Matthew Pavlich last week signed on for another year with Fremantle. The Dockers champion has strong claims to be considered as versatile as any player in the history of Australian football.
Earning six All-Australian jumpers in three different positions – key forward, key defender and a midfielder – is truly extraordinary.
Turning 33 this year, he may no longer have the wind tank to roam through the midfield every week but he remains a dangerous forward capable of having an impact in big games against quality opposition.
He displayed that priceless ability to perform when it matters most in Fremantle’s two toughest games this season against heavyweights Sydney and Hawthorn.
Pavlich was buoyed by the big occasions, slotting four goals in each match in losing efforts.
He has had a slow start to the season but has gradually built momentum and fitness. He is yet to register a bag of goals but has been a consistent contributor, slotting three or more majors seven times this season.
It seems just a matter of time before he has a breakout performance and notches six or seven. Despite his age, Pavlich remains arguably as important as any player at Fremantle as they build towards another premiership assault this season.
As much as the likes of midfield maestros Nat Fyfe and David Mundy marshal the Dockers, it is the big men Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands who will be most pivotal come finals time.
His record in September is fantastic, with 31 goals from 11 matches. That is yet another string to his bow, another big tick next to his name.
His track record in finals, nay his entire career, is superior to that of a man who is arguably more revered nationwide in Brisbane Lions key forward Jonathan Brown.
Brown, who booted 32 goals in his 17 finals appearances, announced his retirement recently. The Victorian has been a quality player and an icon of his club.
He has been rightly lauded this week as a champion of the game.
That made me consider his career in comparison to Pavlich’s and it simply does not measure up.
Some people will point to the fact that Brown is a three-time premiership player whereas Pavlich has never even claimed one flag at Fremantle.
However, that is simply the luck of the draw. Had Pavlich been recruited to Brisbane instead of Fremantle he would have the same credit to his name. Brown was fortunate to be drafted into perhaps the greatest Australian football team of all time.
He was largely a role player in those three premierships rather than having any profound impact.
The reality is that Brown was a raw player for many years and didn’t become a genuine star of the competition until his seventh season of AFL.
In fact, it wasn’t until his eighth AFL campaign that he earned his first All-Australian selection.
By the same stage of his career, Pavlich had five All-Australian jumpers, and had been selected in three vastly-different positions.
Granted, Brown’s first All-Australian selection coincided with an extraordinary run of form. From 2007 to 2010, he booted 285 goals in the space of 83 games. During this period he was one of the top five players in the competition. At his peak, Brown was a marginally better key forward than Pavlich.
But before and after those four golden seasons he was never anywhere near as productive. Pavlich, meanwhile, has been a phenomenally consistent player for someone his size. And his astounding versatility takes him a notch above Brown.
Pavlich for many years played in a team which was desperately trying to plug gaps in its lineup. He would be shifted into different positions at the whim of the coach.
Despite the key forward posts clearly being his best fit, he has gallantly accepted the challenge of trying to add grunt to his team’s midfield which, until recent seasons, was often lacking significantly in size and stoppage ability.
Ross Lyon seems to have decided that the days of tossing Pavlich around the field are over. He is a permanent forward and looks capable of playing that role for possibly another two seasons after this one.
He has already notched 305 games and could quite possibly break the 350 barrier, which is unbelievably rare for a big man to achieve.
Had Pavlich played all those games and kicked his 600-plus goals for a Victorian heavyweight club like Collingwood, Essendon or Hawthorn, he would be talked about as one of the greatest players of all time.
Instead, because he has played for one of the lowest-profile and least-glamorous outfits in the AFL, he has consistently flown under the radar.
Daws
Guest
that's a little harsh, apart from that one shocker in the first half 2013 gf he's been about as reliable a shot for goal as any forward i can think of, i'd say being the only actual target in the forward fifty for his team results slightly higher pressure on pav than Browny. i don't think he's sprayed THAT many to be considered weak under pressure
deccas
Guest
lets take them for the next tour to india as well.
Gregor
Guest
Pavlich has kicked 600 + goals and probably saved and given off 600 as well.(177 goal assists) He's chasing down Lynch,Neitz, Moncrieff and Fevola. All forwards. Jonathon Brown kicked 594 but he'd always been a forward too. Pavlich by achievement alone
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Just as scary Seano, Richo has a better record than both as well. Much better considering one finals appearance.
josh
Roar Rookie
You could write a bigger on Players from non Victorian who are never rated. I'll start Simon Black.
Don Freo
Guest
Did Goodsey get AA at all those positions...or did he just play them?
Don Freo
Guest
Fev had a better record? At what?
Don Freo
Guest
I 'd agree about the goal kicking. Pav is so skillful...until he has to sink one. He misses many kickable goals under pressure. Then kicks the unkickable! Apart from that, Pav is so consistently competitive. He has a tank, speed and manouverability. He has an attacking and defensive skill set and silky ground skills supported by sublime aerial skills which, as a combination are unmatched. Compare them? Why? Brownie's a legend and Pav's a legend.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Nice article Ronan. Pav is an absolute champion. With a bit of luck we'll get a statue of him somewhere in Freo.
BigAl
Guest
Good point. I have raised this allegory before - both these guys for long periods have been 'quaterbacks' for their respective teams, and as in the NFL a key requirement of a top quaterback is the ability to stay healthy and be relied upon to be available to present for his team as much as possible. This was Brown's failing, he was too courageous for hid own good, so on these grounds I lean to Pav.
bryan
Guest
I think this is the future way forward for clubs looking to be successful. These players can very useful everywhere,rather than be stuck in one role for all of their careers.
Martyn50
Guest
Brown and Pav should of gone to Brazil last month. Would of been handy
Bosk
Guest
Pavlich has been far more versatile and has successfully carried an entire club on his shoulders for years on end. Brown's best years came when he lined up alongside Alastair Lynch, Daniel Bradshaw & Jason Ackermanis. Looking like a champion in that forwardline may not have been easy, but I wouldn't have called it extremely difficult either. Its no surprise Brown's output dropped markedly when his higher-profile teammates began to retire, though admittedly the physical style of game he plays has taken its toll. Still, Pavlich all the way for me because in his case the performances have matched the hype.
Michael huston
Guest
Well when you aren't spending half a decade as a defender and a decade as a forward, you're not going to be as dominant. Each week, Goodes almost played in a different position, and you never knew what Goodes you were going to get. I think a fair argument could be made that Pavlich is one of the most versatile forwards in history.
Justin3
Guest
Agree, why a medal decided by umpires who just about everyone loathes and would suggest they can't watch a game properly is seen as so valuable is odd, very odd
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Goodes is an extremely versatile player but he's never been a dominant key position defender or forward like Pavlich has. I never rated him that highly as a ruckman either to be honest, regardless of his accolades.
Michael huston
Guest
Most versatile player in history? Correct me if I'm wrong (and I tried hard to think without my Swans-tinted glasses on here), but that would have to be Adam Goodes. Not only has he played as a defender, a running wingman, a rover, a ruckman, a tall-marking half-forward and a small crumbing role at full forward, but he's thrived in every position. I welcome another angle of looking at it, but it's hard to go past Goodes in the versatility department. Think Pavlich and Brown are similar but also different. They're both goal-kicking machines, but where Pavlich is like the spiritual leader of his club, Brown was more the lead-by-example type, on the receiving end of a lot of rough and tough.
bryan
Guest
The Docker's slogan "anywhere-anytime" is not just referring to the team,but to the players themselves,most of whom can be slotted in anywhere on the ground & give a good account of themselves. Matty Pavlich is a perfect example of this. Quite apart from his versatility,Pav is still ne of the best big forwards in the business.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Maybe that could be your next article - who pissed more talent up the wall and into their own mouth, Fevola or Carney.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Carlton could still use Fev. I belive he could still kick more goals than anyone currently in the AFL.