THE BEST INDIVIDUAL GAMES OF THE DECADE
Against the Kangaroos, ‘Danger’ had 48 disposals (23 contested), had 11 inside 50s, 13 clearances and kicked two goals. It was, as some suggested at the time, “a performance for the ages”. The Roos opted not to tag, and it hurt them. at quarter-time, the Hawks overran Geelong with Mitchell collecting 38 touches, eight inside 50s and 11 clearances.
Gold Coast lost its Round 8 game to Adelaide by almost 10 goals, but Ablett was a clear-cut best on ground. He kicked four of his team’s first five goals, had 41 disposals, laid eight tackles, had eight inside 50s, 13 clearances and 23 contested possessions.
LeCras feasted on the hapless Bombers. In a superb display of precision goalkicking and a capacity of being in the right place at the right time, the West Coast forward kicked 12 goals and two behinds. He later said he didn’t want the game to end.
It was the game that ended Dean Bailey’s AFL coaching career and one of Steve Johnson’s finest individual moments. The Cats mauled Melbourne by 189 points, Stevie J providing seven goals, 34 disposals, 10 goal assists, nine marks, six inside 50s, six marks inside 50 and five clearances, yet amazingly only got two Brownlow votes.
In a decade where goals dried up to their lowest levels in half a century, Lance Franklin’s 13 goals against North Melbourne in Launceston in 2012 was a thankful throwback to the big bags of yesterday. The then Hawk forward hadn’t kicked a goal until late in the first term before he unleashed his power.