Stop Overrating the JLT

When it comes to the JLT or the NAB Cup or even way back in the Wizard Cup days fans can’t seem to make up their mind you have the person when their team loses “ It’s only the JLT means nothing” or the fan when their team wins “ ITS COMING HOME BOYS YOU BETTER BELIVE IT GONNA BOOK MY GRAND FINAL TICKET NOW AND TELL MY BOSS I AM NOT COMING INTO WORK UNTIL EARLY NOVEMBER”. The reality is you most of it you cannot read much into but there is a few small things you can read into. If you look at the 2019 JLT series 6 of the 8 finalists are set with West Coast, Brisbane, St Kilda, Adelaide, Collingwood and Richmond booking their top 8 spot after two pre-seasons win. Prelim finalist Melbourne top four Hawthorn and Essendon are due for a year of disappointment after no recording a single win in the JLT, but history has shown us this good preseason form does not mean good season form.

 

 

Not so long ago in 2016 there were three teams that finished the NAB Challenge undefeated those three teams where Melbourne, Collingwood and the 2015 Minor Premiers Fremantle. Melbourne defeated Port Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. Melbourne ended up finishing 11th. Collingwood defeated Geelong, North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs. All three of these team went on to play finals while Collingwood finished 12th. Fremantle who came so close to making their 2nd Grand Final the year before in 2015 defeated Richmond, Adelaide and Geelong they went on to have their second worse year in their history winning only four games and not winning their first game until round eleven they ended the season in 16th position.

 

Carlton has a well-known history of doing well in the pre-season and having a poor year in 2005 they defeated West Coast to win the Wizard Cup but went on to win their 2nd wooden spoon with only four wins for the season. Two years later they defeated Brisbane in the final of the now NAB cup to finish the regular season in 15th position on again four wins.

 

Speaking of Brisbane, they won the final NAB Cup over Carlton in a rematch of their 2007 classic the season ended with Brisbane coach Michael Voss getting the sack.

 

So if you’re a supporter of St Kilda don’t go out for final tickets just yet and if you’re a fan of Brisbane first of all welcome back been a while since we have seen you and also despite the unnecessary media hype remember you won as many games in 2018 as you did when you won the spoon in 2017.