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

2. Melbourne (105 vs 103) Brisbane - Round 18

MCG
Crowd: 38,030

This business-end clash between two top four sides promised an intense and highly skilled battle between the unstoppable Brisbane force and the unbreakable Melbourne wall.

Though it managed to overdeliver.

This match wanted for nothing; the drama of comebacks, champion goals from young stars and an all-time performance from big Max Gawn.

Melbourne were overwhelming from the first bounce, with four on the trot quickly and two from Christian Petracca in a forward-half magnet move that was lifting Melbourne's premiership credentials.

Brisbane's 'MCG hoo-doo' seemed to be haunting them, until a fast passage of skilful corridor footy told everyone watching that they were here to play.

Gradually, the Lions fought their way back, and were led by their young star Will Ashcroft who nailed a big-time major from 40 out on the boundary to cut it to 12. He was then matched by an equally impressive play by fellow draftee Jaspa Fletcher running back with the flight to secure an intercept mark, before turning to run and setting sail from a similar spot, cutting the margin to five.

Brisbane took a lead into half-time and expanded it early into the third before the next youngster stood up and delivered, this time for Melbourne.

Taj Woewodin, playing his second game of AFL footy, received the ball and ran towards his first goal in the big time from the same patch of grass as Ashcroft's in the previous quarter, sending the Demons players and fans into hysteria.

For the next 20 minutes of action, Brisbane were compelling, breaking away to a 28-point lead with corridor explosions. If not for a mammoth Max Gawn set shot, well described by Brian Taylor on call as a "rain-maker", the lead may have proved too much for a Melbourne comeback.

Brisbane kept responding to Melbourne's jabs, yet Melbourne kept lifting the intensity of the match. Late in the third, a flash handball from Kysaiah Pickett created a goal from a Christian Petracca banana in a stunning play to keep them in it.

Melbourne looked to be doing their best Craig McRae and Collingwood impression heading into a dramatic final term.

Still, the margin never dropped below four goals until seven minutes to go, when Pickett again mesmerised defenders, beating two Lions to the ball and kicking a pivotal goal to allow his side a puncher's chance.

With five minutes to go, Max Gawn laced out Jake Melksham with a beautiful pop-up kick for a shot 30 out on the boundary line. A left foot snap was his first for the quarter and cut the margin to 12.

With two minutes to go, Jack Viney ripped a staggeringly strong hard-ball get from the hands of the 108kg Oscar McInerney, before spinning and snapping on the non-preferred to cut it to a kick.

Five points separated the two powerhouses when Gawn stepped up again, cleanly grabbing and delivering the ball to Angus Brayshaw from a stoppage.

The ball was sent high for a shallow entry inside 50. Jake Melksham timed his run perfectly from the pocket and flew for a juggling contested mark for the biggest kick of his life. Melksham marched in, leaned back, and snuck in his second goal for the quarter, taking a one-point lead and completing an astonishing comeback.

A somewhat controversial Jake Lever intercept mark preceded the final siren, confirming Melbourne's miracle.