagles in 2005 and 2006 as well. Even Port 2004 and Cats in 2022, for all of the hoopla of their h and a record, it didn’t stack up when it mattered