As the curtain comes down on the career of Fremantle’s most decorated player, let’s take a look at some of Matthew Pavlich’s firsts’ as a Freo player.

On Saturday 8 April 2000, Pavlich ran out onto the field for the first of his 353 games when Fremantle played Melbourne at the WACA. The 18 year-old achieved the rare feat of kicking two goals from his first two kicks in AFL football and went on to kick goals in his first four AFL games. He finished his first season of AFL football with 14 goals from 18 games.

2001 was a season of firsts for Pavlich, as he settled in Fremantle’s forward line. In round two against Collingwood, Pavlich kicked his first five-goal haul, as Freo went down by 17 points at the Docklands. He has gone on to achieve the feat 33 times.

Three games later, in round five 2001, Pavlich received his first Brownlow Medal vote, for an outstanding game against Brisbane. Playing against a team that would go on to win three consecutive premierships, Pavlich kicked four goals and had 19 disposals.

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Pavlich was awarded his first highest goal-kicking award for Fremantle in 2001, when he finished the season with 28 goals from 21 games. He has since won the award a further seven times, including six seasons straight from 2005.

2002 saw Pavlich move into a defensive role under new coach Chris Connolly and he demonstrated his versatility by averaging 18 disposals per game. Strong displays earned him his first All-Australian call-up, as well as the first of his six Doig Medals for Fremantle. The then 20-year-old also played the first of his two International Rules series against Ireland.

In 2003, Pavlich made his first finals appearance in front of 42,770 fans in Fremantle’s elimination final loss to Essendon at Subiaco Oval. Pavlich kicked two goals from 18 possessions as well as driving Freo inside 50 on six occasions.

2007 presented a different challenge for Pavlich with his appointment as captain of Fremantle. Despite the added responsibility, Pavlich kicked a club record 72 goals for the season, finished second in the Coleman Medal and was named at full-forward in the All-Australian team.

In 2008, Pavlich won his first Ross Glendinning Medal for best afield in Carlton Draught Derby for his performance in the round three victory over West Coast, kicking 5.3 in a dominant forward line display. The 26-year-old became the first Fremantle player to win two Ross Glendinning Medal’s in a season, when he collected 22 disposals and kicked four goals in Freo’s 33-point victory in round 19.

2012 saw Pavlich become the first Fremantle player to kick 500 career goals, when he booted four against Port Adelaide in in round seven.

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Despite a slow start to 2013, missing 12 weeks with injury, Pavlich returned to the side to guide Fremantle to their first Grand Final appearance and the most successful season in the club’s history.

Pavlich became the first Fremantle player to play 300 games when he took the field against Geelong in round nine, 2014. In the same game, Pavlich kicked his 600^th career goal, firmly cementing his place as a club legend for Fremantle.