On Sunday, Matthew Pavlich will become the first WA-based player to reach 350 games.
It’s an impressive feat, as the next best effort is West Coast Eagle Dean Cox, who retired on 290 games.
So after 17 seasons, how would you sum up Matthew Pavlich in one word?
From teammates to opponents, administrators to coaches, this is how the footy world feels about the future hall of famer.
Full disclosure — I’m a Freo fan.
Chris Connolly has coached Pavlich more than anyone else. His word is “champion”.
Pavlich has played more games, kicked more goals and amassed more possessions and Brownlow votes than any other Freo Docker. He’s a six-time club champion and eight-time leading goalkicker. In fact he’s kicked a whopping 11 per cent of Fremantle’s goals in the club’s history.
And don’t forget — he was once an All-Australian backman.
Chris Judd’s term is “versatile”.
The former West Coast captain and two-time Brownlow medallist says Pavlich was ahead of his time. The 34-year-old is a six-time All-Australian, named in multiple positions.
Fremantle great Peter Bell describes his old teammate as “underrated”. Many believe if Pavlich played for a Melbourne-based club, he would’ve been held in even higher regard.
Paul Hasleby made his debut the same year as Pavlich, but hung up the boots six years ago. Hasleby’s term? “Superpav”. Sure, it’s a made up word — but it certainly sums him up.
Who can forget the infamous pre-game huddle gee-up delivered by Pavlich in 2009? “Put on your Superman capes boys, it’s Wharfie Time!”
Former Fremantle captain Shaun McManus labelled Pavlich “loyal”.
The South Australian had the opportunity to “do a Dangerfield” — pack up and go home. For many nervy Freo fans, there was a time we thought he would — and we didn’t begrudge him of it. But he chose to stick around, saying when you start something, you see it through.
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich describes Pavlich as “professional”.
There’s a reason WA-based players struggle to find longevity in the game. Across his career, Pavlich has flown around 853,994km — that’s more than 21 laps of the equator!
Compare that to North Melbourne’s Brent Harvey. He’s about to break the highest games record, yet he’s flown a mere 320,808km.
Despite the challenge of the Nullarbor, Pavlich has been incredibly durable. Since he made his debut in 2000, he’s missed just 31 games.
Rosich’s sentiment is shared by a man who captained against Pavlich in the 2013 Grand Final. Four-time premiership player Luke Hodge described his counterpart as the ultimate professional and a role model. In a word? “Leader.”
That’s coming from one of the greatest captains the game has ever seen.
Of course, Hodge will retire with an abundance of premiership medallions. Pavlich will depart the game having never tasted the ultimate success. The way he’s handled that disappointment is one of the reasons he’s held in such high regard.
When I asked current day Freo Docker Michael Barlow — a mature-aged recruit who has been through career-threatening injuries — to describe his teammate in one word, he came up with “stoic”.
Pavlich revelling in 'teacher role'
Stoic: a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.
It’s hard to argue with that.
Champion. Versatile. Underrated. Superpav. Loyal. Professional. Leader. Stoic.
My word for Pav? Fremantle.
When you’ve never had the chance to sing your club’s song on grand final day, individual milestones hold even greater significance. It’s history — a moment for a club and its supporters to be proud.
Matthew Pavlich has given everything to this club — and to us, he means everything.
In a few weeks, the club will start the journey to be defined by something else.
Neroli is a FOX FOOTY Presenter and co-hosts AFL Tonight.
Fremantle's game against Sydney at Domain Stadium on Sunday is proudly presented by Channel 7 Perth.
