One great finals game is all it can take see your name etched amongst the greatest to pull on the boots.
Max Gawn’s performance last Friday against Geelong is one of these performances. Honestly, I was shocked he didn’t 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 Maxy’s 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 ‘Come to Savis’ 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.
1. Dustin Martin - 2019 Qualifying Final
14 disposals, nine kicks, one mark, five handballs, three clearances, six goals and 10 clangers!
Not many possess the ability to re-reach the heights that Dustin Martin had in 2017. However, a poor performance in the 2018 Preliminary Final, meant 'Dusty' was smelling blood in 2019.
In front of the highest crowd ever at the GABBA, the tattooed Tiger put on a complete masterclass kicking six-goals - the most by a Richmond player since our man 'KB' kicked seven in the 1980 final.
The Lions missed gettable goals in the second-quarter and were punished by 'Dusty' on his way to a three-goal third quarter. After this memorable six-goal bag, Martin would go on to kick 13 from his next five finals, winning another two Norm Smith's, cementing his position in the annals of Australian Rules Football History.
