“It is so hard”: Malcolm Blight’s warning to footy media and fans

Malcolm Blight has shed some light on just how difficult it is to win a premiership in the AFL.

The two-time Adelaide premiership coach says he gets sick of the constant criticism towards certain clubs by the media and supporters alike when a team is in the midst of a flag drought.

Blight is constantly irked by the chatter around the apparent underperformance of some clubs and is always quick to leap to the defence of those stuck in premiership purgatory.

The V/AFL legend referenced a number of clubs and their recent or ongoing premiership droughts which highlights just how tricky the caper really is.

“I just want to get something off my chest,” Blight sad on SEN’s Sportsday SA.

“I’ve been a coach for a lot of years and there’s been good times and bad times, we all know that.

“This is about the new clubs that have come into the competition, not the original 12 clubs. What people don’t realise is how hard a premiership is to win.

“Melbourne, who won a few years ago, had to wait 57 years to win one. Carlton right now are on 29 years, Sydney took 72 years to win.

“The Crows have been 26 years and Port Adelaide are 20 years. They’re babies compared to these numbers.

“The Western Bulldogs took 62 years to win. Geelong took 44 years, and I was part of that (drought). Richmond were 37 years, they’ve just come off three.

“You get what I’m saying? They are so hard to win.

“Brisbane 21 years, Essendon 24 years, North Melbourne 25 years.”

Blight provided a warning to the footy media and fans who criticise those clubs who aren’t always winning flags.

“Listen to this, people out there that want to have a crack (about), ‘we haven’t won a premiership’ - it is so hard,” he added.

“Particularly these days with the salary cap and drafting, and you can get lucky and all that sort of stuff. I tell you what, the best thing you can do as a coach or a player at a club is try and get the one on the way up. Because I’ll guarantee you, there’s going to be a lot of down years.

“They are horrific numbers. People here in Adelaide and in Perth, and to some degree Brisbane and Sydney, don’t get that.

“They are bloody difficult to win and sometimes they take forever. So just sacking another coach or sacking 20 players or sacking administration is not the way to go.

“Find the right people, put a stake in the ground and then hang on.”

Listen to Blight on the matter below: