With retiring Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich only a kick away from joining what the Herald Sun newspaper describes as one of the AFL’s most elite clubs, midfielder Lachie Neale is set to secure his own slice of league history in his former skipper’s 353rd and final game for Fremantle at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
Pavlich, who has kicked 699 goals in his 17-year career, needs only one more major to become just the fifth player in VFL/AFL history to have played 300 games and kicked 700 goals.
The 34-year-old will join Gordon Coventry, Leigh Matthews, Kevin Bartlett and Bernie Quinlan in the exclusive club if he notches at least one goal against the Western Bulldogs.
Selfless, pragmatic and team-focused, as he has been throughout his career, Pavlich was typically so when asked on Thursday about the possibility of joining some of the biggest names in the game in the 300 game/700 goal club on Sunday.
“It would be great to get another goal but I would rather the (team) win,” Pavlich told ABC Mornings’ host Geoff Hutchison.
“I’d rather us send off the year in a really good way.
“It’s been a really disappointing year in a lot of ways and it would be a fantastic way to send off my career but also launch into the preseason and into next year. It would be great to kick 700 goals but I am much more focused on playing a good game for the guys and (the team) launching into the (pre-season).”
Meanwhile, Neale needs just 21 touches on Sunday to surpass Western Bulldogs Matthew Boyd’s record set in 2012 of 721 possessions in a home-and-away season.
Neale, who has been averaging 33.3 possessions a game, has had the ball in his hands 701 times so far in in 2016.
Based on figures collated since 1999 by Champion Data, the records show that Boyd and recently retired Magpie Dane Swan dominate the top five spots for most disposals in a home-and-away season.
Most disposals in a home-and-away season*
Matthew Boyd – 721 (2012)
Dane Swan – 701 (2010)
Matthew Boyd – 701 (2011)
Dane Swan – 700 (2009)
Dane Swan – 695 (2013)
*since 1999
Highest disposal average in a home-and-away season*
Dane Swan – 35.7 (2012)
Gary Ablett – 34.4 (2009)
Gary Ablett – 33.8 (2012)
Lachie Neale – 33.3 (2016)
Matthew Boyd – 32.8 (2012)
*since 1999
