Out of the many incredible achievements in Matthew Pavlich’s 353-game career, perhaps the most remarkable is the Freo legend earning All Australian honours in four different positions.

From his six All Australians, Pavlich has been named at full back, half forward, full forward, the midfield and on the interchange.

While one of Pavlich’s greatest performances was in 2005 where he kicked nine goals against Carlton, he said one of the most important games in his career came in his debut season in 2000 when Matthew Lloyd kicked nine goals on him when he was at full back.

On the latest episode of Old Bull, Young Buck, Pavlich re-told a story he passed on to versatile Fremantle defender/forward Brennan Cox.

“The other day, I saw Brennan Cox at a game and was talking about what it's like to be a forward versus what it's like to be a defender and you get appreciation for both,” Pavlich said.

“(In my debut season) I played on the likes of Matthew Lloyd, Matthew Richardson, David Neitz, Warren Tredrea, Alastair Lynch – it was superstar after superstar,” Pavlich said.

“In those days there was no off the ball support. There was no plus one, there was no assertive defending or help defence. It was literally back shoulder and standing in the goal square.

“I remember playing Essendon at Docklands. It was a Friday night game, 40,000 Bombers supporters, Essendon lose one game that year going on to win the Premiership.

“I’m playing on Matthew Lloyd in the peak of his career with no one else inside 50! It's so nerve wracking.

“It was one of the most scary, lonely feelings you could ever have but you learn what it's like, how you make your opposition player vulnerable and vice versa.

“When you go back forward, if someone starts playing assertive on you or pushes you or puts you in a different position, you realise you have to change that.

“I'd advocate that for any player to play in different positions, even at training, just try something different to keep learning about the game. It's really important.”

Pavlich said one of the most important pieces of advice he ever received was from his dad during his first ever game of football.

“Dad was a SANFL player, he coached in SA, he taught me the game and he taught me from all different aspects,” Pavlich said.

“In my first ever game in year two, at quarter time I was sweating profusely, I was red faced and I was out of breath.

“He said, ‘maybe don't try to get to every single contest, if you can't get to the first one, maybe get to where you think the ball might be going.’

“He tells this story like it was an off the cuff comment, but somehow, I started to pick up if you can't get to A you can get to B, which is what we heard later on in our careers.

“Those foundations of football were through him. You just constantly keep evolving and learning.”

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RAC Derby squads: Fremantle | West Coast
Gallery: Main training 12 August