Contenders for the game of the year began on the opening night of the season when a Tom Lynch contested clunk and goal tied up the Richmond vs Carlton opener, setting the scene for one of the greatest home & away seasons in the AFL era.

Nearly every round after produced thrillers, comebacks, upsets and big crowds that make our game so special and have led us to yet another premiership race to not miss a second of.

Last season's Round 23 Carlton vs Collingwood clash saw the home & away season reach heights never before seen in our sport, as the grim reaper in Collingwood stormed home to secure a top four spot, eliminating the Blues in the clear-cut game of the year.

This season saw one side eliminated from contention in even more heartbreaking fashion, while others claimed statement wins throughout the season via comebacks, individual brilliance and close-game artistry.

With a plethora of thrilling battles to choose from, here is the list of the 10 best matches of the 2023 home & away season.

Honourable mentions

6. Melbourne (66 vs 62) Collingwood - Round 13

MCG
Crowd: 83,578

The first ever King's Birthday 'Big Freeze' match in the AFL's history had captivated the sporting nation even before the bounce, as the legendary Neale Daniher received one of the great, heartwarming guards of honour in front of an applauding 84,000 spectators at the MCG.

Collingwood were clearly the benchmark of the competition, but Melbourne had the premiership integrity to match them in one of the most thrilling finishes of 2023.

The halfway point of the first quarter was an early worrying point for Melbourne, three goals to nil down with the similar forward 50 connection issues that had plagued them for multiple seasons.

These issues were amplified by inaccuracy, with three consecutive behinds wasting an opportunity to return serve.

The Demons spent the next hour grinding out an even contest with Collingwood, before countering with three goals, including a return goal for former Pie Brodie Grundy, heading into the fourth.

Without their No.1 contested beast in Clayton Oliver, it was former captain Jack Viney who took it upon himself to win every hardball possible, gaining metres for his side in a territory war.

Two fourth quarter goals for Melbourne looked to be enough as we reached the 27-minute mark, until Brody Mihocek snagged a late mark and goal to allow the Magpies a puncher's chance.

Minutes later, the grim reaper looked on the verge of their finest work as the ball found the hands of Nick Daicos like a magnet inside 50, where he snapped another Collingwood major with time on the clock, a four-point margin and the MCG shaking.

Melbourne needed a late hero to stop the Magpies' run.

It was the cult leader, the former captain, the titan of toughness in Jack Viney, who hard-nosed yet another crucial centre stoppage clearance to gain the necessary territory for Melbourne to win, and for him to earn the Neale Daniher Trophy on a famous day.