One great finals game is all it can take see your name etched amongst the greatest to pull on the boots.
Max Gawnโs performance last Friday against Geelong is one of these performances. Honestly, I was shocked he didnโt crack the double ton on Supercoach.
19 disposals, five goals, six tackles 33 hit-outs and five clearances is a stat line any ruckman would give their left leg for.
'Big Maxyโs prelim' performance left me pondering some of the greatest acts seen over the last 50 years.
Excluding Grand Finals and brilliant quarters such as Nick Davis โCome to Savisโ and Anthony Koutoufidies' efforts in '99, I have narrowed down a top 10 of individual games that will go down in the annals of Australian rules history.
8. Gary Ablett Sr. - 1989 Preliminary Final
23 disposals, 22 kicks, 10 marks, one handball and 8.5ย
Fresh off a seven goal, seven behind effort against Melbourne in the Semi-Final, Gary Ablett Sr put together possibly the greatest month of football ever seen.
Although Geelong were at their dominant best heading into the 1989 finals, they were humbled by a hungrier Essendon side and walloped to the tune of 76-points in the seres' opening week. Not one to be put off, Ablett Sr turned on the jets and kicked 24 goals in the remaining three finals.
A 170-point turn around on the back of Ablett's prowess saw the Cats easily dismantle the Bombers. 'God' set the tone early, with 12 kicks and four goals before setting up three more as Geelong had 14 majors on the board at half-time. Brutal.
