If a team's success and triumph is judged on the number of premierships won, then failure and humiliation is surely based on the number of wooden spoons collected.

Wooden spoons "won" by each team have been rated based on the number of teams competing in that season, and by the number of seasons each team has participated in the AFL competition.

After a few fudge factors, a total is calculated to reflect the number of premierships each team would win if they competed in all 112 AFL premiership seasons.

If you are wondering why the last-placed team receives the mythical "wooden spoon", the phrase is derived from a Cambridge University custom of presenting spoons to students after maths examinations.

In 1811, there were three classes of honours degree: the first (called Wranglers) were said to be born with golden spoons in their mouths; the second (Senior Optimes) had silver spoons in their mouths; and the third (Junior Optimes) were born with lead spoons. The last Junior Optime received the "wooden spoon", with the joke being that he was only fit to stay at home and stir porridge.