Blowing the roof off: The top 25 moments at Marvel Stadium

The year is 2000, March 9, and the freshly minted venue at the Docklands hosted its first ever AFL game between Essendon and Port Adelaide.

It was the first time that AFL football was played under a roof, and the Bombers, on their way to a premiership, defeated the Power by 94 points.

Twenty-five years later, and multiple name changes, the venue still holds a special place in the heart of Melbourne.

Hosting blockbuster sporting matches spanning AFL to international cricket, as well as mouth-dropping events like Ronda Rousey's upset loss at UFC 193 and an Adele concert that drew 77,327 fans, the Docklands stadium has done it all.

On Friday, two custodians of the ground, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs, will honour the momentous occasion of the stadium's 25-year anniversary.

Hosting over 1100 AFL games, we take you through 25 (in no particular order) of the biggest moments at the venue...

Moorcroft Mark

The winner of the 2001 Mark of the Year was no surprise after the Essendon small forward took flight under the roof.

The Bombers were fresh off a premiership and were atop the AFL ladder when they faced the Western Bulldogs under the lid.

Up until Round 14, Moorcroft had been quiet, kicking only three goals in nine games, but when we soared to the clouds in the opening term, it left everyone gobsmacked.

20 years ago today, one of the greatest marks of all time was taken.

And didn't Bruce McAvaney love it!

Has there been a better grab than Gary Moorcroft's in 2001? pic.twitter.com/myS5iLvz9J

— AFL (@AFL) July 5, 2021

A hack kick from Scott Lucas kept the ball in motion, and ultimately contributed to one of the greatest marks in the history of the game.

Franklin's coming of age

There are many moments fans throw up as "the coming of age" of Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin.

One of the best goal kickers the game has ever seen, the man known as 'Buddy' could literally do it all. In the air. On the ground. On the run. Set shot.

In just his third season at the level, the Hawks, to the dismay of the competition, were on the rise, led by their No. 23.

Franklin kicked 73 goals (and 62 behinds) in 2007, but saved a seven-goal haul for the elimination final against Adelaide.

And his final major, with only seconds remaining on the clock, was a thing of beauty.

The best home-and-away game ever (2009)

It is rare that two undefeated teams face off in Round 14 of an AFL season, but 16 years ago, the Saints and Cats clash turned in a classic worthy of the occasion.

Foreshadowing a superb grand final nearly three months later, 54,444 football fans packed into the then Etihad Stadium to witness the game of the season. And the two teams didn't disappoint.

St Kilda led for almost the entire match after kicking the first five goals of the game. But a Geelong surge saw the Mark Thompson-coached side draw level at the 24-minute mark of the final term, as a Matthew Stokes major made it 85 apiece.

Enter ruckman and former Eagle Michael Gardiner, who took a legacy-making pack mark, similar to what you'd see in a schoolyard.

After coming down with the footy, Gardiner would subsequently slot his fourth major and poke his tongue out in a moment that would go down in footy folklore.

1st v 2nd.

Round 14, 2009.

Michael Gardiner stood tall when it mattered most in this epic top-of-the-table clash. pic.twitter.com/WEtlzNG2vH

— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2018

Tigers turmoil as star suffers horrific injury

The Tigers were flying up until Round 9 during the 2005 season, which was Terry Wallace's first year in charge.

A top-four clash with Melbourne would ultimately derail Richmond's year, with star forward Nathan Brown going down with a horrific leg break.

Demons defender Matthew Whelan attempted to smother a kick from Brown, breaking two bones in his right leg.

The matchwinner snapped both his tibia and fibula, which required rods and screws to be inserted during surgery.

Brown, up until that point, had kicked 34 goals from 10 games, including the Demons clash.

And although he retired at the end of 2009, he was never the same.

Embed from Getty Images

Hill's climb sees second biggest comeback under roof

Collingwood's 54-point comeback against North Melbourne in Round 14, 2024, had everything.

The reigning premiers were being smashed by a ruthless and youthful Kangaroos outfit, who led by nine goals early in the third term.

As the Pies stormed back into the contest, led by the skilful and crafty Bobby Hill, North Melbourne fans began to worry, as the grim reaper closed.

A tally of 37 goals in pristine conditions under the roof at Marvel Stadium, it was Hill who took flight during the mountainous comeback that placed this game in footy folklore. He was awarded the Mark of the Year.

The Collingwood victory ranks seventh for all-time comebacks, but second at the Docklands venue, falling just shy of St Kilda's win (from a 55-point deficit) over the Western Bulldogs in 2015.

What a hanger this was 😮‍💨

Bobby Hill takes home the 2024 @virginaustralia Mark of the Year! pic.twitter.com/VLl82gxDuF

— AFL (@AFL) September 23, 2024

Car crash on the field

The sickening 2010 collision between Jordan Lewis and Jarrod Harbrow runs shivers up the spine, and what is even more shocking is that the Hawks midfielder returned to play.

It happened during the second quarter of the Round 3 clash between Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, when a courageous Lewis ran back with the flight into oncoming traffic.

Harbrow cannoned into a vulnerable Lewis, who was immediately concussed, whilst his arm was partly contorted.

Lewis somehow escaped suffering any facial damage, and says he doesn't recall the car crash-like incident.

Incredibly, and almost ridiculously, after being stretchered from the field, the Hawks premiership star returned to the field in the final term.

Embed from Getty Images

Docklands open for business

The stadium first opened its doors in March 2000 for an AFL match between Essendon and Port Adelaide.

Named Colonial Stadium at the time, the venue welcomed 43,012 fans inside the iconic roofed ground. The Bombers were victorious, kicking off their soon-to-be premiership campaign with a 94-point win over the Power.

Champion goalkicker Matthew Lloyd booted seven goals, while favourite son James Hird slotted four.

However, the umpires saw Jason Johnson's 21 disposals and two goals as the standout performance, awarding him the three Brownlow votes.

Embed from Getty Images

Big, bad Barry does it again

Barry Hall is not someone to be trifled with, and his history of bad behaviour confirms it.

In Round 9, 2010 against North Melbourne, the Bulldogs forward was simply tying his boots, and renowned antagonist Scott Thompson was attempting to get in his head.

The irony of what happened next lives with those who witnessed Hall place Thompson in a headlock, and while the Kangaroos defender had teammates in support, it was to no avail.

Shockingly, Hall wasn't suspended, but merely issued a fine of $4000, which had the option of an early plea ($3000).

LeCras dozen downs Dons

West Coast goalsneak Mark LeCras found no difficulty in finding the big sticks throughout his illustrious career, and in Round 16, 2010, he had his career-best performance.

Spanning 14 seasons, and 219 games, LeCras, aside from that faithful day, never kicked more than six goals, but against the Bombers, he'd double his next best tally.

The Eagles won four games in 2010, largely thanks to the crafty forward.

LeCras slotted 12 goals and rarely missed an opportunity inside 50.

The Tip Rat finds the mark

St Kilda gun small forward Stephen Milne terrorised opponents throughout his career, and was at his antagonising best during a 2005 outing against recent three-peaters Brisbane.

There was no shortage of ways Milne would defeat the opposition, and on his day, during his 11-goal haul, he pulled out his entire trick bag.

The 46,105 in attendance saw one of the greatest displays ever by a small forward, with the rampaging Milne unable to be curbed by the desperate Lions defence.

The lively forward also joined the esteemed company of Tony Lockett and Bill Mohr to kick 10-plus goals in a game.

It was a career haul.

Reimers who? 

Essendon small forward Kyle Reimers wasn't a well-known name, and during his six-year stint and 60 matches, he kept a relatively low profile.

But everyone has 'those' days, and in Round 6, 2011 against the AFL's newest club, the Gold Coast Suns, Reimers produced something special.

The Peel Thunder product slotted eight goals on the way to the Bombers' monster 139-point win on a Sunday afternoon, which came off the back of a 15-goal opening term.

McCartney comeback

This touched the hearts of many as North Melbourne champion Jason McCartney returned to the football field for one last time.

Just 237 days earlier, McCartney had been part of the fatal blast in Bali that killed 202 people, and left him with second-degree burns to 50 per cent of his body, almost costing him his life.

The three-club player nearly died in surgery after learning that his injuries were far more severe than first thought.

In the lead-up to his return, McCartney played seven games in the VFL, and earned his senior recall in Round 11, 2003.

Fittingly, he slotted a goal and sang the song, and after the siren, he announced his retirement.

Buddy Ton

Only three have achieved the feat since 2000, albeit it took the extra games in the final series for Matthew Lloyd (2000 and 2001) and Fraser Gehrig (2004) to salute the century.

But not Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, who was central to Hawthorn's famous rise to a premiership in 2008, defeating a near-perfect Geelong in the Grand Final.

Franklin had over 200 scores that year, going at an accuracy rate of 56 per cent (113.88), and it all came down to the last round of the season.

Buddy needed two goals against the Blues as the Hawks locked in second spot. Ironically, Carlton star Brendan Fevola needed eight goals to join Franklin as a centurion. He was stranded on 99.

Late in the first term, Cyril Rioli found an open Franklin, and all fans, as customs dictate, were ready to jump the fence.

Let's say, the rest is history.

Carey v Roos 

It was the first time Wayne Carey faced his former side, North Melbourne, following the cheating scandal involving club icon Anthony Stevens.

Carey quickly departed the Kangaroos and missed the entire 2002 season, before being picked up by Adelaide.

In Round 6 the following year, the pair faced off at the Docklands.

Hird's hug 

It's not every day you get hugged by an AFL player who just kicked the match-winning goal, but in 2004, one lucky Essendon fan experienced it.

Essendon champion James Hird's matchwinner against West Coast in Round 3, and subsequent hug, was fitting.

Throughout the week, Hird flirted the line of de-registration after scathing criticism of a field umpire, which the league didn't take too kindly.

The Bombers were off to a poor start in 2004, and Hird singled out Scott McLaren during an interview on The Footy Show.

But when the whips were cracking, that's when Hird stood up, kicking three goals from 34 disposals, but also etching an iconic moment into football history.

Fitzy, Hutchy's legendary moments in EJ Whitten Legends Game

These were a staple of the AFL calendar, and the return of the Legends Game is a sight for sore eyes.

With many moments to filter through the iterations of the years, it can be summed up in two.

In the nail-biting 2011 clash between the All Stars and Victoria, footy media mogul Craig Hutchison kicked one of the most replayed goals in the history of the game, taking on larrikin and former Adelaide player Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald on the mark (whilst his shorts were down).

Ironically, late in the fourth term, it was Fitzy who was disallowed a goal after the replay showed he kicked the ball after the siren, giving the Vics the victory.

Sheedy gesture causes waves

Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy stormed down to the field after hearing that player Mark Johnson was flattened by Eagle Mitchell White.

At the half-time break, Sheedy was seen walking straight towards White, making a slit throat gesture.

Sheedy was fined $7500 by the tribunal after making a cut-throat gesture to then-Eagle Mitchell White during the half-time break of the Bombers-West Coast clash in round 15, 2000.

Embed from Getty Images

Geelong's massacre of Richmond

It makes for surreal reading: 157-point winners.

Geelong were on a tear, and heading towards the 2007 premiership when they ran into an undermanned Richmond outfit in Round 6.

The Cats inflicted upon the Tigers their biggest ever loss, as well as the most points conceded, as 35 goals (and 12 behinds) resulted in 222 points.

Geelong had four goal kickers who kicked four (Tom Hawkins, Nathan Ablett, Paul Chapman and Andrew Mackie), while Gary Ablett slotted three from 32 possessions.

Brent Harvey's game-breaking record

The North Melbourne champion proved his durability when topping Michael Tuck's 426-game record against St Kilda in Round 19, 2016.

On an evening dedicated to Brent Harvey, with specially designed guernseys and a packed out Docklands, the Kangaroos saluted the little master with a 23-point win. Harvey kicked one goal and collected 24 disposals.

He played 169 games of his 432 at the roofed venue.

Scott brothers unite as "roof gate" causes mayhem

Geelong and North Melbourne were subject to all the elements Melbourne had to offer in 2013, despite playing at the Docklands.

The roof was left ajar as the sun pierced through the stadium, ultimately serving as a distraction for the players and making it difficult for the broadcasters.

But in typical Melbourne fashion, a huge downpour of rain came in the final term.

"I just don't understand why we don't close the roof," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said at the time.

"There's a policy that when the sun's shining, the roof's open.

"No one likes it; the fans don't like it, the broadcasters hate it, the players hate it. Close it; it's not that hard."

Embed from Getty Images

Riccardi mongrel turns to gold 

It was Round 11, 2002, and Geelong desperately needed some luck after failing to make a meaningful impact on the season.

But a momentary spike of fortune hit Peter Riccardi as he slotted a goal after the siren from 50 metres out.

Generally, a beautiful kick, Riccardi's attempt caused hands to go over eyes, although somehow the football managed to sail through.

To this day, Carlton players claim the ball was touched, but with no goal review technology over two decades ago, the Cats were given the go-ahead.

The Birdman flies

Adelaide's Brett Burton was a known flyer and aerial specialist, arguably one of the best the game's ever seen.

There's no surprise that he was awarded the 2009 Mark of the Year for his effort against Carlton in Round 22.

Andrew 'Jack in the Box' Krakouer soars high

Admittedly, a controversial winner of the 2011 Mark of the Year, Collingwood's Andrew Krakouer literally leapt to the skies.

The Pies were trailing the Crows for the majority of the contest, but a fourth-quarter onslaught set the record straight.

The sheer brilliance from Krakouer saw him pip Carlton's Andrew Walker for the juke of the campaign, but it was also fitting given it was Sir Doug Nicholls Round.