Sometimes a player will kick a goal with their first kick of league football. Rarely will they kick two goals with their first two kicks. Matthew Pavlich achieved that rarity in his debut game against Melbourne in 2000.
His first derby saw Michael Gardiner strike the young player, earning himself a two-week ban. However, Fremantle went on to win the game.
Since that early start, Pavlich has been used in a variety of positions, winning All-Australian selection playing in defense, midfield and forward – a club record six-time selection. His reliability and relatively injury-free career has been marked by his value to a team which has had only moderate success.
It would have been attractive to return to his native state, particularly when the Adelaide Crows were having successful seasons. However, Pavlich has proven his character and loyalty by recently signing what will likely be his last AFL contract.
James Hird and others have declared him to be the most versatile and difficult player to match up on in the AFL. When compared to more fancied players like Jono Brown and Nick Riewoldt, it is surprising how little attention the media gives the Dockers captain and AFL Players Association director.
He rarely has an off game, and consistently is one of the best players, showing a versatility that other forwards simply do not have.
While some have criticised him when he has missed a goal or two in important games, they forget how many games he has won for Fremantle, through his own sheer will. Fans remember mighty efforts from the ‘Pav’ in games against Carlton, North Melbourne, Geelong and West Coast, for example.
The lead up to his 250th game was remarkable in its absence from any of the mainstream media. Neither the Channel Nine Footy Show or Before the Game mentioned the milestone.
Perhaps it’s ignorance, or perhaps it’s apathy, but either way, when records are written regarding the Fremantle Dockers, Matthew Pavlich’s name will be remembered as the greatest Docker ever – and the man deserves respect.
Rob McLean
Guest
Suggesting Pav is not a truly great plater is poor form - I imagine Sheehan wasn't that silly to truly believe his suggestion and was just harvesting debate. No one questions Robert Harvey's greatness (I know, he won two Chas') even though his team struggled was starved of premiership success during his career.
Rob McLean
Guest
:) Nice one, Bayman. I might add that Pav's uncle Mark also was an SANFL player, played here in the Riverland for Loxton North and is still very much loved by those who knew him then. I don't think he's been here for around 20 years. Seem like a quality family, as Matthew should be one of the greats and is clearly a nice guy to boot.
Bayman
Guest
I just checked my emails to find one from the Glenelg Football Club announcing Ken McGregor as the new reserves coach - something the "Pav" could only dream about............ This appointment could well close the gap between the career achievements of Kenny and the "Pav". Possibly...........
Brett McKay
Guest
I don't get to see a lot of live AFL, but of the few games I have seen in recent years, Fremantle have been playing and it's hard not to notice Pavlich. Simply put, Pavlich is just about the smoothest, sweetest kicker of a football I think I've seen...
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
They acknowledged Pav's achievement on AFL On The Couch last night but Mike Sheehan then went on to question whether Pav was a truly great player. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. If he was playing for a Melbourne club, even if that club had a similar winning record to the Dockers over the years of his career, Sheehan would be lauding him as one of the all-time best. Thankfully Gerard Healy and Brad Johnson went in to bat for Pav.
Marked
Roar Rookie
Thanks all for your awesome comments. Said so well.
Bayman
Guest
Pavlich has been one of the great players of the modern era. I remember years ago watching the Mighty Tiges against West Torrens when Steve Pavlich was playing for the Eagles. Steve was built like a brick sh*thouse but he was, compared to Pav, a little brick sh*thouse. The modern Pav is a monster and, it must be said, a class above his dad as a player. Literally, head and shoulders above his dad. As a Crows supporter I still have nightmares about the fact that Pavlich was ignored in the draft by the Crows in favour of his Eagles teammate, Ken McGregor. Now Kenny was a lovely lad, the entire blue rinse set absolutely loved him, but there was no comparison when it came to football upbringing, talent and size. Pavlich won out at every level but one. That "one" was a shoulder injury as a young man. Would it stand up? History suggests it might have done and the Crows missed an enormous opportunity. Of course, Kenny played 150 AFL games and can look back at a career of some achievement - but nothing like Pavlich. Not even close. The Crows, of course, still claim publicly that they have no regrets and made the right decision at the time. Nice of them not to burn young Kenny and his legion of old ladies who loved him. But let's be serious, they screwed up. Not the first club to do so and not the last. It does make me wonder sometimes just how much these talent spotters really know or understand about the game. Like the Swans officials who rejected Bob Davis who became a Cats legend. Or the Carlton guys who rejected Greg Williams when he cost nothing and then had to pay thousands for him later. Or my old club Glenelg which failed to spot anything special about Fos Williams and lost him to West Adelaide. So the Pav went to Fremantle and has dominated the club like no other and is still going strong. Kenny, meanwhile, has long since retired after a serviceable career. And the Crows still don't have a centre-half-forward.
RooBoy
Guest
I'm a diehard North Melbourne fan, and I became a fan of Pav's the day he dealt us an astonishing blow and single-handedly dragged his team across the line. It was heritage round a few years back at the MCG,, we were playing in a blue and white heritage jumper, while Freo were wearing red and white. We'd been dominating all game and there was no answer from Fremantle until Pavlich has decided he'd had enough. He moved himself onto the ball, took control of traffic through the middle, barked orders, and organized that rabble into a team. He won contested possessions, set up goals, kicked goals, and talked his heart out. Freo ended up winning the match, and it would later be revealed that the Pav had been ill before the match, and had been advised not to play. But play he did, and put in one of the best halves of football I've ever witnessed. He is a true legend of the game, and if the Victorian media can't realise someone playing outside our own backyard then we've only got ourselves to blame.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I love Pavlich. A magnificent player, he will go down as one of the greatest players of all time, even though he doesn't get the respect he absolutely deserves. I'm baffled that there was no mention of his 250th game in the Victorian media (I assume it was mentioned in WA), and it comes down to his being under-appreciated. Why is he so under-appreciated? I think there are three reasons, and I disagree with both. 1)He plays for Fremantle. The idea being that if he played in Victoria, or for Adelaide, he would be better known and therefore more respected. I think it's nonsense, as it shouldn't matter which club a champion plays for. If they are a champion, then football fans should know about them. It should also not be forgotten that Wayne Carey played for North Melbourne, and they faced relocation during during his career. 2)He has only played finals three times. The idea being that if he plays for a side which is consistently mediocre, his dominance may be embellished. Hence, that he has won five best & fairests is not necessarily more impressive than a player who has won three or four best & fairests in good to great sides. I think there is some merit to this as I've always felt that Buckley was a little overrated. However there are great players, who are members of poor sides, and who dominate precisely because they are great. I think that Pavlich is one such player, and a measurement of this is his six (soon to be seven probably) All-Australian selections. 3)He has never played in a Grand Final. Personally I think this is irrelevant, as it's a team sport, and even more so than a sport like basketball, an individual player can't reallly determine whether their team will make the GF or not. I think it's more relevant how they perform on the big day, but if they don't appear, I won't hold it against them. "While some have criticised him when he has missed a goal or two in important games, they forget how many games he has won for Fremantle, through his own sheer will." One could also note that while has missed a goal or two, it is him who put the Dockers in a position where they were even capable of winning. There are 18 players on the field, and his teammates can't always depend on him to not just put them in a winning position, but win the game. He spoils them.